Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night host, shared critical views on Melania Trump’s documentary film “Melania” on his shows on Wednesday, January 28, and Thursday, January 29. He scrutinized everything from the guest list at the premiere to the predicted box office returns of the film.
On January 28, Kimmel humorously compared the documentary to the Epstein Files, stating that “no one’s ever going to see them.” The film was directed by Brett Ratner and premiered on Thursday night at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The film, which traces Melania Trump’s journey before the 2025 inauguration, was released in theaters across the nation on January 30.
Kimmel, during his late-night show, derided the quality of celebrities at the Kennedy Center premiere. He remarked, “Not since The Terminator has there been this much excitement for a movie about a European cyborg.” He further commented on the attendees at the premiere and the film’s potential.
Notable attendees at the premiere included Nicki Minaj, Dr. Phil, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Eric Adams, Dr. Oz, and Todd and Julie Chrisley. However, mainstream media was not allowed to enter the event. Significantly missing from the event were most of Donald Trump’s children, including Barron Trump, 19, and Ivanka.
Additionally, Kimmel took aim at the film’s director, Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017. Ratner’s role as director has been a contentious aspect of the project due to these allegations, though he denied them and was not charged.
Kimmel consistently referred to the film as a “corporate bribe” rather than a documentary, and explicitly linked the Amazon deal to Trump’s political influence. He mentioned that Amazon “shelled out $40 million to make this movie and another $35 million to promote it, which is so much more than probably any documentary ever, but they want you to know that this had nothing to do with the fact that her husband is a petty, vengeful bloodsucker.” Kimmel further quoted an Amazon spokesperson stating they licensed the film solely because they thought customers would love it, and he sarcastically added that the spokesperson “laughed and laughed until they had to carry her away.”
The financial commitment to “Melania” has been significant. Amazon MGM Studios invested $40 million in the film and spent an additional $35 million on marketing, making the total investment $75 million. Despite this hefty budget, initial box office projections were not promising. Analysts predicted the film would bring in between $1 million and $5 million on its opening weekend. However, it came as a surprise when the film garnered an estimated $7 million in revenue.
Kimmel pointed out that Melania personally received $28 million from the licensing fee, jokingly saying, “Between this and her marriage, she’s probably the highest-paid actress in the world.”
Early reviews of the film were predominantly negative, with critics labeling the film as superficial. Independent critic Nick Hilton gave the documentary a one-star rating. Even before its official theatrical release, the film had been review-bombed on Letterboxd.
Social media posts showed screenings in nearly vacant theaters across the country. In Los Angeles and Culver City, California, billboards promoting the film were defaced by various individuals, including the artist collective Indecline.
Behind the scenes, reports suggest the production faced numerous challenges. The film was shot in a condensed 20-day window. Crew members described the set as chaotic and unorganized, with two-thirds of the New York crew requesting that their names be removed from the project. This dissatisfaction with the documentary is significant as it suggests deep concerns about either the final product or the production process.
The compressed filming schedule of merely 20 days is highly uncommon for a documentary project, especially one with such a sizeable budget.
To generate interest in the documentary, Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the NYSE as part of the promotional campaign.
Even considering the higher end of projections, a $7 million opening weekend is a small fraction of the studio’s investment.
Melania told Fox News that both Trump and Barron had seen and liked the film, which led Kimmel to sarcastically comment, “All the people in the movie are giving it rave reviews. That’s enough for me!”
