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‘Melania’ Opens Strong in U.S., Falters in UK as Questions Mount Over What It Is

New UK receipts highlight the film’s limited reach beyond its base.

Overview

  • The film debuted at No. 29 in the UK with £32,974 from 155 cinemas, a weak start that contrasts with the U.S. rollout.
  • In the U.S., it earned about $7 million on opening weekend, exceeding projections after an Amazon spending commitment reported near $75 million across acquisition and marketing.
  • Critic and audience reactions remain starkly split, with roughly 5% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and 99% from audiences, plus a 5/100 Metacritic score from reviewers.
  • Time argues the project functions as branding rather than investigative nonfiction, a view echoed by Melania Trump’s description of it as a “creative experience.”
  • President Trump hailed the release as a “tremendous success” and claimed it was the top documentary in years, even as debate over its genre and intent intensifies.