• It earned over $7 million during its opening weekend
• Amazon invests a record sum and plans a follow-up documentary series

The new documentary about Melania Trump exceeded expectations at the U.S. box office, generating over $7 million during its opening weekend, compared with estimates that had projected around $5 million.

The film, titled "Melania: 20 Days to History," chronicles the life of the First Lady in the days leading up to her husband Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States in January 2025. Melania herself participated in its production, while Brett Ratner directed.

Amazon had acquired the film’s rights for $40 million, in addition to spending roughly $35 million on marketing, making it — according to media reports — the most expensive documentary ever produced.

The deal also includes the production of a follow-up documentary series about Melania Trump.

Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution at Amazon MGM, said the company is “very encouraged” by the strong start and positive audience response, describing the success as “an important first step” in a long release cycle spanning theaters and the company’s streaming service.

The film posted the highest opening weekend for a non-fiction release in the past decade, with notable performance in states like Texas and Florida, especially among older white women, areas considered part of Trump’s base, according to a media outlet.

Meanwhile, the scale of Amazon’s investment has raised questions about the deal’s motives, with one newspaper noting it is widely viewed as an attempt to court the White House.

In response to such criticisms, Amazon affirmed that it acquired the film’s rights “for one reason only: its belief that audiences would love it.”