Amazon MGM Studios’ Melania documentary has posted stronger-than-expected box office results in its opening weekend, with estimates on the higher end near $8.1 million, exceeding many early forecasts. Deadline previewed the weekend and noted the crowded theatrical slate, with Send Help, Iron Lung, and Shelter also debuting, but Melania outperformed its initial $3 million–$5 million projection.
According to CNBC and other reporting, Melania’s domestic opening landed near $7 million, ranking it as the best opening for a non-concert documentary in over a decade. The film ultimately placed third at the domestic box office for the weekend, trailing only the horror titles Send Help and Iron Lung.
A standout characteristic of Melania’s box office was its unexpectedly concentrated audience profile: 72% of ticket buyers were female, and about 83% were over age 45. This is an unusual skew at a time when mainstream theatrical revenue is typically driven by younger male moviegoers. This demographic concentration also aligns with reporting that much of the attendance came from rural and conservative-leaning regions of the United States.
Despite the stronger-than-forecast opening, Melania carries the hefty reported production and acquisition costs of about $75 million (including marketing), making profitability from box office alone unlikely. Industry analysts nonetheless note that the theatrical window is only part of the financial equation: streaming rights and ancillary deals, particularly on Prime Video, are expected to contribute to eventual revenue that could help the project recoup its sizable investment over time.
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