Melania Trump’s lavish $40 million documentary is already attracting attention

After a stellar, if questionably timely, screening at the White House, first lady Melania Trump’s documentary will hit theaters this Friday amid a flurry of speculation and criticism.

Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million in 2025 for the distribution rights to “Melania: Twenty Days to History,” beating both Disney and Paramount. The first lady herself is an executive producer on the film and is believed to have pocketed $28 million from the deal, which includes a follow-up three-part documentary series. Both the film and the series follow her during the 20 days leading up to the inauguration of her husband, President Donald Trump, in 2025.

While the $40 million figure has already raised eyebrows, Puck’s Matthew Belloni reported last week that Amazon will spend an additional $35 million to promote the film when it opens in about 1,400 to 1,500 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, as well as an undisclosed number of theaters in 27 countries around the world.

President Donald Trump on Monday declared “Melania” a “MUST SEE” on his Truth Social platform, before urging his followers: “Get your tickets today. They’re selling out, FAST!”

Still, such a high-profile campaign for a documentary is unusual, and while no criticism of “Melania” has yet emerged, critics have already questioned whether the film will turn a profit amid reports of “soft” ticket sales on both sides of the Atlantic.

PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images

In an appearance on News Business on Monday to promote the film, Melania Trump’s agent and senior adviser Marc Beckman explained the impetus behind the release.

“The reason we’re doing this is because Melania had the idea to create a highly cinematic, beautiful, highly stylized film appropriate for theaters,” he said. “The images are beautiful, the sound experience is first class.”

Another point of controversy is the involvement of director Brett Ratner, whose credits include “X-Men: The Last Stand” and the “Rush Hour” franchise. In 2017, Ratner faced allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct from at least six women, including actresses Natasha Henstridge and Olivia Munn.

Although Ratner denied the allegations, he became a persona non grata in Hollywood—that is, until Beckman approached him about directing “Melania.”

Beckman, whose agency previously hired Ratner for a Jordache jeans campaign, defended the filmmaker’s “enormous talent” in an interview Monday with the Los Angeles Times, but did not address any of the allegations.

“He really understands not only how to create something beautiful, but also how to reach the passions and emotions of his audience,” she told the outlet.

Still, not everyone is clamoring for Ratner’s return. After Apple CEO Tim Cook posed for a photo with Ratner at last weekend’s “Melania” screening at the White House, calls to boycott Apple began circulating online. Meanwhile, a Rolling Stone report published Monday cited anonymous members of the “Melania” production team describing the atmosphere on set as “highly disorganized, very chaotic.”

“I feel a little uncomfortable with the propaganda element of this,” one person told the outlet. “But Brett Ratner was the worst part of working on this project.”

Watch the trailer for “Melania: Twenty Days to History” below.

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Even one of Trump’s former lawyers criticized the event.

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