Television host Jimmy Kimmel criticized the documentary film “Melania” about Melania Trump on his late-night show on January 28 and 29. His critique ranged from the premiere’s guest list to the film’s potential box office earnings.
Kimmel drew parallels on his January 28 show between the documentary and the Epstein Files, humorously suggesting both will remain unseen by the public.
The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, premiered on January 29 at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The film, which covers Melania Trump’s life prior to the 2025 inauguration, was released nationwide on January 30.
Kimmel made light of the celebrities present at the Kennedy Center premiere during his late-night program. He also commented on the attendees and the film’s potential success.
Notable guests at the premiere included Nicki Minaj, Dr. Phil, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Eric Adams, Dr. Oz, and Todd and Julie Chrisley. The mainstream media was prohibited from attending the event. Most of Donald Trump’s children, including Barron Trump and Ivanka Trump, were notably absent.
Kimmel did not spare the film’s director, Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017.
Kimmel referred to the film as a “corporate bribe” rather than a documentary and linked the Amazon deal with Trump’s political influence. He stated that Amazon spent $40 million to make the movie and another $35 million to promote it. He quoted an Amazon spokesperson who said they licensed the film because they believed customers would enjoy it.
“Melania” received substantial financial backing. Amazon MGM Studios invested $40 million in the film and allocated an additional $35 million for marketing, totaling an investment of $75 million. Initial box office forecasts were not optimistic, predicting an opening weekend earning between $1 million and $5 million. However, the film reportedly brought in an estimated $7 million.
Kimmel highlighted that Melania personally received $28 million of the licensing fee, humorously suggesting that she is probably the world’s highest-paid actress.
Initial reviews were unfavorable, with critics labeling the film as shallow. Independent critic Nick Hilton awarded the documentary only one star.
Social media posts showed screenings in nearly empty theaters nationwide. In Los Angeles and Culver City, California, billboards promoting the film were vandalized by various individuals, including the artist collective Indecline.
The production reportedly faced internal issues. The film was shot over a condensed 20-day filming period. Crew members described the set as chaotic and disorganized, with two-thirds of the New York crew requesting their names be removed from the project. This suggests significant concerns about the final product or the production process.
The short 20-day filming schedule is highly unusual for a documentary project, especially one with such a large budget.
Even before its official release, the film was negatively reviewed on Letterboxd.
Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the NYSE as part of the promotional campaign for the documentary.
Brett Ratner’s role as director has been controversial due to the sexual misconduct allegations he faced in 2017, which he denied and was not charged for.
Even at the high end of projections, the film’s $7 million opening weekend is a small fraction of the studio’s investment.
Melania Trump told Fox News that both Donald Trump and Barron Trump enjoyed the film. In response, Kimmel sarcastically said, “All the people in the movie are giving it rave reviews. That’s enough for me!”
