A high-budget documentary about US First Lady Melania Trump has faced poor box office response and has been withdrawn from cinemas in South Africa, according to statements from the film’s local distributor.
The film, titled Melania, follows her preparations to return to the White House in 2025. Reports say the project carries a total outlay of around $75 million, including an estimated $40 million acquisition deal by Amazon Prime Video and roughly $35 million in marketing.
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Despite the heavy spend, early theatrical turnout has been low. UK cinema chain Vue International confirmed that only one ticket was sold for a screening at its flagship London venue.
South Africa release cancelled
South African distributor Filmfinity said it would not proceed with a local theatrical run.
The distributor did not specify the developments behind the move. The decision comes amid strained relations between Washington and Pretoria following remarks by US President Donald Trump about conditions in South Africa. South African officials, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have rejected those claims and criticised the language used.
The film has also drawn attention because it marks the return to directing of Brett Ratner, known for films such as Rush Hour and X-Men: The Last Stand. Ratner stepped back from major studio work after multiple sexual misconduct allegations during the #MeToo movement, which he has denied. His appearance in publicly released Jeffrey Epstein contact records has been noted by media, though US lawmakers have said that being named or pictured in those records alone is not proof of wrongdoing.
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Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel criticised the scale of the spending on his show, joking that he doubted President Trump had watched more than a few minutes of the film.
Industry analysts quoted in entertainment trade reports have suggested that, based on current theatrical performance, the project could fall tens of millions of dollars short of recouping its costs through cinema runs alone. The producers are expected to rely heavily on streaming viewership to recover part of the investment.
The documentary remains available in select cinemas and is scheduled for release on Prime Video.
