A new report suggests the upcoming Melania documentary could be headed for the biggest opening weekend for a documentary in roughly 10 years.
Early box office estimates
According to Deadline, early preview and presale indicators show the film “gaining steam,” with projections that it could debut at $5 million or more. If it lands in that range, it would mark the strongest documentary opening in a decade, topping Angel Studios’ 2023 release After Death.
Mixed signals on demand and theater count
Buzz around the movie’s commercial prospects has been building for days, with some outlets and box office trackers pointing to uneven turnout. Social media account EmpireCity Box Office echoed that skepticism, claiming “almost nobody wants to play” the film and suggesting its theatrical footprint has continued to shrink.
Release plans
Melania is scheduled to premiere January 30, 2026, debuting first at the Kennedy Center before expanding into a theatrical release. It’s also expected to arrive on Prime Video after its run in theaters, though an exact streaming date hasn’t been announced.
What the film covers
The documentary is positioned as an inside look at the final stretch leading up to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, following Melania Trump as she prepares for inauguration events, manages the White House transition, and relocates her family back to Washington, D.C.
