A documentary offering a rare, close-up look at Melania Trump’s private world delivered an unexpectedly strong debut at the box office, earning more than $7 million in its opening weekend.
According to figures from The Numbers, “Melania: Twenty Days to History” is already the top-grossing documentary release of 2026 to date—and by a wide margin. The site lists “Holding Liat” as the year’s second-highest earner so far, with about $28,000 as of Sunday. For context, one of 2025’s strongest documentary performers was “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” which brought in roughly $10.4 million domestically.
Even with that early momentum, the film faces a steep financial climb. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly invested around $75 million in the project, including $35 million for marketing and $40 million paid to Trump’s production company. Since theaters typically keep about half of opening-weekend ticket sales, Amazon’s take from the initial weekend would be approximately $3.5 million, based on the reported gross.
“It proves that an original idea which is executed with deliberate beauty is embraced by fans and moviegoers, regardless of political affiliation,” Marc Beckman, Melania’s senior advisor and agent, said in a statement.
The documentary premiered on January 30 and frames the story through the first lady’s perspective, following the days leading up to President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration. It was directed by Brett Ratner, best known for the “Rush Hour” films, whose career largely stalled after sexual misconduct allegations emerged in 2017.
In promotional materials, Amazon described the documentary as featuring exclusive footage from pivotal moments behind the scenes, including private meetings and conversations, presenting a portrait of Melania Trump returning to “one of the world’s most powerful roles.”
Critical response, however, has been mixed. The film has drawn lukewarm reviews from reviewers and was also hit with negative activity on Letterboxd. One review described it as subdued and uneventful, while noting it may still appeal to dedicated followers of the Trump family. The documentary was compared to a “wedding video”—something the subjects might rewatch, but a tougher sell for anyone outside the inner circle.
