Amazon’s Costly Documentary ‘Melania’ Suffers Major Box Office Failure in the UK

Amazon’s high-budget documentary “Melania” has suffered a dramatic box office failure in the United Kingdom, selling just one ticket despite being released in more than 100 cinemas.

According to a report by The Guardian, Amazon spent nearly $40 million to acquire the documentary, with an additional $35 million spent on marketing and promotion. Despite the total investment of around $75 million, audience interest has been extremely low—particularly outside the United States.

In the US, Melania was released in approximately 1,500 theaters, where it is expected to earn between $1 million and $5 million during its opening week. Even at the higher end, this figure remains far below the film’s overall investment.

Amid criticism, Amazon has defended the project, insisting that the investment was made based on audience demand rather than political considerations.

The documentary was directed by Brett Ratner, best known for the Rush Hour film franchise, marking his first feature-length film in more than a decade. Notably, no advance screenings were arranged for film critics prior to release, meaning reviews are largely coming from audiences who purchased tickets.

In the UK, cinema operator Richard Richards said the decision to screen the film sparked a large number of complaint emails from viewers, reflecting the level of public opposition to the release.

The film’s poor performance has intensified scrutiny over Amazon’s content investment strategy and raised questions about audience appetite for high-profile political documentaries in international markets.