The release of a new documentary focusing on former First Lady Melania Trump has been met with a distinctly lukewarm reception in British cinemas, with opening weekend figures revealing a significant commercial disappointment.
A Dismal Box Office Debut
The film, titled simply Melania, opened at a lowly number 29 in the UK box office rankings. Official data shows it generated a meagre £32,974 in ticket sales across 155 cinemas during its first weekend of release. This paltry sum underscores a clear lack of public interest in the cinematic portrayal of the former model and First Lady.
Empty Seats and Journalist Fillers
Reports from across the country indicate that many screenings were sparsely attended, with some showings playing to virtually empty auditoriums. In certain locations, the only occupants were journalists and critics, there to cover the release rather than as paying audience members drawn by the subject matter.
Contrasting Fortunes with Independent Horror
The documentary's poor performance is thrown into sharp relief by the success of another release. Iron Lung, an independently financed horror film, secured a robust number 4 position in the same UK box office chart. It amassed a substantial £948,731, dramatically overshadowing the takings for Melania and highlighting what British cinema-goers are currently choosing to watch.
Critical Panning Versus Audience Support
Critical reception for the documentary has been overwhelmingly negative, with review aggregators showing a critic score of just 10 per cent. This stands in stark contrast to a reported 99 per cent audience score. This vast discrepancy suggests the audience ratings may be less about the film's quality and more a demonstration of political support for the Trump brand, rather than genuine cinematic appreciation.
US Performance: A Relative Bright Spot?
In the United States, the film's performance was somewhat stronger, grossing $2.9 million and exceeding some initial predictions. However, even this figure was not enough to save it from being labelled a financial flop in the market, where it was also outperformed by Iron Lung.
The UK box office results for Melania present a clear picture: a documentary centred on a divisive political figure has failed to capture the imagination or open the wallets of the British cinema-going public, resulting in one of the most notable flops of the season.
