Melania Trump Documentary Crew Seek Credit Removal Amid Box Office Flop
As Melania Trump's glossy documentary Melania opens in cinemas to a lukewarm response, a significant portion of the film's crew reportedly want nothing to do with the project. According to industry reports, as many as two-thirds of those involved are seeking to have their names removed from the credits, adding another layer of controversy to the already troubled production.
Expensive Production Meets Tepid Audience Response
The big-budget documentary represents a substantial financial investment for Amazon MGM Studios, which reportedly paid $40 million (approximately £29 million) for the initial rights alone. With an additional $35 million spent on marketing and distribution, the film opened on around 1,400 screens across the United States and in more than 27 countries worldwide.
Despite former President Donald Trump's insistence that tickets were selling out "fast," actual demand from cinemagoers appears to have been negligible. Viral social media posts have shown largely empty theatres on booking pages from Boston to Jacksonville, while in the United Kingdom the situation was even more dire. At VUE cinema's flagship location, just one ticket was reportedly sold for the premiere screening.
Crew Members Express Regret and Distance
It now appears that disassociation from the project extends beyond disappointed audiences to include those who worked on the film itself. One crew member, speaking anonymously to Rolling Stone magazine, expressed regret about having their name appear in the film's credits. "I'm much more alarmed now than I was a year ago," they revealed, highlighting growing concerns about the project's reception and associations.
Even some individuals whose names remain attached to the film have expressed hope that few people will actually see it. A production insider told the same publication: "Unfortunately, if it does flop, I would really feel great about it." This sentiment underscores the complex feelings among those involved in what has been described as a 'vanity project' for the former First Lady.
Director Brett Ratner's Controversial Return
While Melania Trump herself was reportedly described by crew members as "boring" but "nice," the principal source of criticism appears to be director Brett Ratner. The filmmaker is making his return to major productions after being sidelined for nearly a decade following a series of sex scandal allegations.
In 2017, six women accused Ratner of sexual harassment and assault, allegations he "categorically" denied. He has never faced criminal charges related to these claims. According to one production team member, there was more discussion about Ratner's behaviour than about Melania Trump during filming, with the production reportedly characterised by "chaos" behind the scenes.
Financial Prospects and Future Projects
How well Amazon's substantial investment will pay off remains uncertain. Entertainment industry experts at National Research Group predict that box office receipts for Melania could reach around $5 million, while BoxOffice.com puts the figure for the film's opening weekend as low as $1 million.
Regardless of how Melania performs financially, Brett Ratner's career appears to be moving forward. Skydance Paramount CEO David Ellison, reportedly at the behest of Donald Trump, has just greenlit a fourth instalment of Ratner's Rush Hour franchise, which has been dormant since 2007.
The rest of the film's crew have reportedly moved on to other projects, in many cases leaving minimal trace of their involvement with this controversial documentary. As the credits roll on what appears to be a commercial disappointment, the desire among crew members to distance themselves from the project speaks volumes about its troubled production and reception.
