‘Melania’, the documentary about US first lady Melania Trump, took in an estimated $7m when it hit US cinema screens at the weekend making it the highest debut by a non-music documentary or concert film in more than a decade.
These are the sort of figures other documentaries can only dream of, so it’s a hit?
Far from it says Irish Times journalist Hugh Linehan who points out that it cost Amazon $45 million to make plus a reported $35 million in marketing costs so financially it makes no sense.
And critically? Well “boring” is probably the nicest thing reviewers have said.
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Over nearly two hours it reveals very little about the former Slovenian model other than she wears nice clothes and even nicer shoes.
For Linehan, it’s a classic Trump family grift, this time with Melania making the money. She is expected to be paid $28 million for the documentary which charts the 20 days in the lead-up to her husband’s 2025 inauguration.
Presented by Bernice Harrison.
