Melania Documentary Expands To 2,000+ Screens While Super Bowl Steals Hearts
KEY POINTS
- ā¢The documentary 'Melania' opened January 30 with a surprise $7 million haul on 1,778 screens.
- ā¢Amazon spent $40 million acquiring the film and $35 million marketing it, now expanding it to 2,003 screens.
- ā¢The expansion coincides with Super Bowl LX; meanwhile, military leadership denies forcing service members to watch.
'Melania,' the Brett Ratner-directed doc on the former first lady, shocked the indie world by vaulting to $7 million on 1,778 screens last January 30, setting a 10-year documentary opening weekend record. Amazon MGM, having shelled out $40 million to buy it and another $35 million on marketing, is now playing cinematic roulette by adding nearly 300 screens, despite the harsh reality of Super Bowl LX's irresistible allureāSeattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots smashing TV ratings this weekend. Meanwhile, a religious freedom group claims US troops were 'pressured' to watch, though the Department of Defense denies any 'Department of War' orders. Amazon declined comment because nothing screams stealth like ignoring questions about shove-it-in-theaters tactics.
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Source: Businessinsider | Published: 2/6/2026 | Author: Jason Guerrasio