Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel delivered sharp commentary about Melania Trump’s documentary “Melania” on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, criticizing everything from the premiere’s attendees to the movie’s rumored box office outlook.
On Jan. 28, Kimmel likened the documentary to the Epstein Files, joking that “no one’s ever going to see them.”
The film, directed by Brett Ratner, premiered the evening of Jan. 29 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The documentary, which follows Melania Trump ahead of the January 2025 inauguration, hit theaters nationwide on Jan. 30.
During his show, Kimmel poked fun at the level of star power at the Kennedy Center premiere. “Not since The Terminator has there been this much excitement for a movie about a European cyborg,” he joked. He also commented on the turnout and the film’s outlook.
The guest list included Nicki Minaj, Dr. Phil, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Eric Adams, Dr. Oz, and Todd and Julie Chrisley, though the mainstream media was not granted access. Most of Donald Trump’s children were noticeably missing, including 19-year-old Barron Trump and Ivanka.
Kimmel also went after director Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017.
Kimmel repeatedly labeled the project a “corporate bribe” instead of a true documentary, tying Amazon’s involvement to Trump’s political influence. He said Amazon “shelled out $40 million to make this movie and another $35 million to promote it, which is so much more than probably any documentary ever, but they want you to know that this had nothing to do with the fact that her husband is a petty, vengeful bloodsucker.” He then cited an Amazon spokesperson who insisted the film was licensed because customers would enjoy it, adding sarcastically that she “laughed and laughed until they had to carry her away.”
Amazon MGM Studios invested $75 million in “Melania,” including $40 million for the project and $35 million for promotion. Despite the large budget, initial box office predictions estimated an opening weekend of $1 million to $5 million. Industry observers expressed surprise when the film brought in roughly $7 million.
Kimmel highlighted that Melania personally earned $28 million from the licensing deal, joking: “Between this and her marriage, she’s probably the highest-paid actress in the world.”
Early reviews were notably negative, with critics calling the documentary empty. Independent critic Nick Hilton awarded it only one star.
Reports on social media showed showings in nearly empty theaters nationwide. In Los Angeles and Culver City, several billboards for the movie were vandalized, including by the artist collective Indecline.
Behind the scenes, crew members described the production as difficult and the set as disorganized and hectic. Filming took place over a tight 20-day schedule, with two-thirds of the New York team requesting that their names be removed from the project. The request reflected concerns about the production process or the final product.
The unusually short 20-day shooting schedule is rare for a documentary, especially one with such a large budget.
The film was also review-bombed on Letterboxd before its official release.
As part of the promotional effort, Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the NYSE, a high-visibility appearance intended to draw attention to the film.
Brett Ratner’s role as director was a major point of controversy due to sexual misconduct allegations made against him in 2017, which he denied and for which he was never charged.
Even with the higher-than-expected $7 million debut, the opening weekend earnings represent only a small portion of the studio’s $75 million investment.
Melania told Fox News that both Trump and Barron watched and enjoyed the documentary, prompting Kimmel to quip, “All the people in the movie are giving it rave reviews. That’s enough for me!”