‘Melania’: grift and greed on the big screen

‘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. 

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.

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