Only eight people attended a Friday afternoon screening of the Melania Trump documentary in Sydney, with a cinema capacity of 150. Across five evening screenings on opening day in Sydney, none sold more than 16 tickets, and one sold just six.
The $75 million Amazon film, directed by Brett Ratner, follows the 20 days before Donald Trump returned to power in January 2025. It was screened at the White House and had its official premiere at Washington's Kennedy Center, which Trump renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Critics describe the documentary as a propaganda exercise. The first 10 minutes show Melania using various transport, trying on outfits, and discussing White House interiors. Her interactions with Donald Trump are notably robotic, including a phone call where she responds 'That's a good one' to his electoral college victory talk.
The film's release timing was criticised, coming after a second killing of a civilian by ICE in less than a month. Director Brett Ratner has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, allegations he denies.
