Melania Documentary Opens to Empty Seats in London Theater
On a Friday afternoon at the Vue cinema in Westfield Stratford City, East London, only five people scattered themselves across the auditorium to watch Melania, Amazon's controversial $75 million documentary about the former first lady. The sparse attendance mirrored the film's weak box office performance nationwide, leaving this journalist among a handful of viewers who emerged with more questions than answers.
A Solitary Viewing Experience in the Capital
The atmosphere in the London theater was notably awkward, with all five attendees claiming opposite corners in what felt like an unspoken agreement to maintain solitude. No one dared occupy the center seats, creating a peculiar dynamic for what was marketed as an insider look at one of global politics' most enigmatic figures. Instead of revelations, the documentary presented what essentially functions as part-propaganda for the Trump administration, interspersed with attempts to position Melania as a fashion authority with particular expertise in hemlines and color palettes.
Fashion Over Substance: The Documentary's Core Focus
The film's opening sequences bear striking resemblance to Miranda Priestly's dramatic entrance in The Devil Wears Prada, soundtracked by The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." Viewers first see Melania's signature red-bottomed Louboutin stilettos before she struts from chauffeured vehicles, helicopters, and planes in a five-minute montage. The documentary follows the twenty days leading up to Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration, with Melania appearing primarily concerned about clothing fittings, interior design meetings, and event planning—particularly the flatness of her now-infamous Michael Jackson-esque inauguration hat.
This fashion-centric approach seems designed to soften viewers' perceptions before the film pivots toward its political agenda. As one watches Melania potentially launching a clothing line inspired by the documentary, it becomes apparent that the fashion segments serve as a distraction from the film's underlying purpose: presenting the Trumps as America's new power-player Camelot.
Political Agenda and Controversial Backing
The documentary leaves little doubt about its political intentions. B-roll footage from inauguration events repeatedly features Amazon proprietor Jeff Bezos alongside other tech moguls including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tim Cook. Donald Trump declares it's time to "straighten out the nation," while Melania regularly appears hand-in-hand with her husband, praising his political achievements. In one particularly revealing moment, she tells the camera: "People have tried to murder him, slander him and incarcer him—I am so very proud of him."
Amazon reportedly paid approximately $40 million for the documentary rights, with $28 million going directly to Melania Trump, plus an additional $35 million promotion budget. The Trump administration provided full backing, with the former president hosting a private White House screening and the official premiere at the recently renamed Trump Kennedy Center.
Production Controversies and Viewer Reactions
Behind the scenes, two-thirds of the crew allegedly refused to have their names associated with the project, even before the Minnesota controversy emerged. Further controversy surrounds director Brett Ratner, who hasn't worked since 2014's Hercules following multiple sexual misconduct allegations in 2017—allegations Ratner has denied and for which he hasn't been charged.
After 104 minutes, what does the documentary actually reveal about Melania Trump? Precious little, according to this London viewing experience. The first lady says remarkably little throughout, though viewers might learn that her favorite recording artist is Michael Jackson or that "Billie Jean" is her preferred song—she apparently knows all the lyrics. The documentary leaves every fundamental question about Melania completely unanswered, instead generating a longer list of queries.
When the credits finally rolled at the Vue cinema, the four remaining movie-goers synchronized their exits in deliberately staggered fashion, avoiding any opportunity for eye contact or discussion. What was there to talk about, after all? The documentary provided plenty of spectacle but precious little substance, leaving London viewers as mystified about Melania Trump as they were before entering the near-empty theater.
