Melania Documentary: Amazon's $75M Gamble Opens to $7M Box Office

• Amazon MGM Studios spent an unprecedented $75 million on the Melania documentary, making it the most expensive nonfiction film ever.
• The budget included $40 million for acquisition and $35 million for a massive promotional campaign.
• Despite skepticism, the film opened to a stronger-than-expected $7 million in domestic ticket sales, the best for a non-music documentary in over a decade.
• Financial performance is modest compared to investment; Amazon expects long-term value from Prime Video viewership and subscriptions.
• Critical reception is divided, with low Rotten Tomatoes scores but high audience approval and CinemaScore ratings.

Why It Matters: Amazon's record $75M investment in the Melania documentary yields $7M opening, sparking debate on its long-term value.