Melania Trump documentary shoots to No 1 on Amazon Prime Video after debut

WASHINGTON, DC: The documentary ‘Melania’, focused on the life of first lady Melania Trump before her return to the White House, quickly shot to the top of the charts on Amazon Prime Video shortly after its release, becoming one of the platform’s most-watched titles within a day of debuting.

According to streaming tracker Flix Patrol, the film didn’t just top the movie charts — it briefly became the most-streamed content overall across the platform.

Melania Trump documentary quickly climbs Amazon Prime Video charts

The quick success of the documentary caught attention across the streaming world.

After debuting on Monday, March 9, ‘Melania’ rapidly gained traction among viewers and became the most-streamed movie on the platform in the US. At one point, it was also the most-streamed title overall on the service.

Melania acknowledged the achievement publicly on Tuesday in an X post. 

However, the rankings continued to shift as new content debuted on the platform. By Thursday, the film had slipped slightly but still remained among the most-watched titles.

At that point, 'Melania' was ranked as the third most-streamed content overall on Amazon Prime Video, sitting behind the newly released series 'Scarpetta', which premiered on Wednesday, and 'Young Sherlock', which had launched on March 4.

Documentary follows 20 days in Melania Trump’s life as she prepares for second White House stint

According to the film’s premise, it tracks 20 days in Melania Trump’s life as she prepares for the next chapter in the White House.

The project was produced by Amazon MGM Studios, which reportedly invested heavily in the film’s production and marketing.

Reports indicated that the studio spent around $40 million on the documentary itself, along with an additional $35 million on marketing efforts aimed at promoting the release.

Despite the high cost, the studio reportedly expected to recover the investment through licensing deals and by making the film a centerpiece addition to its streaming library on Prime Video.

'Melania' documentary earns mixed response from critics and audiences

Before its streaming release, ‘Melania’ had already made headlines when it debuted in theaters earlier this year.

The film premiered in theaters on January 30 and brought in more than $7 million at the box office. That performance marked the biggest opening for a documentary film in more than a decade.

While the film clearly attracted viewers, it also sparked debate among critics.

Many entertainment critics reportedly panned the documentary and described it as a form of “propaganda” for the Trump administration.

Audience reactions, however, painted a very different picture.

Verified viewers on the Rotten Tomatoes website largely praised the film, giving it a 99% approval rating — a stark contrast to the critical response.

Amazon MGM Studios plans larger rollout for Melania Trump project

The documentary may only be the beginning of a larger project centered on the first lady.

Amazon MGM Studios is reportedly planning to expand the story with a docuseries focused on Melania. The upcoming series will be directed by the film’s director, Brett Ratner.

Studio executives have already suggested that the documentary’s release strategy was designed for long-term success.

Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM’s head of domestic theatrical distribution, addressed the rollout in a statement following the film’s theatrical debut.

“This momentum is an important first step in what we see as a long-tail lifecycle for both the film and the forthcoming docuseries, extending well beyond the theatrical window and into what we believe will be a significant run for both on our service,” Wilson said.

He also expressed confidence that the documentary would continue drawing viewers for years.

“We are confident in the long-term value this rollout will deliver to customers both in theaters and for years to come on Prime Video,” Wilson added.