Melania Trump’s documentary has been released. Check out our takeaways from the movie
A documentary about First Lady Melania Trump’s journey to her inauguration was released on January 30th. Trump reporter introduces the contents of the movie below.
- A new documentary about Melania Trump received critical reviews but did well at the box office.
- The film was directed by Brett Ratner, his first major project since facing sexual harassment allegations in 2017.
- Late night hosts including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers have mocked the documentary.
First Lady Melania Trump’s documentary “Melania” received critical acclaim, even though it exceeded expectations at the box office. Late-night television is now on the rise.
Melania, which opens in theaters on January 30, follows President Trump’s journey back to the White House in early 2025. Little is revealed about her, relying heavily on picturesque shots and an upbeat soundtrack. To add to the controversy surrounding the film, it was directed by Rush Hour director Brett Ratner, his first major feature since he was accused of sexual harassment in 2017.
A film critic for Variety called the documentary “state-sanctioned propaganda by Communist China in the 1960s.” The Atlantic reported, “Mr. Ratner seems desperate to find action, but nothing.” Still, the film grossed an estimated $7 million in its opening weekend.
But this week, late-night TV hosts were having fun with it. Here’s what they had to say:
Who played Melania Trump on Stephen Colbert?
On “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the host brought up behind-the-scenes stories that poked fun at President Trump’s behavior. At the Feb. 4 show, actress Laura Benanti appeared as the first lady, accentuated by her signature honey waves and exaggerated sculptural expressions.
Colbert pressed the actress about the content of the film, alluding to the first lady’s comment that it was more of an art piece than a documentary.
“I’ve got about $28 million in my pocket, cha-chingaaah!” Benanti says in character. “Like me, it’s a very creepy mystery.”
In one of the film’s more personal scenes, Ratner and Trump are in a car together, where she tells him that her favorite song is Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” and they sing along.
Colbert asks Benanti why it’s his favorite.
“Let’s just say that every time I look at Eric and think, ‘That’s not my son,’ it brings a smile to my face,” she said before moonwalking away from the camera.
Jimmy Kimmel alludes to box office fraud
During Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue on February 4, he warned about President Donald Trump’s rhetoric regarding the upcoming election.
“Speaking of fraudulent results, the documentary ‘Melania’ is said to have exceeded box office expectations,” Kimmel said. The film’s box office gross of $7 million was the best start for a documentary, excluding concert films, in more than a decade, according to the New York Times. However, that still fell far short of the $40 million paid by Amazon MGM Studios, with an additional $35 million reportedly spent on marketing.
“Many people, myself included, were wondering how this movie was able to sell $7 million worth of tickets last weekend, when nearly every theater seemed empty before its release,” Kimmel said.
He noted that in 2019, the Republican National Committee paid nearly $100,000 in “donor memorabilia” for Donald Trump Jr.’s book “Triggered,” which topped the New York Times bestseller list, according to the newspaper.
Kimmel’s monologue on “Melania” came on the same day that the Washington Post reported major layoffs.
“Jeff Bezos, who paid for the garbage, just fired hundreds of journalists at the Washington Post,” Kimmel said. “I think he spent his entire budget on Melania. Well done, Jeff.”
Seth Meyers: “The film with the least animation”
On “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” the host took a few swipes at the documentary in the days leading up to its release.
“As a feature film with little animation, it’s already in some awards buzz,” he said in a monologue.
He also mocked the president after a private screening of the film at the White House.
“Hey, they’re actually testing his arousal abilities,” he said. “‘Doctor, would you like to sit in the dark and watch a movie about your wife? Doctor? He’s already gone out.”
Contributors: Jay Stahl, Brian Truitt, Kate Perez, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), blue sky and TikTok.
