A new documentary titled “Melania: Twenty Days to History,” focused on First Lady Melania Trump, has reportedly surpassed box-office predictions, raking in $7 million despite early estimates predicting earnings between $1 million and $5 million. The film’s performance, however, sparked witty commentary from late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, who highlighted the stark contrasts in critical reception and financial expectations.
On “The Late Show,” Colbert pointed out that while the $7 million figure might initially seem promising, it is actually less than 10 percent of the documentary’s production costs, estimated at around $75 million, which includes over $28 million paid to Melania Trump herself. He quipped about the financial implications, asserting, “That’s enough cash to put a smile on your face … if that were physically possible.” He also invited a Melania impersonator to add humor to the discussion.
Kimmel took a more satirical direction during his monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” by drawing attention to the film’s dismal five percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, which he humorously noted is one percentage point lower than the infamous movie “Gigli.” In an ironic twist, he highlighted the audience score of the documentary, which sits at an impressive 99 percent, surpassing classic films like “The Godfather.” This contrast led Kimmel to speculate whether Republican groups might have engaged in organized ticket purchases to inflate the numbers, playfully suggesting a recount and calling for oversight from figures like Tulsi Gabbard and the FBI.
Kimmel did not shy away from critiquing Amazon’s celebratory claims regarding the documentary’s debut, labeling them “smoke and mirrors” and jesting that this meant the film only lost tens of millions of dollars. Alongside these pointed critiques, he directed attention toward Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, for recently laying off a significant portion of The Washington Post’s staff after financing the documentary.
Overall, while “Melania: Twenty Days to History” has made waves at the box office, its financial and critical reception continues to spark humorous yet critical commentary from prominent figures, instigating discussions about the film’s broader implications.