Amazon MGM Studios is stepping back into the political spotlight with the upcoming release of "Melania," a documentary offering an unprecedented glimpse into the life of First Lady Melania Trump during the critical 20 days leading up to her husband’s 2025 presidential inauguration. The film, directed by Brett Ratner, is set to premiere exclusively in U.S. theaters and select overseas territories on January 30, 2026, before making its way to Prime Video for streaming audiences worldwide.
According to Deadline, the documentary promises to deliver viewers straight into the heart of the White House transition, capturing the private and public moments of Melania Trump as she orchestrates inauguration plans, manages the complexities of moving into one of the world’s most scrutinized residences, and reenters public life with her family. The project is said to include exclusive footage of critical meetings, private conversations, and never-before-seen environments, offering a window into the daily responsibilities and challenges faced by the First Lady-elect.
Melania Trump herself played a central role in the film’s creation, serving as both a subject and an executive producer. As reported by The Hill, she partnered with director Brett Ratner and executive producer Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media to bring her perspective to the screen. The project began filming in December 2024, just a month after Donald Trump secured a second term in the White House, and production continued into early 2025.
In a February interview with Fox News, Melania Trump described her hopes for the documentary, explaining, “It’s day to day, from transition team to moving to the White House, packing, establishing my team, the First Lady office, moving into the White House, what it takes to make the residence your home, to hire the people that you need.” She emphasized the film’s focus on her daily life and the responsibilities that come with her role, adding that the documentary was partly inspired by the success of her memoir.
Amazon MGM Studios has not only invested in the feature documentary but is also preparing a three-part docuseries that will delve even deeper into Melania’s experiences during those pivotal weeks. According to Variety, the docuseries will follow Melania as she travels between New York City, Palm Beach, and Washington, D.C., providing further insight into her preparations and the transition process.
The acquisition of the documentary rights came with a hefty price tag. Multiple outlets, including The Daily Beast and The Guardian, report that Amazon paid a staggering $40 million for the project, with Melania Trump reportedly set to receive 70% of the payout. The deal was reportedly pitched by Melania herself to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his partner Lauren Sanchez over dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Critics have questioned the size of the investment, with Democratic strategist James Carville calling the budget “breathtaking.” Some have speculated that Bezos’s involvement and financial gestures—he also donated $1 million to the incoming president’s inauguration fund—reflect a strategic effort to build goodwill with the Trump family following the 2024 election.
The choice of Brett Ratner as director has also drawn significant attention. Ratner, best known for directing the Rush Hour franchise and Red Dragon, has not helmed a major Hollywood project since 2017, when he was accused of sexual misconduct by several women—a claim he has consistently denied. After the allegations surfaced, Warner Bros. severed ties with Ratner, ending his first-look deal with the studio. According to The Guardian, Ratner moved to Israel in 2023 and has since described himself as a “proud Zionist,” even sharing photos with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is also rumored to be working on a documentary about the Abraham Accords.
Despite the controversy surrounding Ratner’s return and the documentary’s substantial budget, Amazon MGM Studios is betting big on the project. The studio sees "Melania" as a cornerstone of its 2026 theatrical slate, with plans to release at least 14 films in theaters that year, according to Variety. The release of "Melania" comes on the heels of other high-profile acquisitions, as Amazon’s United Artists division recently entered talks to secure the rights to Michael Mann’s anticipated sequel, Heat 2.
Melania Trump’s journey to the White House is a story marked by international intrigue and personal reinvention. A Slovenian-born former model and businesswoman, she began her modeling career as a teenager before moving to Milan and Paris, eventually settling in New York City in 1996. She met Donald Trump in 1998, married him in 2005, and became a U.S. citizen in 2006. As First Lady, Melania launched the “Be Best” initiative, focusing on children’s well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse prevention—a legacy that will likely be explored in both the documentary and the docuseries.
Amazon MGM Studios has already begun generating buzz for the film, releasing a first-look image of Melania Trump gazing out the window of an SUV onto a tarmac. The visual underscores the documentary’s promise of intimacy and access, inviting audiences to witness both the grandeur and the solitude that come with her role.
The announcement of "Melania" has sparked passionate responses across the political spectrum. Supporters hail the film as a long-overdue spotlight on a First Lady who has often shunned the limelight, while critics question the motivations behind Amazon’s investment and the choice of Ratner as director. Some see the project as a savvy move by Melania Trump to shape her own narrative, especially in the wake of a divisive election and renewed public scrutiny. Others, like The Guardian’s Lloyd Green, remain skeptical, describing Melania’s previous memoir as “a 180-page exercise in buck-passing and blame-dodging.”
For Amazon, the documentary represents both a commercial gamble and a strategic foray into the intersection of entertainment and politics. The company’s willingness to pay top dollar for exclusive content, even in the face of controversy, signals its ongoing commitment to dominating the streaming landscape and generating watercooler conversation.
As the January 30, 2026, release date approaches, all eyes will be on "Melania" to see whether the film delivers on its promise of unprecedented access—or simply adds another layer to the complex, often enigmatic public image of America’s former First Lady.
