A viral Craigslist listing offering people $50 to watch ‘Melania,’ the documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, has sparked fresh debate over the film’s struggling box office performance. The ad, which circulated online this week, invited participants to attend any Boston-area screening of the 104-minute documentary and receive cash, provided they stayed for the entire runtime.
The listing gained traction after social media users mocked what they described as sparsely attended screenings across the US and UK. While the ad appeared legitimate and was verified as a real Boston-area posting, it has since been suspended and marked “held for review.”
There is no evidence linking the offer to Amazon, the film’s distributor, or to director Brett Ratner. Many online suggested it was likely trolling rather than an official effort to boost attendance.
The Craigslist post surfaced amid growing scrutiny over Melania’s theatrical performance. Despite President Donald Trump claiming tickets were “selling out, FAST,” multiple reports and user posts showed empty or near-empty screenings, particularly in the UK, where some Vue cinemas reportedly sold only one or two tickets for opening shows. Industry trackers have projected a modest US opening of $1–2 million, far below earlier expectations.
Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid up to $40 million for the documentary’s rights and spent an additional $35 million on global marketing, making it one of the most expensive non-music documentaries ever released. The film follows Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s January 2025 return to the White House and marks Brett Ratner’s first film since facing #MeToo-era sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
Did ‘Melania’ Get Banned In South Africa?
The documentary has also faced setbacks internationally. Melania waspulled from theatres in South Africa just days before its scheduled release. Local distributor Filmfinity cited unspecified “recent developments” for the decision, stressing that the withdrawal was voluntary and not the result of political or external pressure.
