A local group of Ocala retirees sold out a theater last week to view the newly released documentary “Melania,” contributing to what reports indicate is the strongest box office debut for a documentary in more than a decade.
The Stone Creek Republican Group purchased all 285 available tickets for a private showing of the new documentary at the Regal Hollywood Theatre in Ocala on Friday, January 30.
According to a press release from the organization, the group’s members gave the film “rave reviews,” describing it as a “wonderful story of the day in the life of our lovely First Lady Melania Trump.”
The Ocala event mirrors a broader trend seen across the country during the film’s opening weekend.
Directed by Brett Ratner, “Melania” grossed an estimated $7 million domestically in its debut following its Jan. 30 release, according to reports from Forbes, CNBC, The Guardian, Fox News, The New York Times, and Variety.
According to BoxOfficeMojo, a website that maintains over 100 years of box office data, “Melania” grossed $7,042,000 during its opening weekend. That figure represents the eighth-highest opening weekend for a documentary over the past 40 years.
The gross earnings through just the first weekend rank the film as the 48th-highest-grossing documentary of all time.
The earnings figure surpassed initial industry projections of $2 million to $5 million and marks the best opening for a documentary film since the 2012 documentary “Katy Perry: Part of Me.”
Financed by Amazon MGM Studios, “Melania” chronicles the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the First Lady as she orchestrated inauguration plans, moved her family back to Washington, D.C., and navigated the transition into President Donald Trump’s second term.
Despite the warm reception at the box office, “Melania” has earned far colder reviews from critics across the four largest film review sites: Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd, IMDb, and Metacritic.
The Stone Creek Republican Group, which boasts more than 1,200 members, stated that it holds frequent events in the area. For more information on the organization, visit the Stone Creek Republican Group online.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was edited to provide additional context on box office earnings from BoxOfficeMojo.com.