Amazon MGM Invests $75M in Melania Documentary Despite Political Scrutiny
Jeff Bezos denied any role in Amazon MGM's acquisition of the Melania documentary for $40m plus $35m marketing, stating the decision was based on content appeal despite political scrutiny. The documentary opened to $8m and since grossed $16.6m worldwide, while Prime Video streaming reached 230m minutes in its first week.
1. Acquisition and Investment
Amazon MGM acquired Brett Ratner's Melania documentary for $40 million and spent an additional $35 million on marketing, totaling a $75 million investment to secure distribution and promotional rights.
2. Financial Performance
The documentary opened to around $8 million at the box office and has grossed approximately $16.6 million worldwide; on Prime Video, it reached 230 million minutes viewed in its first week, briefly topping Amazon’s streaming charts.
3. Political Scrutiny and Response
Democratic lawmakers questioned whether the scale of Amazon MGM’s bid violated federal anti-bribery laws and suggested it aimed to influence the Trump administration; Jeff Bezos has stated that decisions were driven by content appeal and he played no role in the acquisition.