While the national box office reception for the new Melania Trump documentary has been described as “muted,” moviegoers in **Vero Beach, Florida**, are painting a different picture. According to recent sales data, Vero Beach stands out as one of only two locations in the entire United States to host a completely sold-out screening on opening day.
The documentary, simply titled Melania, was released in theaters nationwide this Friday following a high-profile premiere at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. While analysts predict the film will struggle to recoup its significant production and marketing costs, enthusiasm in Indian River County appears to be outpacing major metropolitan hubs like Los Angeles and New York City.
Vero Beach Bucking the National Trend
Research conducted by Wired magazine analyzed opening-day ticket sales across the country. The data revealed that while many theaters in liberal strongholds reported sparse attendance—such as an AMC in Los Angeles selling only 15 of 132 seats for a prime screening—Vero Beach residents turned out in force.
Research found that only two screenings in the U.S. were completely sold out: one at an AMC in Independence, Missouri, and one at an AMC in Vero Beach, Florida.
The report noted that Vero Beach is located approximately an hour’s drive north of President Donald Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago, placing it firmly within a region known for strong conservative support. Ticket sales have generally been robust in similar conservative markets, including Miami, Houston, and Orange County, California, though few have matched the capacity crowds seen in Vero Beach.
National Box Office Outlook
Despite the local sell-out, the film faces a steep climb to profitability. Amazon MGM reportedly paid **$40 million** for the documentary and invested an additional **$35 million** in marketing. However, industry reports indicate the film generated close to $1 million in pre-sales, putting it on track for an estimated $5 million opening weekend.
This performance is comparable to other recent niche releases, such as the faith-based documentary After Death and the commentary film Am I Racist?, both of which opened in the $4.5 million to $5 million range.
President Trump Reacts to Industry Challenges
President Donald Trump addressed the projected box office numbers during the film’s premiere in Washington, D.C., attributing the slower sales to broader shifts in the movie industry rather than a lack of interest in the subject matter.
“It’s a very tough business in theaters selling movie tickets after Covid,” Trump told reporters. “I think this will do unbelievable — streaming and everything. Theaters are a different world.”
Melania is scheduled to stream on Prime Video at a later date, which the former President suggested would be a major avenue for the film’s success.
Production Background
The documentary marks the return of director Brett Ratner, known for the Rush Hour franchise. The production has faced its own internal controversies, with reports indicating that a significant portion of the crew requested to have their names removed from the credits.
While international screenings in locations like London have reported slow sales, and distribution was canceled in South Africa for political reasons, the film’s reception in **Vero Beach** highlights the area’s distinct cultural and political engagement compared to the national average.
