What are the reported financial terms and distribution plans for the Melania documentary?
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Executive summary
Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million to acquire licensing rights to a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, a deal that sources say includes both a single theatrical documentary and an additional multi-episode follow-up series; Melania is reported to be an executive producer and to receive a large share of the payment, and the film is slated for a limited theatrical bow before streaming on Prime Video in late January 2026 [1] [2] [3].
1. The headline number: $40 million licensing fee
Multiple outlets reporting on the project cite a $40 million price tag for Amazon’s acquisition or licensing of the Melania documentary, with that figure described as the amount Amazon paid to secure the film and related limited-series rights [1] [4] [5].
2. How that $40M is said to be split — large payout to Melania reported
Reporting based on Wall Street Journal sourcing and subsequent summaries in business outlets indicates Melania Trump is expected to receive at least $28 million of the $40 million deal — a figure described as “at least” and framed as more than 70% of the total, though exact contractual breakdowns have not been publicly released [6] [3].
3. Talent, producers and creative control noted in reports
Coverage emphasizes that Melania participates as an executive producer and had early conceptual input, and that Brett Ratner is attached as director; outlets also note Ratner’s controversial history, which has shaped critical response to the talent choices even as Amazon moved forward with the acquisition [7] [8].
4. Distribution plan: theatrical window then Prime Video, plus a docuseries
Variety, People and other outlets report Amazon MGM Studios will give the documentary a limited theatrical release — specifically citing a Jan. 30, 2026 global theatrical debut — followed by distribution on Prime Video, and that the deal also covers a three-part or two-to-three-episode docuseries chronicling ongoing aspects of Melania’s life and travel between New York, Palm Beach and Washington, D.C. [2] [3] [4].
5. Corporate context and political-ethics frame around the deal
Coverage repeatedly places the deal in a wider corporate and political context, noting Jeff Bezos’s contacts with the Trumps and reporting that Bezos took an interest in the project; some outlets flagged ethics concerns and public scrutiny over a major tech owner doing business that involves the sitting first family, though these are framed as contextual reporting rather than contractual facts [1] [7].
6. What is uncertain or unresolved in the reporting
Public reporting establishes the $40 million licensing figure and the existence of theatrical plus streaming plans and a short docuseries, but no public documents disclosed in these reports provide the precise contract language, timing of payments, full revenue splits beyond the reported $28 million figure, backend participation, distribution territories, or the detailed windows and exclusivity terms Amazon will enforce — those specifics remain unverified in the cited coverage [6] [4].
7. Alternative readings and the media reaction
Critics and commentators highlighted by outlets reacted both to the dollar amount and to the creative team, with some dismissing the project as a vanity exercise and others treating it as a mainstream documentary release; outlets such as HuffPost and The Independent emphasized sharp public reactions to the trailer and to Ratner’s involvement, underscoring that reception — distinct from the commercial terms — has already become part of the story [9] [10].
8. Bottom line for what can be reliably stated
The reporting consistently supports three core facts: Amazon MGM Studios paid roughly $40 million to license the Melania project; the deal encompasses a theatrical release followed by Prime Video distribution plus a short accompanying docuseries; and reporting from business outlets places Melania’s personal take as a very large portion of that sum (reported at least $28 million) — but precise contractual splits, ancillary revenue arrangements and full distribution mechanics are not publicly documented in the cited coverage [1] [2] [6].