Back in recent weeks, Melania Trump’s new documentary was quietly being lined up for a major international rollout. The film, backed by Amazon, was expected to debut in more than 20 countries ahead of its North American release.
That plan has now hit an unexpected wall.
The documentary, titled Melania, was abruptly pulled from release in South Africa just days before it was set to hit theaters.
Earlier this week, Amazon and the filmmaking team behind Melania were expected to announce the full list of international markets where the documentary would open overseas. That announcement never came. Instead, a South African media outlet reported that the country’s distributor had withdrawn the film at the eleventh hour.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
“Based on recent developments, we’ve taken the decision to not go ahead with a theatrical release in [the] territory,” South African distributor Filmfinity said in a statement to The New York Times’ Johannesburg bureau.
Filmfinity’s head of sales and marketing, Thobashan Govindarajulu, insisted the move was not the result of outside pressure.
“That was our decision,” he said.
The pullback comes as President Trump has escalated his criticism of South Africa since the start of his second term. Trump has accused the country of mistreating its white minority and has floated the idea of imposing steep tariffs.
Despite the overseas setback, Trump has openly supported the film and is expected to attend its premiere in Washington. The documentary is scheduled to debut Thursday at the newly named Trump-Kennedy Center, one day before its wider North American release.
Amazon reportedly paid $40 million to secure worldwide rights to the documentary, along with a related docu-series. Sources say the real payoff comes when the film lands on Prime Video, where it is expected to draw significant attention.
Amazon MGM Studios is also spending heavily to promote the project. Sources close to the production say roughly $35 million is being poured into global marketing, with about $15 million focused on the U.S. and another $10 million overseas.
The documentary was filmed over 20 days leading up to the 2025 inauguration and was directed by Brett Ratner, who has been attempting a return to Hollywood after being accused of sexual misconduct nearly a decade ago. Ratner has denied all allegations.
In its preview memo, Amazon described the film as an intimate look into Melania Trump’s return to the White House.
“Step inside Melania Trump’s world as she orchestrates inauguration plans, navigates the complexities of the White House transition, and moves her family back to the Nation’s Capital,” the memo said.
Amazon MGM is relying on international partners to handle overseas releases as it continues building its global theatrical footprint. FilmNation has been tasked with coordinating foreign distribution and marketing in multiple regions.
Featured image via X screengrab
