\n<\/p>\n
After a better-than-expected opening weekend<\/a> in theaters, box office for Amazon\u2019s \u201cMelania\u201d fell 67%<\/a>, to an estimated $2.37 million, in its second weekend.<\/p>\n The documentary about First Melania Trump has grossed a total of $13.5 million so far<\/a> (almost all of that in the United States), which means it\u2019s extremely unlikely the film \u2014 which Amazon spent $40 million to acquire and $35 million to market \u2014 will break even in theaters.<\/p>\n Before \u201cMelania\u201d\u2019s release, a former Amazon film executive asked how the price tag could be motivated by anything other<\/a> than \u201ccurrying favor\u201d with the Trump administration or \u201can outright bribe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Moviegoing typically slows during Super Bowl weekend, but the weekend\u2019s top film, \u201cSend Help,\u201d only declined 47%. And after placing third on the charts last weekend, \u201cMelania\u201d is ninth this time.<\/p>\n Perhaps anticipating discussion about the film\u2019s decline, Amazon released a statement from its head of domestic theatrical distribution Kevin Wilson, who said, \u201cTogether, theatrical and streaming represent two distinct value creating moments that amplify the film\u2019s overall impact.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMelania\u201d received universally negative reviews from critics<\/a>, but its 99% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes was so good that the site put out a statement insisting that the score was real<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n