A new movie is coming out starring one of the world’s most famous people, but it doesn’t seem like anyone cares.
Amazon’s MGM Studios shelled out $57 million for the rights to Melania, a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump.
But days before its release, Australian audiences appear completely disinterested.
At its one screening this Friday at Sydney’s Hoyts Warringah Mall, not a single ticket has been sold. In Cronulla, one person is going.
At three cinemas in Melbourne, nobody has reserved a seat. Two tickets have been sold at a fourth.
Most people don’t buy movie tickets several days ahead of time, so the true reception won’t be known until Friday.
But a lack of pre-sales does indicate a lack of interest.
The colossal sum is way beyond what movie studios usually pay for a documentary.
Cynics have suggested the bidding war between big Hollywood players for the film stemmed from a desire to curry favour with the administration.
In the US, the movie is opening in more than 1500 cinemas.
The Hollywood Reporter cites sources claiming Amazon has spent another $50 million on promoting the film.
But even the most generous projections of how the film will fare at the box office indicates Amazon is set to lose tens of millions of dollars on the project.
President Donald Trump is spruiking the project on his social media platform Truth Social.
“MELANIA, the Movie is a MUST WATCH,” he said.
“Get your tickets today – Selling out, FAST!”
The minute-long trailer of the film shows Mrs Trump walking into various events and generally looking glamorous.
“Here we go again,” she said to the camera at the start of the trailer.
But the trailer does not reveal much about the First Lady herself, who, despite her many public appearances, lives a relatively private life.
The documentary was shot in the 20 days leading up to the second Trump inauguration.
A premiere for the movie is set for the recently renamed Trump-Kennedy Centre tomorrow.
The film was directed by Brett Ratner, the Hollywood filmmaker behind blockbuster hits like Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand and the Rush Hour franchise.
Melania is his first movie since six women accused him of sexual misconduct in 2017.
He is now working on Rush Hour 4 at the behest of Donald Trump.
