‘Melania’ soars: Audiences love first lady’s documentary while the usual haters hate

Audiences rave and critics sneer as the documentary “Melania” exceeds industry expectations in its opening weekend.

The opening gross domestic ticket sales reached $7 million, placing the film third overall at the domestic box office behind two major studio releases.

‘To say that “Melania” is a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies.’

The film, which chronicles first lady Melania Trump in the weeks leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, debuted in 1,778 theaters nationwide, an unusually wide release for a documentary.

Prerelease projections published by entertainment outlets such as People magazine estimated the film would earn between $3 million and $5 million.

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While the film did not screen in advance