Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has drawn criticism following comments he made questioning the box office performance of a new documentary about first lady Melania Trump. During his Wednesday night monologue, Kimmel suggested that the film’s reported ticket sales may not reflect genuine audience demand.
Kimmel’s remarks followed commentary from industry observers who noted that the documentary earned approximately $7 million during its opening weekend after debuting on Jan. 29. Some analysts had projected a lower opening, leading to discussion in entertainment circles about the difference between expectations and actual results.
Referencing a blog post by former IndieWire editor Tom Brueggemann, Kimmel said he and others were surprised by the film’s financial performance, particularly given anecdotal reports of lightly attended screenings in some locations. He did not present evidence of irregularities but raised questions about how the box office totals were achieved.
The documentary, released by Amazon-MGM, opened nationwide after a high-profile premiere and was shown in thousands of theaters across the United States. Publicly reported box office figures remain unchanged, and no allegations of improper ticket sales practices have been substantiated.
Kimmel’s comments prompted debate online, with some critics saying the remarks unfairly cast doubt on the film’s success, while others defended his right to question industry trends. The discussion has also raised broader questions about how box office results are interpreted and whether political context influences reactions to unexpected commercial outcomes.