An unprecedented number of AMC theaters across the country are expected to cancel the Melania documentary shortly after opening credits. Of the 2000+ screens that Amazon MGM Studios had hoped to fill, 500 art-house theaters have already declared the film an emotionless meme. An Oakland movie house said it won't even turn down the house lights. "We need to see the faces of people who would buy these tickets," said theater manager Thomas Brown. "I watched 12 seconds of it and realized I can never get that time back."
Moviegoers in Minnesota are the most wary about seeing the film, many questioning the timing of two tabloid-queen documentaries released the same weekend as another expected ICE shooting. "I saw Paris Hilton will be releasing the same kind of movie that weekend," said a woman going to watch Send Help.
If AMC follows through and cancels the film in its first 15 minutes, while fast, it still won't beat Netflix's record of axing series an average of 0.14 seconds after they drop.
An imperturbable Melania, resplendent in repose, ponders: Is it film or America's final redaction...?