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Melania Trump steps into filmmaking
Melania Trump has quietly entered the film world with the founding of Muse Films, a new production company announced through her social channels alongside a short logo video. The move comes just before the theatrical release of Melania, a documentary directed by Brett Ratner and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film follows the twenty days leading up to Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration from the perspective of the first lady, documenting the logistical and emotional challenges of planning the inauguration, managing the transition at the White House, and reintroducing the family to public life.
From theaters to streaming
Melania is slated to hit U.S. cinemas and select international markets on January 30, 2026, before becoming available on Amazon Prime Video. That hybrid release strategy—short theatrical window followed by streaming—is increasingly common for politically themed documentaries aiming to reach both festival audiences and mass viewers online.
Muse Films is reportedly named after the Secret Service codename used for Melania during her husband’s first term, a detail that surfaced when the company was revealed. The logo clip shared online adds a cinematic polish to the announcement and signals ambitions beyond a single title.
Comparisons and context Fans of intimate political documentaries may find echoes of Netflix's Becoming and HBO's dramatized portrayals like The First Lady, where public figures use film or series to shape their narratives. Melania’s vantage point—an observational, day-by-day account of an inauguration—also nods to classic political documentaries such as The War Room, though it centers on the first lady’s personal experience rather than campaign strategy.
Industry perspective The trend of public figures launching production houses is well established: think Higher Ground from the Obamas or Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Muse Films positions Melania within this wave, offering a platform for future projects and the possibility of direct distribution deals with streaming services.
Behind the scenes and reception Brett Ratner, known for mainstream hits like Rush Hour, directs Melania, a choice that has provoked conversation given his profile in Hollywood. Early reactions on social media have been mixed, with curiosity about access and filmmaking tone alongside skepticism from critics attuned to political spin.
In short, Muse Films and Melania mark a strategic pivot from private life to curated public storytelling. Whether the documentary will reshape perceptions or simply add another chapter to the celebrity-documentary trend remains to be seen.
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