Jimmy Kimmel finally watches the Melania documentary and shares his take

Jimmy Kimmel reviews the Melania documentary

Jimmy Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, reviewed the 2026 documentary Melania during his March 11, 2026, monologue. The 104-minute film was directed by Brett Ratner and distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.

Melania follows Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration in January 2025. Kimmel said he watched the full film and called it a “dreadfully dull vanity project,” while the documentary had already drawn notice for Amazon MGM’s reported $40 million rights deal and additional marketing spend.

Jimmy Kimmel calls film dull

Jimmy Kimmel described Melania as a “dreadfully dull vanity project” after watching the full film. This comment was made during his March 2026 monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

The statement reflects a critical reaction that aligns with broader negative reviews from critics, who questioned the film’s editorial approach and tone. The documentary received widespread criticism for being overly self-focused.

Kimmel’s wording emphasized boredom rather than controversy, focusing on pacing and content rather than political messaging. His review centered on entertainment value rather than policy or ideology.

Jimmy Kimmel highlights outfit scenes

Jimmy Kimmel said a large portion of Melania shows the former first lady trying on outfits. He shared this observation during his March 2026 episode after viewing the full documentary.

Despite that criticism, Jimmy Kimmel acknowledged that some scenes provide limited insight into Melania Trump’s personal and professional routine during the pre-inauguration period.

Jimmy Kimmel points to key clip

Jimmy Kimmel highlighted a specific scene involving a phone call between Donald Trump and Melania Trump. The scene takes place on the night Congress confirmed the 2024 election results.

In the clip, Donald Trump informs Melania Trump about securing a second presidential term. Melania responds that she did not watch the coverage because she had meetings throughout the day.

Jimmy Kimmel used this example to show what he considered one of the few notable moments in the film. The scene offered a glimpse into their communication during a major political milestone.

Jimmy Kimmel questions box office data

Jimmy Kimmel questioned how Melania earned about $7 million during its opening weekend in January 2026. He raised this issue during a separate monologue before watching the film.

He noted that many theaters appeared empty ahead of release, which made the box office performance seem unusual based on his observations.

The film ultimately grossed $16.7 million worldwide against a $40 million production budget, according to reported figures, indicating a gap between costs and returns.

Little-known fact: Kimmel started in radio at stations including KZOK-FM in Seattle and on Los Angeles shows, which helped him develop the humor and conversational style that became central to his late-night television career.

Jimmy Kimmel suggests ticket concerns

Jimmy Kimmel suggested that ticket sales for Melania may have been inflated through bulk purchases. He discussed this possibility during a February 2026 segment.

He referenced reports that blocks of tickets could have been distributed to specific groups, which might explain the strong opening weekend despite low visible attendance.

Jimmy Kimmel framed the claim as speculation and used humor to present the idea, including a mock call for further investigation into ticket sales patterns.

Fun fact: Melania Trump, born in Slovenia, became First Lady in 2017 and is the first foreign-born First Lady since Louisa Adams (1761–1852), who was born in England and married John Quincy Adams.

Jimmy Kimmel references high budget

Jimmy Kimmel previously referred to the project as a $75 million effort when combining reported $40 million acquisition costs and $35 million marketing estimates.

The documentary’s financing drew industry attention because Amazon and MGM Studios paid a record amount for rights to the project.

This scale of spending is significantly larger than typical documentary budgets, with some comparisons noting that earlier films like RBG had far smaller marketing investments.

Jimmy Kimmel jokes about streaming

Jimmy Kimmel joked about the film’s availability on Amazon Prime Video during his March 2026 monologue. He referred to the platform humorously while introducing the segment, noting that the documentary had moved from theaters to streaming.

The film’s streaming release followed its theatrical debut on January 30, 2026, expanding its audience reach after the initial box office run.

Jimmy Kimmel continues Oscars remarks

Jimmy Kimmel referenced Melania again during the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony in March. He presented awards in the documentary categories. During the broadcast, he joked that Donald Trump might be upset that the documentary did not receive a nomination.

The remarks connected his earlier critique of the film with a high-profile industry event, showing continuity in his commentary across platforms.

Jimmy Kimmel contrasts other documentaries

Jimmy Kimmel referenced Melania while presenting the documentary awards at the 2026 Oscars. He joked that alongside documentaries that tell difficult truths, there are also documentaries where someone walks around the White House trying on shoes.

He later added that Donald Trump would probably be mad that his wife was not nominated in the category. The remarks connected his Oscars appearance to the same Melania documentary he had already criticized on his late-night show.

Jimmy Kimmel reacts to critical reviews

Jimmy Kimmel’s reaction aligns with broader critical responses to the documentary. Critics described the film as lacking depth and questioned its editorial structure.

Industry figures also raised concerns about the film’s classification as a documentary due to Melania Trump’s involvement and control over content.

These critiques provide context for Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks, placing his review within a wider pattern of media and industry feedback.

This broader perspective makes moments like when Jimmy Kimmel offers Donald Trump a destiny moment during a pointed message feel even more layered and intentional.

Jimmy Kimmel takeaway on Melania film

Jimmy Kimmel concluded that Melania offers limited engagement despite its high production scale and visibility. His review focused on pacing, content balance, and viewer interest.

The documentary’s financial performance, critical reception, and public discussion all contributed to its visibility in early 2026.

As of March 2026, Jimmy Kimmel’s commentary remains one of the most widely cited late-night reactions to the film, reflecting ongoing attention around its release and reception.

It’s no surprise he later took that same sharp humor to politics, creating a fake award for Gavin Newsom and even joking that Trump would be jealous.

Do you enjoy late-night hosts reviewing documentaries, or should they stick to comedy? What’s your take on celebrity documentaries, insightful or just hype? Share your thoughts in the comments!

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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