In a surprising turn of events, the Lake Theater & Café, located in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, Oregon, has decided to stop showing the documentary "Melania," which focuses on Melania Trump, after Amazon Studios unexpectedly withdrew the film from its lineup. This decision came after the theater's marquee featured playful promotions for the movie, including cheeky lines like "Does Melania wear Prada? Find out Friday!" and a quote from Sun Tzu: "To defeat your enemy, you must know them. Melania."
Directed by Brett Ratner, "Melania" documents the twenty days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, with Amazon acquiring the rights for an impressive $40 million back in 2025. However, the situation took a twist when manager Jordan Perry revealed that Amazon reached out directly, expressing dissatisfaction with how the film was being marketed by the theater. In his words to The Oregonian, Perry stated, "The studio was not happy and/or did not appreciate my take on marketing their film to our own public." A source close to the film confirmed its removal from the theater's schedule.
Following this development, the marquee was humorously updated to read: "Amazon called. Our marquee made them mad. All 'Melania' showings cancelled. Show your support at Whole Foods instead. Join Amazon Prime for Free Two-Day Shipping."
Perry also noted that local audience members had been sending emails and messages questioning why the film was even being screened. In a blog post, he clarified that booking "Melania" was meant as a light-hearted decision during a slow week for movies, rather than a political statement. He elaborated, "Wouldn’t it be exponentially weirder, to the point of being funny, to show ‘Melania’ here, at your obviously anti-establishment, occasionally troublemaking, neighborhood cinema?"
Interestingly, Amazon Studios chose not to provide any comments on the situation, leaving many to wonder about the implications of their actions. What do you think about the role of marketing in film promotions? Should theaters have the freedom to promote films in ways they see fit, or should studios maintain control over how their work is presented? Share your thoughts below!
