Melania Trump Aide Mocks 'Digger' Flop to Highlight First Lady's Documentary
Marc Beckman, a senior advisor to Melania Trump, posted on social media that the first lady's documentary 'Melania' outperformed Tom Cruise's new film 'Digger' by 67% on a per-theater basis. This claim follows 'Digger's' massive box office failure, which is projected to lose $150-200 million globally. While Beckman highlighted the documentary's success, critics note that 'Melania' also lost money due to high acquisition and marketing costs.
Key points
- Marc Beckman claimed 'Melania' outperformed 'Digger' by 67% per theater, despite opening in half as many locations.
- 'Digger' earned $8 million in the US and $20 million globally in its opening weekend against a $180 million budget.
- Analysts estimate 'Digger' will lose between $150 and $200 million, making it one of 2026's biggest flops.
- The documentary 'Melania' grossed $16.7 million but is considered a loss after Amazon spent $75 million on acquisition and marketing.
- Beckman also claimed 'Melania' outperformed films starring Julia Roberts and Leonardo DiCaprio, though he did not specify which titles.
Background
Our earlier coverage noted that 'Digger' faced polarizing reviews and a sharp decline in Oscar predictions, with Warner Bros. struggling to salvage the project. The film's poor performance was highlighted by its $8 million opening against a massive budget, while 'Melania' was previously described by critics as a self-congratulatory publicity stunt rather than a traditional documentary.
How outlets are covering it
Euronews and The Daily Beast focused on the absurdity of Beckman's comparison, noting that 'Melania' was a financial loss despite its per-theater performance. HuffPost emphasized that Beckman dragged in Julia Roberts and Leonardo DiCaprio without naming specific films, while The Independent highlighted the 'merciless' nature of the mockery. All sources agreed that the comparison was statistically misleading given the different budgets and marketing scales of the two films.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of political influence and Hollywood economics, as a White House advisor used a major box office failure to promote a controversial documentary. It also underscores the financial risks of high-budget films in 2026, where both 'Digger' and 'Melania' resulted in significant losses despite different levels of public attention.
What to watch
Warner Bros. may need to adjust its marketing strategy for 'Digger' as losses mount, while Amazon could face scrutiny over the $75 million investment in 'Melania.' The ongoing debate may continue as more box office data emerges for both films.
- Why are Melania Trump staffers gloating about ‘Digger’ and its box office woes? Euronews.com
- Melania Trump Adviser Throws 3 Hollywood A-Listers Under The Bus With Weird Film Flex HuffPost
- Tom Cruise hits new low as Melania Trump’s staffers mock his latest box-office flop The Independent
- Melania Aide Uses Tom Cruise Bomb to Promote Her Documentary The Daily Beast
- ‘Digger’ Tanks at Box Office, Gets Compared to ‘Melania’: 'Tom Cruise Hates to Lose' Morning Honey
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