Jan 9, 2024 – Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knavs, dies, a personal loss later highlighted in the documentary as a recurring emotional thread [2][12].

Jan 9, 2025 – Melania attends former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral, juxtaposing her grief over her mother’s death anniversary with a high‑profile diplomatic moment featured in the film [2][12].

Jan 20, 2025 – Donald Trump is inaugurated for his second term, and the documentary chronicles the 20 days leading up to this event, framing it as the central narrative of Melania [14][12].

May 2025 – President Trump confronts South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the “white genocide” claim, deepening U.S.–South Africa tensions that later influence the film’s distribution decisions [3].

Dec 17, 2025 – The first trailer for Melania drops, showing the incoming first lady in the Capitol rotunda and featuring the lines “Here we go again” and “Everyone wants to know, so here it is,” while confirming Amazon’s $40 million rights purchase and a $35 million marketing spend [14][15].

Jan 29, 2026 – The film premieres at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center with a private White House East‑Room screening; the same day federal agents shoot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, sparking protests outside the venue and prompting Apple CEO Tim Cook and other tech leaders to attend the screening [9][2].

Jan 29, 2026 – South African distributor Filmfinity cancels the theatrical rollout, citing “the current climate” amid sharply deteriorated U.S.–South Africa relations and South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel [3].

Jan 30, 2026 – Melania opens nationwide in roughly 1,500 U.S. theaters and 5,000 cinemas across 26 countries; opening‑day box‑office data later show a $7 million weekend, surpassing the $2‑$5 million forecast and earning an “A” CinemaScore despite a 10 % critic rating [1][5][13][11].

Jan 31, 2026 – Attendance varies from packed rows in Indianapolis to near‑empty auditoriums in Washington, D.C.; President Donald Trump calls the film “very important” and “a big deal,” while Melania’s X post claims the documentary is “loved by all” [7][6][1].

Feb 1, 2026 – Amazon MGM Studios confirms a total $75 million investment ($40 million for rights, $35 million for marketing) and emphasizes a “long‑tail lifecycle” for the documentary and its companion three‑part docu‑series on Prime Video [5][13].

Feb 2, 2026 – Industry analysts note the documentary’s $7 million opening places it among the top‑five box‑office releases for the weekend and sets a ten‑year record for documentary debuts, while critics continue to label it a “shameless infomercial” [1][11].

Feb 4, 2026 – At a Blue Room gathering celebrating the release of former Hamas hostage Aviva Siegel, Melania references the film, insists the appearance “has nothing to do with promotion,” and the Siegel couple thanks her, prompting ethics experts Amy Spitalnick and Jordan Libowitz to warn of conflict‑of‑interest concerns [4].

Feb 5, 2026 – President Trump distances himself from the Amazon deal, stating it was handled solely by his wife, while critics and watchdogs continue to question the $75 million spend as a potential corporate‑political quid‑pro‑quo [4][5].

Future (post‑theatrical) – Amazon plans to stream the documentary on Prime Video and launch a three‑part companion docu‑series, aiming to extend audience reach beyond the box‑office run [5][9].