Elizabeth Holmes Documentary Beats Melania Trump Film at Box Office

The A24 documentary "You Can See Everything," directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, opened in 855 theaters across the United States and Canada and earned roughly $15 million in its first weekend, according to industry reports. The earnings represent the highest opening for a non-concert documentary since Michael Moore’s 2004 release, and the film placed second at the weekend box office behind Paramount’s "Street Fighter."

By comparison, the documentary about former first lady Melania Trump, produced by Amazon MGM and directed by Brett Ratner, opened in 1,778 locations and generated $7.1 million in its January opening weekend, with a total domestic gross of $16 million.

"You Can See Everything" was produced on an estimated $7 million budget with marketing costs under $10 million, while the Melania Trump film reportedly cost about $27 million to produce and market. The Holmes documentary holds a 99 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, whereas the Melania Trump documentary holds a 9 percent rating.

The Holmes film, which runs three hours, follows the founder of Theranos in the weeks leading up to her prison sentence and includes commentary on her personal relationships and public image. The Melania Trump documentary has been described by some observers as a promotional effort linked to billionaire Jeff Bezos.

"Not only will it go down as the coolest movie of the year, it could become the first documentary nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars," wrote Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast.

Both films have attracted attention for their differing financial results and critical reception.