(Photo by CNN show/Image: Getty)
Comedian Roy Wood Jr., 47, took a sharp jab at Melania Trump’s new documentary over the weekend, delivering a punchline that quickly became one of the most talked-about moments on television comedy. While discussing the film’s box office performance, Wood Jr. compared audience turnout to the capacity of a Smart car, drawing loud laughs and plenty of reaction online.
The self-titled documentary Melania, directed by Brett Ratner, opened in theaters over the weekend. Despite mixed buzz, the film exceeded industry projections, earning about $7 million domestically. That figure placed it above its estimated $2 million to $5 million range and marked the strongest opening for a non-concert documentary in more than ten years.
Still, Melania faced stiff competition at the box office. The horror thriller Send Help and the self-financed video game adaptation Iron Lung both outperformed it, with Iron Lung leading the weekend after pulling in a sizable $17.9 million.
During Sunday’s broadcast of CNN’s Have I Got News For You, Wood Jr. set up his joke by posing a mock trivia question to the panel. “That brings us to today’s question. Which is higher? The number of seats sold for Friday’s 3:40 pm showing of Melania, at AMC’s 34th Street Theater in New York City?” he asked.
He then added the punchline setup: “Or! For the number of people who can fit in a Smart car? Which is higher?”
Panelist Michael Ian Black, 54, jumped in confidently, saying, “More people can fit in a Smart car than went to the 3:40 pm showing of Melania! No question!” Fellow comedian Amber Ruffin, 47, guessed, “I think eight people went to see Melania. And I think seven people can fit in that tiny little car.”
Wood Jr. then revealed the actual numbers. “The number of seats sold for the 3:40 pm showing of Melania, at AMC’s 34th Street Theater in New York City is 15.” He followed it up with the kicker: “And the number of people who can fit in a Smart car is 20!” The audience erupted as Wood Jr. added, “And that Smart car number is 100 percent accurate!”
Despite the jokes, the film did receive a high-profile rollout. Melania Trump hosted a lavish premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., ahead of its release. Speaking to reporters, she said, “I want to show the audience my life, what it takes to be a first lady again and the transition from private citizen back to the White House.”
She added, “It’s beautiful, it’s emotional, it’s fashionable, it’s cinematic, and I’m very proud of it.” Ratner also addressed the modest expectations, noting, “It’s a documentary and documentaries historically have not been huge box office smashes.
You can’t expect a documentary to play in theaters.” Following its theatrical run, Melania is set to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, with a release expected sometime in 2026.
