Amazon Pulls Melania Movie From Oregon Theater

Independent theater planned to show controversial film about former first lady

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A small independent movie theater in Lake Oswego, Oregon, a Portland suburb, had planned to show the movie "Melania" but was forced to cancel the screenings after receiving a call from Amazon, who apparently took issue with how the theater had chosen to advertise the film on their marquee.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the power that large tech companies like Amazon can wield over smaller, independent businesses, even when it comes to creative programming decisions. It also speaks to the continued public fascination and controversy surrounding former First Lady Melania Trump.

The details

The Lake Theater & Café had initially advertised the "Melania" movie on their marquee with the messages "DOES MELANIA WEAR PRADA? FIND OUT FRIDAY!" and "TO DEFEAT YOUR ENEMY. YOU MUST KNOW THEM. MELANIA." However, after receiving a call from Amazon, the theater was forced to change their marquee to state "AMAZON CALLED, OUR MARQUEE MADE THEM MAD, ALL MELANIA SHOWS CANCELED, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AT WHOLE FOODS INSTEAD :(".

  • The Lake Theater & Café in Lake Oswego, Oregon had planned to show the "Melania" movie on Friday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Lake Theater & Café

A small independent movie theater in Lake Oswego, Oregon, a Portland suburb.

Amazon

The e-commerce giant that reportedly called the theater and forced them to cancel the "Melania" movie screenings.

Jordan Perry

The general manager of the Lake Theater & Café.

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What they’re saying

“Financially, the film marketplace this week and next were a desert... So, to fill a screen, why not get this inexplicable vanity piece from the current president's wife? I mean, it just seems so weird that it even exists (who wants a movie about Melania lol?), and wouldn't it then be exponentially weirder, to the point of being funny, to show it here, at your obviously anti-establishment, occasionally troublemaking, neighborhood cinema?”

— Jordan Perry, General Manager, Lake Theater & Café (dailykos.com)

What’s next

It is unclear if the Lake Theater & Café will attempt to reschedule the "Melania" movie screenings or if they will find another way to show the film despite Amazon's intervention.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the power that large tech companies can wield over smaller, independent businesses, even when it comes to creative programming decisions. It also speaks to the continued public fascination and controversy surrounding former First Lady Melania Trump.