A Sudden Movie Cancellation in South Africa

A film about Melania Trump was set to release in South Africa this Friday, but the local distributor, Filmfinity, abruptly canceled the release.

Why Was the Movie Pulled?

Thobashan Govindarajulu, the head of sales and marketing for Filmfinity, announced the decision but remained silent on the reasons behind it. He did, however, state that no one pressured them into this choice.

The Controversial Film

The movie, which chronicles Melania Trump in the lead-up to her husband's second inauguration, has been a hot topic. President Trump himself called it a "must watch." Despite Amazon's massive $40 million investment for the rights and additional millions spent on marketing, theaters aren't seeing a rush for tickets. This has industry experts questioning if the hype is worth the risk.

Director Under Scrutiny

Adding to the controversy is the film's director, Brett Ratner. This is his first Hollywood project since facing sexual misconduct allegations in 2017 during the #MeToo movement.

Tense U.S.-South Africa Relations

The film's release in South Africa comes at a tense time. Relations between South Africa and the U.S. are frosty, thanks to President Trump's false claims about a genocide against the country's white minority and his harsh tariffs.

Theater Chain CEO's Confusion

Mark Sardi, the CEO of Ster-Kinekor, one of South Africa's big theater chains, shared a message from Filmfinity earlier this week. It said the movie met all local rules and was good to go. But then, suddenly, it wasn't. Sardi is just as confused as everyone else about why the film was pulled.