A prominent late-night television host has cast doubt on the reported financial success of a recent documentary centered on a former First Lady, suggesting its strong opening weekend figures may not reflect genuine audience interest.
During his program, the host pointed to industry reports indicating the documentary, one of the most expensive ever made, surprisingly topped sales charts for its genre upon release. He expressed skepticism, noting widespread observations of sparse theater attendance prior to the film’s debut.
“The impressive box office numbers appear to be bolstered by bulk ticket purchases that were subsequently distributed at no cost,” the host stated, drawing a parallel to a past controversy where a political committee purchased large quantities of a book by a family member of a former president to secure its place on a bestseller list.
“History seems to be repeating itself,” he commented to audience laughter. “Sources indicate blocks of tickets were acquired and given to political activists.”
The host previously mocked the film’s economics, highlighting the stark contrast between its monumental production budget and its opening weekend revenue, which he sarcastically labeled a “record-setting” achievement for its specific genre.
The documentary, for which a major studio paid a significant sum for distribution rights and mounted an extensive marketing campaign, has received praise from certain media figures aligned with the former First Lady’s political sphere.
In a satirical pledge, the host vowed to volunteer as host of a major awards ceremony should the documentary receive any nominations, culminating in a jest about the film potentially winning an unrelated international sports award—a quip seemingly referencing a recent honor bestowed upon the former president by a global soccer governing body.