Melania Trump’s new documentary is facing mounting embarrassment ahead of its release, amid reports of empty cinema screenings, critical backlash and claims that even members of the production team are hoping the film fails. The Amazon-backed documentary, Melania, is set to premiere at the Kennedy Centre before opening in cinemas worldwide, but early signs suggest it is struggling to attract audiences.

Booking websites have allegedly shown zero tickets sold for opening-night screenings in several major US cities, with social media users sharing screenshots of empty auditoriums. One post claimed: “Zero sold in Atlanta. Opening night. Busy theatre.” British cinemas have also reported weak interest, with Vue chief executive Tim Richards telling The Telegraph that early indicators suggested the film was unlikely to attract large crowds when it opens in the UK. The documentary has also been pulled from cinemas in South Africa, with distributor Filmfinity withdrawing it from major chains amid concerns over its reception.

The film has not only struggled with audiences, but has also reportedly drawn criticism from those who worked on it.

One viewer described it as “propaganda fluff about the dictator’s wife.”

According to Rolling Stone, two-thirds of the documentary’s New York-based crew requested that their names not be included in the film’s credits.

One source told the magazine they wished they had removed their name earlier, saying: “I’m much more alarmed now.”

Another crew member admitted they were hoping the documentary would fail commercially.

They said: “Unfortunately, if it does flop, I would really feel great about it.”

Others expressed discomfort with the content of the film itself. One source said: “I feel a little bit uncomfortable with the propaganda element of this.”

Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange this week to promote the documentary, the First Lady said: “My new film, ‘Melania,’ provides a window into an important period for America, the 47th presidential inauguration.”

She added: “For the first time in history, people will witness the 20 days leading up to the inauguration through the eyes of an incoming first lady.”

Amazon reportedly paid $40million (£29million) to acquire the documentary, before investing a further $35million (£25.5million) in a global marketing campaign, though The Guardian reported that overseas interest remains “soft”.

With advance ticket sales reportedly low and criticism mounting both publicly and behind the scenes, industry observers say the film faces a challenging opening weekend.