Bob Mondello

It is designed to put forth a point of view, and it does that modestly, effectively.

That sigh says so much.

This really was fun.

Thank you.

The Disney thriller Send Help was expected to top the chart with ticket sales of about $20 million.

But what's coming in second is startling.

Iron Lung, a low-budget video game adaptation from a dedicated YouTuber.

You did test this thing, right?

This is the test.

It was originally slated for 60 screens, but after director Mark Fischbach urged his online followers to request it at their local theaters, Iron Lung ended up on 3,000 screens.

It will take in more than $17 million in three days, about five times what it costs to make.

Coming in third is Melania, a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump.

I feel energized to serve the American people.

It will earn a better-than-expected $7 million for the weekend.

Not bad for a documentary, but not great since Amazon spent more than $35 million to advertise it.

Bob Mondello, NPR News.

Both of the week's frontrunners, the genre flick Send Help from Disney and the scrappy indie Iron Lung made by a YouTuber, are poised to take in about $17 million through Sunday.

But the surprise of the weekend is the documentary Melania, about First Lady Melania Trump.

Critics were brutal.

The review aggregator Rot Tomatoes has the film at a catastrophic 6%.