Melania Trump Documentary Fiercely Divides Critics & Audiences On Rotten Tomatoes

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Melania has left critics and audiences deeply divided on Rotten Tomatoes.

This documentary focuses on Melania Trump during the twenty days before her husband, Donald Trump, began his second term as president. It’s directed by Brett Ratner, his first directing project in over ten years following accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct. The premiere at the Kennedy Center wasn’t open to most major news outlets. When it became available publicly, the film Melania received overwhelmingly negative reviews, earning only an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes aren’t impressed with the film, giving it a score of just 6%. However, audiences love it, with a score of 98%. The critic score is based on 16 reviews, with only one being positive, but this could change as more reviews come in, particularly during the opening weekend. The audience score is based on over 100 ratings.

Critics are largely unimpressed with the film, though Melanie McDonagh of The London Standard suggests that if viewed as Melania Trump’s own self-presentation, it reveals a desire to show her human side beneath her polished exterior. However, Owen Gleiberman’s review in Variety echoes the general critical opinion, describing the film as overly controlled and artificial, barely more than a carefully crafted advertisement.

Audience reactions on Rotten Tomatoes are overwhelmingly positive, a sharp contrast to critical reviews. The top verified review gave the documentary five stars, calling it a “fantastic film” that received a standing ovation. The reviewer praised Melania Trump as a “wonderful human” and a “class act,” and said America is lucky to have her as First Lady. Other five-star reviews highlighted that the film was both funny and moving, and offered an excellent behind-the-scenes look at the lead-up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration from Melania’s point of view.

Despite mixed reactions from critics and viewers, the big question is how well the movie Melania will do at the box office. Experts predict it will earn between $2 million and $8 million during its opening weekend. However, with a production budget of $40 million and another $35 million spent on marketing by Amazon, the documentary will likely face an uphill battle to become profitable. It’s competing for audiences with other new releases like Sam Raimi’s Send Help, Markiplier’s Iron Lung, and Jason Statham’s Shelter.

Although the film is now available for public viewing, and a premiere was held at the Kennedy Center, a select group enjoyed an advance screening at the White House the weekend before its official release. This exclusive event was attended by Donald and Melania Trump, director Brett Ratner, along with prominent figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook, boxing icon Mike Tyson, and New York Stock Exchange CEO Lynn Martin.

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2026-01-31 18:39