Melania Trump’s self-titled documentary, Melania, premiered over the weekend, but early reactions suggest it’s struggling to find its audience. Critics have largely panned the film, and ratings indicate it may have set a record just not the kind any filmmaker hopes for.
Directed by Rush Hour filmmaker Brett Ratner, the documentary focuses on Melania’s life as First Lady during her husband Donald Trump’s presidency, especially in the lead-up to his second-term inauguration. Despite the high-profile subject and a reported $40 million budget, the project has faced severe criticism from both audiences and professional reviewers.
According to IMDb, the film currently holds an average rating of 1.3 out of 10, based on around 24,000 reviews. At one point, it even dipped to a 1.1-star rating. While Amazon MGM Studios took a significant gamble on the film, the documentary’s box office performance so far doesn’t look promising. It grossed $8.1 million in its opening three days a solid figure for a documentary, marking the biggest opening for the genre in five years—but still far short of the roughly $100 million needed to break even. You can read more about Melania’s fears after Donald Trump’s presidency and the behind-the-scenes controversies surrounding the film.
In addition to IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes has been equally harsh, giving the documentary a mere 6% rating. Critics have highlighted that the film offers little insight into Melania’s life beyond superficial details. One reviewer wrote, “All I can say is, no matter who made it, no matter who paid for it, no matter who it’s about, Melania is a singularly bad movie. I really did give it a fair shake.” Another added, “It contains nothing: no ideas, no point of view, no tension beyond whether the tailors will be able to properly alter her inauguration turtleneck.”
Even with multiple scenes showing changes in time, location, wardrobe, and high heels, some critics argue that viewers are left knowing no more about Melania than before watching the documentary. One review concluded, “By the end of Melania, a glossy, curiously impersonal, outwardly apolitical portrait, you are no closer to understanding its famous subject than you were at the start.” For those interested in more in-depth reporting on Melania’s email exchanges and other high-profile controversies or the wider political landscape surrounding the film, these articles provide additional context.
While the documentary has set records for its opening, the overwhelmingly negative reception makes its long-term success uncertain, raising questions about whether it can overcome the harsh reviews and achieve commercial viability. You can also explore 5 key takeaways from Melania Trump’s new film for a closer look at the storylines critics focused on.
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