The documentary film “Melania,” directed by Brett Ratner and focusing on First Lady Melania Trump in the weeks before her husband’s second inauguration in 2025, has drawn overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics upon its release, earning an 8 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on initial assessments.
The $75 million production, which premiered at the Kennedy Center and opened in an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 theaters across the United States, follows Melania Trump over a 20-day period leading up to the inauguration. This timing coincides with heightened public interest in the Trump administration’s return to the White House, offering a glimpse into the personal and public life of the first lady amid ongoing political discussions. However, early reviews have highlighted the film’s perceived lack of depth and objectivity, with its critical score falling below that of the 2019 film “Cats,” which received a 19 percent rating.
apart from this it was a fantastic cinematic experience
— George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 (@gtconway3d) January 30, 2026
https://t.co/kDEzzopgqr pic.twitter.com/wyM3pAHLw5
Critics have described the documentary in harsh terms. Kevin Fallon of the Daily Beast characterized it as “a level of insipid propaganda that almost resists review; it’s so expected and utterly pointless.” Xan Brooks from The Guardian wrote that “the fun’s not infectious and the guests are a nightmare, and two hours of Melania feels like pure, endless hell.” Owen Gleiberman of Variety noted that it is “a documentary that never comes to life,” adding that “it’s a ‘portrait’ of the First Lady of the United States, but it’s so orchestrated and airbrushed and stage-managed that it barely rises to the level of a shameless infomercial.” Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter observed that the film “fawns so lavishly over its subject that you feel downright unpatriotic not gushing over it,” echoing a sentiment that to call it a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies. Another review stated plainly, “I don’t want to blow anyone’s minds here or throw you off your balance when I inform you that the Melania documentary, now in theaters, is terrible.” As of early Friday evening, only one of the dozen reviews compiled on Rotten Tomatoes deemed the film worthy of a positive “fresh” designation.
Melania Trump, 55, attended the premiere and described the documentary as “beautiful,” “emotional,” and “fashionable.” Despite this endorsement, the project has faced internal pushback. Reports indicate that two-thirds of the New York-based crew chose not to be credited in the final product. One crew member expressed hope that it “flops,” while another cited discomfort with “the propaganda element of this.”
BREAKING 🚨 President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the Red Carpet for "Melania" premier at the Trump-Kennedy Center.
— J (@JayTC53) January 30, 2026
Melania is absolutely stunning at the premier!
American royalty on full display 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/aGnRin5Slc
Box office performance remains uncertain in the film’s opening days. Projections for the weekend have varied between $1 million and $5 million. An analysis as of January 29 showed that the Amazon-MGM release had sold out screenings at only two theaters nationwide, suggesting limited initial audience turnout despite the broad theatrical rollout.
