‘Melania’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Just Dropped – It’s Not Looking Good

The new documentary Melania, directed by Brett Ratner, is facing harsh criticism as it hits audiences in 2026. The film, which follows former First Lady Melania Trump in the twenty days leading up to Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration, has debuted with a shocking 7% score on Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, it holds a 6 out of 100 rating, indicating “overwhelming dislike,” based on 13 critic reviews.

Melania began development shortly after the 2024 presidential election and attracted offers from streaming giants like Amazon, Disney, Netflix, and Paramount. Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for the project, marking the highest price ever for a documentary, with plans for both a theatrical release and a follow-up docuseries. Trump maintained editorial control over the film and was heavily involved in production, which has been a key point in the backlash.

Critics have not held back. Julie Cohen, co-director of RBG and My Name Is Pauli Murray (2021), slammed the film for having “no artistic or journalistic integrity” due to Trump’s involvement. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman called it a “shameless infomercial” and compared it to propaganda from 1960s China.

Other reviews were equally harsh. Xan Brooks of The Guardian criticized the film’s slow pace and called it a “gilded trash remake” of The Zone of Interest (2023). Nick Hilton of The Independent compared it to The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Triumph of the Will (1935), describing it as vapid and lacking any meaningful insight into Trump’s life. Sophie Gilbert of The Atlantic also highlighted the absence of action or content.

Brian Truitt of USA Today noted an emotional disconnect, pointing out that Melania never directly addresses the camera and does not react emotionally to events like California wildfires, leaving the film feeling detached.

MELANIA, the film, exclusively in theaters worldwide on January 30th, 2026. pic.twitter.com/n2kloQ4JwW

— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) December 17, 2025

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter criticized the music choices, which include songs referencing murder, r***, war, s**** allegations, and male domination. Tracks like Gimme Shelter, Billie Jean, Boléro, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World were described as mismatched and distracting.

The negative reviews have sparked debate over the film’s purpose and whether the huge Amazon deal was justified. Critics seem to agree that Melania offers little new insight and functions more as a carefully curated image piece than a documentary.

The film’s reception raises questions about editorial control in documentaries, the influence of celebrity involvement, and how far audiences will accept a production that prioritizes image over substance.

The backlash against Melania shows how important honesty and narrative independence are in documentaries. Giving one subject complete control often undermines credibility, no matter the budget or star power. Do you think Melania could have worked if it had more journalistic freedom, or was it doomed from the start? Share your thoughts in the comments.