Melania Trump’s Documentary: From Star-Studded Premiere to Critical Backlash
In early 2026, Melania — a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump — premiered amid significant fanfare. Backed by Amazon MGM Studios and directed by Brett Ratner, it follows Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to her husband’s second presidential inauguration in 2025.
At the premiere, which included appearances by Donald and Melania Trump and prominent political figures, the film was presented as an intimate look at the life and perspective of a controversial figure in contemporary politics.
Yet despite the strong launch environment, once critics and audiences began weighing in, the reaction became one of the most polarizing in recent film history.
A Critical Bombing: Ratings Hit Historic Lows
Almost immediately after release, professional critics overwhelmingly panned Melania. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, as of early February 2026 the documentary had a critic approval rating in single digits — reported as low as 6–8%, even lower than famously panned films like Cats.
Film reviewers used harsh language. Some labeled the work “insipid propaganda,” “shameless infomercial,” and “gilded trash” — critiques indicating that the documentary fails as both cinema and honest storytelling.
In one particularly brutal note, The Guardian issued an embarrassing correction pushing its original one-star review to zero stars, a near-unprecedented move that underscored just how poorly the film was received.
IMDb and Letterboxd Scores Follow Suit
On user platforms, the response has likewise been starkly negative. Melania briefly became one of the lowest-rated films on IMDb ever, dropping as low as 1.1/10 before settling around 1.3/10.
On Letterboxd, another influential film review community, it ranks among the very bottom of over a million films, with a vast majority of users giving it the lowest possible ratings.
Critics’ Main Grievances: Why It’s Being Slammed
1. More Branding Than Documentary
One of the most repeated criticisms is that Melania doesn’t function like a traditional documentary — a genre typically defined by probing, investigative, humanizing, or revelatory filmmaking.
Instead, many reviewers argue the film feels curated and controlled, offering a polished but shallow portrayal that seems designed to enhance Melania Trump’s image rather than interrogate or explore her life meaningfully.
For some critics, this blurs the line between documentary and political branding, raising questions about motive and authenticity.
2. Lack of Substance and Emotional Depth
Critics widely noted that despite its glossy production, the movie reveals little about its subject beyond staged moments and surface-level visuals like fashion fittings or social engagements. Some described Melania herself as coming across as disconnected or unengaging on camera.
A number of reviewers concluded that the film fails to deliver personal insight — traditionally the core purpose of documentary storytelling.
3. Production and Directorial Controversies
Adding fuel to the fire, the director Brett Ratner is a controversial figure in Hollywood with a history of past sexual harassment allegations. While some defenders dismiss this as irrelevant to the documentary’s content, others see it as part of broader narrative concerns about the film’s creation and perspective.
Box Office vs. Critical Consensus: A Strange Divide
Despite derision from critics, Melania had a relatively strong box office debut, grossing around $7 million in the U.S. — reportedly the largest documentary opening in over a decade.
Nevertheless, this outcome has itself become a topic of debate. Some analysts argue the documentary’s performance was boosted through bulk ticket purchases — distributed to conservative groups or senior communities — which might have inflated attendance figures without reflecting real audience engagement.
This has contributed to one of the largest ever recorded disparities between critic reviews and audience scores — with some audience aggregates inexplicably high, while critics rate it near zero.
Cultural and Political Backlash
The Melania documentary didn’t just stir cinematic conversation — it sparked political controversy on multiple fronts.
Military Screenings Controversy
Groups such as the Military Religious Freedom Foundation claimed that U.S. military personnel were “pressured” by commanders to attend screenings as part of mandatory unit activities — a report that drew attention due to implications about freedom and political messaging within the armed forces.
Late Night and Pop Culture Reactions
Comedians and public figures have also weighed in, sometimes mockingly. Jimmy Kimmel, for example, openly joked about the documentary’s box office performance and alleged “rigged” elements, comparing its metrics to past politically charged sales stunts.
So Is Melania One of the Worst Films Ever?
When critics and film historians talk about historically maligned movies, they point to works like Cats, Battlefield Earth, or various infamously unsuccessful projects.
By many metrics — critical scores, audience ratings, and cultural perception — Melania is frequently compared to these films, and in some cases rated even worse.
Whether it qualifies as the absolute worst film ever is subjective, but there’s broad consensus that Melania sits firmly in the category of critically disastrous and divisive cinema.
What This Means in the Larger Media Landscape
The uproar over Melania reveals much more than just a poorly received documentary:
1. Documentary Genre Boundaries Are Shifting
Where traditional documentaries once prioritized storytelling and insight, films like Melania challenge audiences to reconsider expectations — especially when political figures curate their own narratives.
This tension is part of a growing debate about whether media can ever be fully objective — and who gets to decide what counts as documentary storytelling.
2. Social Media and Review Manipulation Concerns
The unusually wide gap between critic and audience scores has fueled speculation about bot reviews, manipulative practices, and coordinated online campaigns — fueling distrust in review platforms and amplifying questions about digital authenticity.
Even if not fully verifiable, these user discussions reflect growing anxieties about how online opinions are shaped and perceived.
3. Polarization in Entertainment Consumption
Finally, Melania shows how deeply polarized audiences have become. Some reviewers defend the film based on personal politics, while others dismiss it outright as propaganda.
This kind of geek-culture fragmentation makes debates around films less about art and more about identity — and Melania sits squarely at that intersection.
Final Takeaway
Melania Trump’s documentary Melania has achieved a rare feat: it is simultaneously a box office conversation starter, a critical flop, and a cultural flashpoint. The praise and backlash it’s received reflect deeper divisions in politics, media, and public trust.
Whether you see it as misguided branding, failed filmmaking, or intentional image management, there’s no doubt Melania is one of the most controversial and widely derided documentaries of 2026 — and possibly one of the most talked-about failures in modern cinematic history.
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