‘Melania’ Documentary Smashes Records with 91-Point Gulf Between Critics and Audiences on Rotten Tomatoes

The film has emerged as emblematic of our polarized era—displaying a staggering 91-percentage-point chasm between professional reviewers and general moviegoers.

The former camp has branded it “a monument to monotony,” while the latter has elevated it to “timeless masterpiece” status.

Even former President Donald Trump contributed his assessment, declaring it “ESSENTIAL VIEWING” in his trademark capital-letter delivery.

Naturally—given that Brett Ratner’s documentary chronicles his spouse and First Lady across the twenty days preceding his second swearing-in.

Boasting a paltry 9% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Melania lands squarely in “rotten” territory, rubbing shoulders with cinema’s most notorious disasters.

The expanding rift compelled the review-aggregation platform to release its own clarification, verifying zero manipulation behind the documentary’s 98% audience approval.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 28: Melania Trump participates as First Lady Melania Trump Rings NYSE Opening Bell To Promote Forthcoming Film “Melania” at New York Stock Exchange on January 28, 2026 in New York City. Melania Trump headlines the eponymous documentary (Picture: Getty Images) Melania Trump Film Fault lines have emerged between reviewers and Trump loyalists (Picture: AP)

In communication with The Hollywood Reporter, the site confirmed: “NO tampering has occurred with audience evaluations for the Melania documentary.”

“Ratings visible on the Popcornmeter represent AUTHENTICATED feedback, confirming ticket purchase through Fandango.”

Sample reviews include James F.’s praise for the subject (and subject matter) as “the ultimate expression of sophistication, poise, and refinement.”

“Our venue reached capacity, concluding with spontaneous ovations,” Jenn reported, while Linda noted “my Democratic companion appreciated it equally!!”

DT M labeled it “touching and educational,” as Nancy G recounted her audience’s progression from “applause to enthusiastic cheering.”

Allegedly the costliest documentary ever produced (Picture: Muse Films)

One viewer abstaining from celebration was critic Mark Kermode, who termed it “the most spiritually draining theatrical experience of my lifetime.”

Concurrently, The New Statesman dismissed it as “120 minutes of absolute void,” while Empire Magazine compared its methodology to “a fawning, subservient depiction of the present US leadership.”

POV Magazine deemed it “laughable,” proposing its distribution served merely as “image-rehabilitation nonsense.”

Contributing to Metro, journalist Kimberley Bond detailed her sparsely attended UK screening.

“Trust one who endured it—this production is dreadful,” Bond wrote, characterizing it as “hollow, vacant, and stripped of all emotional substance.”

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 29: (L-R) President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend Amazon MGM’s “Melania” Global Debut at The Trump Kennedy Center on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Melania documents FLOTUS during days preceding her husband’s renewed term (Picture: Getty Images) Have you viewed Melania? If so, your verdict? Comment Now

This atmosphere of dissension has spilled into public spaces, with reports of Los Angeles promotional displays being vandalized.

One street-art intervention apparently depicts them desecrating the Stars and Stripes.

An Indecline collective representative informed Rolling Stone: “We’ve titled it Melania Cares About America?”

“We’ve spent twenty-five years scaling advertisements nationwide and modifying them variously, [because] we genuinely care about this nation.”

“Melania being an immigrant herself, paradoxically wed to the individual supervising immigrant abductions and additionally the executions of American citizens.”

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Action Press/Shutterstock (8704313p) Brett Ratner Wolfgang Puck Hollywood Walk of Fame celebration, Spago Beverly Hills, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA – 26 Apr 2017 Melania is helmed by director Brett Ratner (Picture: Shutterstock)

Earlier this week, Ratner addressed his inclusion in the recent Jeffrey Epstein document release.

Within one Justice Department photograph, the Rush Hour 3 director appeared alongside Epstein and two redacted female figures.

During subsequent Fox News Digital dialogue, Ratner identified one obscured woman as a former betrothed.

“Approximately two decades past, I had a partner. I loved her. We were engaged. She was my fiancée. We attended a function, were seated on a sofa, and the photograph was captured there,” Ratner elaborated.

He subsequently maintained he “lacked meaningful personal connection with” and “was unacquainted with [Epstein].”

Melania marks Ratner’s significant cinematic return following multiple sexual misconduct accusations in 2017.

Six women, performers Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge among them, charged the director with sexual assault and harassment. Specific allegations included masturbating before Munn and coercing Henstridge into oral sex.

Ratner’s legal representative at that time rejected all claims against his client.

Melania currently screens in UK theaters.