A new Melania Trump documentary is stirring buzz as verified moviegoers praise it, sending audience scores soaring far above critics’ reviews.
The documentary Melania has become one of the most talked-about films of the season—not because of awards chatter, but because of a stunning gap between critics and audiences.
As of its second weekend in theaters, the Amazon MGM-backed film holds a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics have rated it at just 7%. The divide has fueled online debate, late-night jokes, and questions about how such a difference could happen.
Rotten Tomatoes’ parent company, Versant, says the answer is simple: real people bought tickets and shared their reactions.
In a statement to Variety, the company stressed that there has been “no bot manipulation,” noting that the Popcornmeter only includes verified reviews from users who purchased tickets.
Still, the numbers have raised eyebrows. Melania now holds the largest gap between critic and audience scores in Rotten Tomatoes history, according to Rolling Stone.
The contrast even made its way into Jimmy Kimmel’s Feb. 4 monologue, where the host joked about the film’s ratings and called for a tongue-in-cheek investigation.
Directed by Brett Ratner, Melania follows Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration. The film opened with $7 million domestically—a strong debut for a documentary, though modest compared to Amazon’s $40 million acquisition and an additional $35 million spent on marketing.
Audience data offers clues to the film’s reception. According to PostTrak, opening-weekend ticket buyers were largely older and female: 72% were women, 83% were over 45, and nearly three-quarters were white.
That core group appears to have connected deeply with the film’s personal tone and behind-the-scenes access.
While critics focused on filmmaking choices and broader political context, many viewers seem to have responded to Melania Trump’s story on a more emotional level.
Whether praised or panned, Melania has clearly struck a chord—proving once again that in today’s movie landscape, audience reaction can be just as powerful, and polarizing, as critical opinion.
PHOTO CREDIT: Amazon/MGM Studios
