"Melania" Documentary Made $7M Despite 11% on Rotten Tomatoes
Critics absolutely wrecked "Melania," the new documentary about First Lady Melania Trump. The Atlantic called it "an elaborate piece of designer taxidermy, horribly overpriced and ice-cold." Variety called it "a piece of state-sanctioned propaganda out of 1960s Communist China." It's sitting at 11% on Rotten Tomatoes.
And it still made $7 million its opening weekend.
That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the gap between Hollywood and the people actually buying movie tickets.
What the Movie Is
"Melania," released in theaters January 30, chronicles the 20 days leading up to President Trump's second inauguration in January 2025. It was produced by the first lady herself and directed by Brett Ratner—a Hollywood pariah who was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including Olivia Munn, back in 2017. So, seemingly, this is a comeback of sorts for him, too.
The official description promised "unprecedented access" into Melania's private world. Critics weren't impressed. Audiences, apparently, didn't care what critics thought.
The Numbers Don't Lie
The $7 million opening weekend is the biggest box office opening for a non-musical documentary in over a decade. It came in third over the weekend behind two horror films, "Send Help" at $20 million and "Iron Lung" at $17.9 million.
The film performed best in Trump strongholds like Florida and Texas. On Rotten Tomatoes, while critics gave it an 11% Tomatometer score, the audience Popcornmeter sits at 99%. It also got an "A" from CinemaScore, which is audience-led.
So, critics hate it. The people watching it love it. Sound familiar?
The Money Behind It
"Melania" is reportedly the most expensive documentary in history. Billionaire Jeff Bezos' Amazon MGM Studios bought it for $40 million, with an alleged $35 million spent on marketing. The film is slated to stream on Prime Video later this year.
Melania also launched her own production company, Muse Films, before the movie's theatrical release. The first lady walked the red carpet at the Trump Kennedy Center for the DC premiere alongside the president Thursday night, wearing a black Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit. Celebrities including Nicki Minaj, Dr. Phil, Daphne Oz, and former New York City Mayor Eric Adams showed up.
Why It Matters
Melania Trump has spent most of her time as first lady being deliberately elusive. She stayed on the sidelines for most of the 2024 campaign, focusing on her 19-year-old son Barron. Her public appearances have been carefully curated—Pope Francis' funeral, Fourth of July festivities, the White House Easter Egg Roll.
The documentary and its box office success feel like an extension of that strategy. Critics can pan it all they want, but the opening weekend numbers show the Trump brand still draws a crowd, whether it's at the ballot box or the movie theater.
For a woman so shrouded in mystery, Melania Trump has a knack for surprising people—especially the ones who thought they had her figured out.
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