The reviews are in, and the response to the new Melania Trump documentary is nothing short of brutal. Simply titledMelania, the film has landed with a resounding thud, quickly earning a place among the most critically panned movies of all time.
The documentary attempts to chronicle the twenty days leading up to a hypothetical second inauguration for Donald Trump, but audiences haven’t responded. Initial ticket sales were weak, and projections suggest a potentially devastating financial loss for Amazon, which invested a staggering $40 million in the project and a planned docuseries follow-up.
Currently,Melaniaholds a dismal 7% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics haven’t held back, labeling the film “dull” and “terrible.” One review called it a “shameless infomercial,” while another described the experience as “pure, endless hell.”
The negative assessments paint a picture of a film devoid of substance. One writer, after witnessing a screening in a nearly empty cinema, called it a “beige vanity exercise,” lacking any genuine emotional impact. It now shares the dubious honor of a bottom-tier score with other critically reviled films.
Despite the widespread condemnation, a single glimmer of positivity emerged from the London Evening Standard, which deemed the film “rather fascinating” in a lukewarm review. However, this stands in stark contrast to the overwhelming negativity.
Interestingly, audience scores on one platform tell a different story, with a near-perfect rating fueled by enthusiastic viewers claiming sold-out screenings and spontaneous applause. One user even described the film as “classical art.”
Beyond the film’s content, controversy surrounds its director, Brett Ratner. Allegations of misconduct surfaced in 2017, with multiple women coming forward with complaints, all of which he denied. Crew members reportedly found working with Ratner far more challenging than interacting with Melania Trump herself.
Several production staff members expressed discomfort with the film’s perceived propaganda and openly criticized Ratner’s behavior on set. Reports detail instances of disrespect and disregard for crew members, with some admitting they would feel relief if the film ultimately failed.
The film’s fate hangs in the balance, a stark example of a project plagued by both critical failure and behind-the-scenes turmoil. Whether it will find an audience remains to be seen, but the initial response suggests a difficult road ahead.
