Melania Movie Review: A Polarizing Portrait The 2026 documentary Melania , directed by Brett Ratner and released by Amazon MGM Studios, chronicles the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration through First Lady Melania Trump's eyes, drawing mixed reactions from critics and audiences alike. Premiering just days ago on January 30, 2026, it offers exclusive footage of White House transitions, family moments, and private conversations, but critics largely pan it as glossy yet shallow.

Quick Scoop

  • Runtime & Rating: PG-rated feature-length doc, currently in nationwide theaters with sold-out screenings reported by fans.
  • Core Focus : Melania orchestrating inauguration plans, navigating D.C. complexities, and revealing snippets like singing to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" or dancing to "YMCA."
  • Box Office Buzz : Audience scores erupt in applause, contrasting critics' disdain—think a triumph of the dull for some.
  • Latest News : As of January 31, 2026, Rotten Tomatoes shows top critics "rotten," with only one fresh score amid forum debates on its hagiographic tone.

Critic Breakdown

Critics skew harsh, viewing it less as insightful biography and more as a curated self-portrait distracting from political chaos. Here's a snapshot:

Critic| Outlet| Score| Key Quote [web:#]
---|---|---|---
William Bibbiani| TheWrap| Negative| "Escapes me why she approved this; Ratner couldn’t find humanity in sad occasions." 1
Karl Quinn| The Age| 2.5/5| "Distracts from corruption rather than providing insight." 1
Liz Shannon Miller| Consequence| F| "Charm of a mundane home improvement show." 1
Frank Scheck| Hollywood Reporter| Negative| "Excessively flattering, almost unpatriotic not to praise." 1
Melanie McDonagh| London Evening Standard| 4/5| "Genuine warmth beneath her striking features." 19
CNN Analysis| CNN| Mixed| "Lavish coffee table film: glossy but lacks depth." 7

This table captures the trending divide on Rotten Tomatoes, where verified audiences cheer Melania as a "class act."

Audience & Forum Takes

Fans on Reddit's r/boxoffice hail it a "fantastic flick," with theaters erupting in cheers, positioning it as pro-America propaganda to some. Forums buzz with speculation: Is this Melania's bid for warmth amid her husband's administration, or just high-fashion tedium? One user quips Ratner channels a "parody of Leni Riefenstahl."

"A fantastic flick, our theater was sold out and erupted in applause... Melania is a wonderful human, a class act."
— Rotten Tomatoes Verified Audience

Multi-viewpoints emerge: Supporters see empowerment in her unreadable elegance lighting candles at St. Patrick's; detractors call it narcolepsy-inducing mockumentary. Trending context ties to 2025 inauguration nostalgia, now a hot forum discussion as Trump's presidency unfolds.

Storytelling Highlights

Imagine Melania, poised amid D.C. frenzy, her feline eyes masking strategy as she plans the biggest party in town—yet Ratner’s lens lingers on fashion and soundtracks over substance, like a Vogue shoot gone political. Temporal nods: Filmed in real-time pre-inauguration (Jan 2025), it dropped amid 2026 reelection hype, fueling gossip on her "true nature." Safe speculation: Could this boost her post-White House profile? Forums say yes for fans, no for skeptics.

Why the Divide?

  1. Pro : Unprecedented access humanizes her—sorrow for her mother's passing, family moves feel real.
  1. Con : Feels like a vanity project, evading deeper Trump-era chaos.
  1. Trend Tie-In : Viral news pits elite critics against populist cheers, echoing culture wars.

TL;DR : Melania dazzles visually but divides sharply—critics splatter it "rotten," audiences adore the class act. Perfect for Trump fans, nap fuel for others.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.