When news broke that Melania Trump was pulling the curtain back on her life with a documentary, it landed like a rabbit out of a magician’s hat. For a woman whose public presence has long been defined by silence, subtle expression, and an inscrutable stare, the announcement instantly ignited curiosity.

So when MELANIA arrived in theaters on January 30, 2026, audiences brimmed with curiosity. Now that the reviews and early performance figures are in, it is clear the documentary’s journey is as complex.

Critical response to MELANIA has been, to put it mildly, brutal. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the documentary currently sits with a 7% critic score, a consensus suggesting most professional reviewers found little of substance.

“I’d rather rewatch January 6th,” one critic quipped.

Some even lamented that the film seems less about discovery and more about distraction from broader political controversies. Yet despite scathing reviews, early box office tracking tells a different story.

Following its Washington D.C. premiere, attended by President Donald Trump and a cohort of loyal supporters, MELANIA is surpassing initial expectations, as per Hollywood Reporter. Early Friday returns place the documentary on track for around $8 million or more in its North American opening frame, potentially landing a surprising No. 3 spot behind newcomers like Send Help and Iron Lung.

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This dichotomy, murderous critic reviews versus stronger-than-expected box office underscores how polarizing MELANIA has become. Even when it garnered criticism, before its release, the documentary is likely to grow on the box office side. But how? 

Directed by controversial filmmaker Brett Ratner, MELANIA is already the most expensive documentary ever released. Amazon MGM Studios paid a reported $40 million for worldwide rights and backed it with a staggering $35 million global marketing spend. These are figures unheard of in documentary distribution, where even large campaigns usually hover around $5-7 million domestically.

Ratner’s vision, defended amid accusations of political favoritism, was to create a cinematic experience that blends intimate access with broad narrative sweep. The documentary follows the First Lady through the days leading up to the 2025 inauguration. While traditional documentaries might focus on archival or investigative depth, MELANIA promises polished visuals, narrative voiceover from its subject, and unprecedented personal access.

And a backing of the President of the United States himself, all of it is a combination intended to reshape perceptions of one of the most enigmatic figures in American politics.

In the end, MELANIA may not win awards, but it has already won attention, whether that is praise or ridicule depends on who you ask. Love it or loathe it, this documentary has become a cultural event as contested as politics itself.

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