Political documentaries are usually sold on huge promises, and that is not the situation with Melania. Focusing on former First Lady Melania Trump, the film was branded as a close-up, behind-the-scenes examination of her life as she was getting ready to resume her role in the White House alongside Donald Trump prior to his 2025 inauguration. 

The documentary itself had already become involved in controversy even before Melania received an official public release. The project hit the headlines when numerous journalists and the mainstream press were denied the opportunity to attend its high-profile screening at the Kennedy Center.

Although reporters had signed in to the event, they were told later that they would not be able to see the film, which is odd in itself and immediately led to speculation on what the documentary was trying to control.

So, was the backlash that followed driven by politics, perception, or something deeper about the film itself?

Despite the scarcity of exposure, initial harsh criticism of Melania developed quite fast and firmly. Those who, however, saw the documentary during the selective screenings were not impressed much, with many of them claiming that the film was not able to provide them with the intimacy and insight that it promised. By the time the reactions came into the limelight, Melania had a truly appallingly low score of 8% on Rotten Tomatoes and was almost universally disliked by critics.

Some of the big stores critiqued the documentary, claiming it acted more like a well-calculated propaganda than a political portrait. Its length was criticized as the movie was criticized for lingering on superficial scenes and not exploring the inner workings of Melania Trump as a public figure, her agency, or her effect on politics. The Guardian and The Atlantic went even further, labeling the documentary as "trash", and "a disgrace".

All the reviews were not so unforgiving, though. A less confrontational reaction was provided by The London Evening Standard, which gave Melania three out of five stars. The magazine challenged readers to maintain an open mind and observe the composed and sophisticated on-screen look of Melania Trump, despite the magazine not going all the way in recommending the film.

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Is this criticism about the film’s quality or about what it represents?

Beyond reviews, Melania sits at the intersection of politics, celebrity, and media trust. Directed by Brett Ratner and reportedly carrying a $75 million budget, the documentary is unusually expensive for its genre. That scale alone raised expectations, ones critics felt the film failed to meet. For many, the issue was not just what the documentary included, but what it avoided: tough questions, self-reflection, and broader political context.

The film’s planned theatrical presence in over 1,500 theaters despite not yet being officially released also signals how heavily it relies on public curiosity. Supporters, skeptics, and outright critics alike appear drawn to it, sometimes watching with the intent to scrutinize rather than sympathize. In that sense, polarization may be part of the documentary’s strategy, not an unintended consequence.

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Will you watch Melania when it’s officially released? Let us know in the comments below!