MELANIA.
Melania is a 2026 documentary about Melania Trump during the weeks before Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Amazon paid $40 million to make and release it, which is an unusually huge amount for a documentary. Melania Trump helped make the film and had control over what was shown.
The movie was controversial because it was directed by Brett Ratner, who had serious allegations against him, and because many people felt the film was more like advertising for the Trumps than a real documentary.
Critics hated it, saying it was boring, empty, and propaganda. Regular audiences who went to see it mostly liked it.
It made some money in the U.S. but did poorly in most other countries and didn’t come close to earning back its cost.
Basically: it was very expensive, very controlled, very political, and very divisive.
• The British film ratings board listed Melania as a PG-rated movie.
• Box Office Mojo tracked how much money the film made in theaters.
• The Numbers also reported the film’s box office earnings.
• The Hollywood Reporter interviewed Melania Trump and Brett Ratner about the controversy around the film.
• The Times wrote about Melania Trump’s role and influence during Trump’s second term.
• New York Magazine explained what the film is about and why it drew attention.
• The Hollywood Reporter announced that Brett Ratner would direct the documentary for Amazon.
• Puck reported on Amazon paying an unusually large amount of money for the film.
• The New York Times questioned Amazon’s motives for heavily promoting the documentary.
• The Independent highlighted backlash over Amazon hiring Brett Ratner and paying $40 million.
• The Guardian described a quiet and uneasy opening screening in the UK.
• Mother Jones reported that users were leaving negative reviews before the movie was released.
• The Daily Telegraph argued that the documentary had become a public-relations problem.
• Forbes questioned whether the movie was actually selling well despite Trump’s claims.
• The Hollywood Reporter covered a private White House screening attended by famous guests.
• CNN analyzed whether the film would succeed financially.
• CNN reported on Melania Trump promoting the movie at the New York Stock Exchange.
• The New Yorker interviewed a cinematographer about what the film was trying to achieve visually.
• The New Republic reported internal chaos and dissatisfaction among the production crew.
• USA Today listed the famous songs used in the film’s soundtrack.
• The Irish Times reviewed the film and criticized it as dull propaganda.
• Puck questioned whether the movie could perform well at the box office.
• The Hollywood Reporter previewed the movie’s opening weekend expectations.
• TheWrap reported on the film’s modest opening despite heavy marketing.
• Vanity Fair wrote about the movie’s advertising campaign backfiring in Los Angeles.
• The Hollywood Reporter announced the film’s premiere at the Kennedy Center.
• The New York Times reported that the movie was pulled from theaters in South Africa.
• The Guardian reported weak ticket sales in the UK.
• Mother Jones reported that many harsh reviews mysteriously disappeared from Letterboxd.
• The Verge reported signs of reverse review bombing on Rotten Tomatoes.
• BBC News summarized what the film revealed—and avoided revealing—about Melania Trump.
• Forbes noted that the film briefly became one of the lowest-rated movies in IMDb history.
• Deadline Hollywood previewed how the film might perform compared to other releases.
• The Independent reported on the film’s mixed box office results.
• The New York Times noted that the movie had a strong opening for a documentary.
• Vanity Fair argued that the box office outcome was predictable given the audience.
• Deadline Hollywood reported audience scores and opening-weekend numbers.
• Wired found only two sold-out screenings across hundreds of theaters.
• The Guardian reported that the film ranked very low in the UK box office.
• El PaÃs described empty theaters and vandalized ads in Mexico.
• ABC News Australia analyzed the film by following where the money went.
• The Guardian reported how little money the film made per screen in Australia.
• Rotten Tomatoes tracked critics’ scores for the movie.
• Metacritic tracked critics’ scores using a weighted average.
• Variety reviewed the film and called it an empty infomercial.
• The Independent harshly criticized the film as hollow propaganda.
• Vanity Fair said no amount of money could make the film good propaganda.
• Empire reviewed the movie negatively.
• The Guardian compared the film to a hollow remake of another movie.
• The Atlantic called the documentary a disgrace.
• The Daily Beast described the film as a filmmaking disaster.
• USA Today criticized the emotional emptiness of the movie.
• TheWrap called it shallow political propaganda.
• The Hollywood Reporter described the film as a flattering, uncritical portrait.
• The New Yorker called the film an expensive and empty experience.
• The Chicago Sun-Times noted small but supportive audiences at some screenings.
• The official website provides basic information about the movie.
• IMDb lists the film’s cast, crew, and user ratings.
• Metacritic aggregates critic reviews and scores.
• Rotten Tomatoes aggregates critic and audience reviews.