The reception to Melania, a new documentary focused on First Lady Melania Trump, has become a talking point for reasons that go beyond the film itself. Since opening in theaters on January 30th, the 2026 movie release has drawn attention for the unusually large divide between how critics and audiences have responded. That gap has now sparked viral claims online that the movie’s scores were manipulated, prompting a response from Rotten Tomatoes.
According to People’s reporting, critics have largely rejected the documentary, giving it a single-digit approval rating that has hovered around the same range since release. Audiences, however, have told a very different story. Among verified ticket buyers, the film is posting near-unanimous approval, while its score drops significantly when unverified user ratings are factored in. A spokesperson for the site, speaking to the outlet, said:
