The documentary Melania, centered on U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, made an impressive debut at the North American box office over the weekend, securing the third position in overall earnings. However, despite its commercial momentum, the film has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from mainstream film critics.

Directed by Brett Ratner, the documentary chronicles the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, offering an intimate portrayal of Melania Trump’s public and private moments during a politically charged period. Backed by strong support from conservative audiences, the film generated an estimated $7 million in ticket sales — a rare achievement for a political documentary and one of the strongest openings in the genre in nearly a decade.

The first lady herself celebrated the milestone on social media platform X, highlighting the film’s “A” CinemaScore rating and describing it as “Loved by All.” Supporters of the Trump administration have praised the documentary as a compelling and humanizing look at Melania Trump, arguing that it counters what they perceive as biased media portrayals of her.

However, professional film critics have reacted very differently. On Metacritic, Melania received an approval rating of just 6 percent, while Rotten Tomatoes scored it at 10 percent — indicating that fewer than one in ten critics viewed the film favorably. Reviewers largely criticized the documentary for lacking depth, journalistic rigor, and critical perspective, describing it as more of a promotional feature than an investigative or balanced portrayal.

The film also marks Brett Ratner’s return to directing after a 12-year hiatus. Ratner had stepped away from Hollywood following multiple sexual harassment allegations, which he denied and which did not result in criminal charges. His involvement has further polarized public opinion about the documentary.

Despite the strong opening, industry analysts caution that the film still faces a difficult path to profitability. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly invested $40 million to acquire distribution rights and spent an additional $35 million on marketing. The Hollywood Reporter labeled it “the most expensive documentary ever made,” though Amazon has rejected that characterization, stating that it backed the project because it believed there was genuine audience demand.

Box office patterns reflect America’s deep political divide. The film performed best in conservative regions, particularly in the South and Midwest, while struggling in liberal metropolitan areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Theater chains reported packed screenings in Republican-leaning states, compared to sparse attendance in Democratic strongholds.

Audience demographics also revealed political and cultural trends. According to Variety, nearly 75 percent of ticket buyers were white, while Hispanic viewers accounted for 11 percent of the audience. Other demographic groups were underrepresented in early turnout.

As debates over media bias, political storytelling, and celebrity influence continue, Melania has emerged as one of the most controversial documentary releases in recent years — achieving commercial visibility but failing to win critical credibility.