The documentary titled Melania, focusing on Melania Trump, has achieved the unfortunate record of being the lowest-rated film on IMDb ever. Directed by Brett Ratner, the film chronicles her experiences leading up to her husband Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration and delves into her life as the First Lady. It premiered in cinemas across the country starting January 30.
Melania Trump has recently shifted her focus towards the media industry, taking on the role of producer and star in the documentary. This film marks the debut release from her newly established production company, Muse Films, which was announced late last year. The future projects from Muse Films following Melania remain undisclosed.
Melania now holds the record for the lowest IMDb rating, with an average score of just 1.3 out of 10 based on 24,000 reviews. At one point, the film’s rating dipped even lower to 1.1 stars, as reported by Complex Pop Culture.
The release of Melania was a significant gamble for its distributor, Amazon MGM Studios, given its substantial budget of $40 million. This investment is steep for a documentary, particularly one centered on a divisive political figure. To break even, the film needs to generate at least $100 million, a figure calculated based on the typical requirement for a film to earn between two and two and a half times its production budget.
The film’s financial prospects are not promising so far, with a three-day opening weekend total of only $8.1 million, as reported by Deadline. Despite this being a record-breaking opening for a documentary, it falls short of the momentum needed for Melania to achieve the necessary $100 million. Negative reviews from sources like IMDb users and a projected drop in ticket sales in its second weekend further complicate its success. The film also has a low critics’ score of 10% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 reviews, though this score may change.
However, Melania has received a surprisingly high audience approval rating of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, which could be reflective of its political nature and the similar audience-critic split seen in other politically charged films like 2024’s Reagan. Nonetheless, this support from viewers is unlikely to be sufficient to sustain its performance at the box office.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
