Rotten Tomatoes has firmly rejected speculation that the remarkably high audience score for the Melania Trump documentary Melania resulted from any form of manipulation. The film, directed by Brett Ratner and released on Amazon, has achieved a dubious distinction on the review aggregator website this week.
Record-Breaking Discrepancy in Scores
The documentary has set a new record for the largest gap between critics' scores and audience ratings in the past 27 years. On the Rotten Tomatoes "Tomatometer," the film received a critically poor score of just 8 per cent. In stark contrast, it garnered an impressive 99 per cent score from cinemagoers on the "Popcornmeter." This dramatic divergence led some film enthusiasts to question the legitimacy of the audience reviews.
Official Statement from Rotten Tomatoes
In response to these claims, Versant, the parent company of Rotten Tomatoes, issued a clear statement to Variety. They asserted that "there has been NO manipulation on the audience reviews for the Melania documentary." The company emphasized that all reviews displayed on the Popcornmeter are verified, meaning users have confirmed their ticket purchases through Fandango, ensuring authenticity.
Audience feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with one viewer praising the film as "a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Melania – her warmth, compassion, and dedication to this country." Another fan described it as "beautifully done!" and highlighted "sophistication and class" in portraying the former First Lady.
Box Office Performance and Production Costs
Amazon reportedly invested $40 million to acquire the rights to the documentary, with an additional $35 million allocated for marketing efforts. In the United States, the film exceeded box office expectations, earning $7 million during its opening weekend.
However, its performance in the UK and Ireland has been less successful. The documentary amassed only £32,974 from 155 cinemas, resulting in a screen average of £212.80. It debuted at number 29 in the UK box office rankings after its cinematic release at the end of January.
Critical Reception and Reviews
Critical response has been largely negative. The Independent's Nick Hilton awarded the film a one-star review, characterising it as "somewhere between reality TV and pure fiction." He further commented that "to call Melania vapid would do a disservice to the plumes of florid vape smoke that linger around British teenagers."
Hilton argued that the documentary presents "American history through the idiosyncratic prism of a woman who is part-puppet of the regime, part-delusional creative, and part-symbol of America’s immigrant community." This critique underscores the polarising nature of the film, which continues to spark debate among viewers and critics alike.
