PG | 1h 44m | Documentary, Biography, History | 2026
From my perspective, “Melania,” the new documentary profiling First Lady Melania Trump, isn’t something I would have expected. A woman who fiercely defends her privacy, she doesn’t seem like the type to drop her guard for any reason. After seeing the film, though, it now makes complete sense.
“Melania” isn’t in danger of being labeled hard-hitting or revelatory. It’s not fluff, nor is it what some have called a glorified infomercial. However, it is controlled, meaning that it is clear that the first lady—one of four credited producers (along with two coproducers)—likely had the final say on all the film’s content. If I were in her position, I’d do exactly the same thing.
The first lady didn’t have to do this project, and doing so on her terms was the only way to go. For those who already like and respect her, the film will only reinforce those sentiments. I believe that she agreed to participate to change the minds of some of her detractors.
Reaching Out to the Middle
Let’s be honest. If the first lady were to cure cancer and invent the fountain of youth, millions of people, to put it mildly, would still cry bloody murder. They will never change their minds, and she knows this. She’s attempting to reach those closer to the middle and on the fence, meaning a majority of the American people. It is an ingenious “soft” marketing masterstroke.
Shot between Jan. 1 and Jan. 20, 2025, “Melania” chronicles the first lady’s preparations for her husband’s second inauguration. During this stretch, she interacts with fashion designers and event planners—as all future first ladies do—and not much of what we see is groundbreaking.
As a former model, she knows what works and what doesn’t. She understands industry shorthand and makes her preferences known in a respectful manner. This portion of the film takes up about 20 percent of the running time and is to be expected from someone widely acknowledged as a premier fashion plate.
What propels “Melania” into something beyond the expected takes place at about the 30-minute mark, with two unforeseen events: the Los Angeles fires and the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9, 2025. The Carter funeral occurred on the one-year anniversary of the death of the first lady’s mother, Amalija Knavs.
Equally touching is her intimate meeting with Aviva Siegel, an Israeli woman who was held hostage in the Gaza Strip and eventually released. The same can’t be said for Siegel’s husband, who remained captive. Be sure to stick around for the end credits to find out what eventually happened to him.
Some Hiccups
The film is not without a few hiccups. The time dedicated to the first lady’s wardrobe fittings and event planning runs a tad long. There are also a few issues with her choices in source music.
“Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones plays virtually in its entirety over the opening credits. I think that it’s one of the best Stones songs ever, but the lyrics aren’t … well, fitting.
The same can be said for James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” which some could perceive as misogynistic. The Tears for Fears anthem “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is also included, and it’s a good thing it was only the instrumental version. The lyrics are also problematic.
On the upside, the inclusion of Aretha Franklin’s “Amazing Grace” is more than befitting. The first lady drops her guard on two occasions, while singing along to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and dancing playfully to “Y.M.C.A.” by Village People.
Ratings Gap
It’s possible that I could be the only U.S.-based critic on RottenTomatoes.com with a positive review of “Melania.” As of the morning of Jan. 31, the film’s critical consensus sat at 6 percent. Under normal circumstances, this would suggest that I was out of touch and don’t know how to do my job. However, the audience rating was 98 percent, making “Melania” the biggest ratings-gap title in Rotten Tomatoes history.
In this instance, I’m quite content being the outlier. I much prefer siding with the American people than with those looking to rip our country to shreds at every turn.
Please check back in a couple days for a follow-up to this review, which will focus on the initial weekend box office predictions and the actual results.
The film is now playing in theaters.
‘Melania’
Documentary
Director: Brett Ratner
Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: Jan. 30, 2026
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
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