Donald Trump Calls Melania a ‘Big Movie Star’ Amid Documentary Buzz
Melania Trump is officially in the movie spotlight, and Donald Trump wants everyone to know it. The former and current President recently praised his wife’s documentary success during a Washington event, proudly declaring that she is now a “big movie star.”
The film Melania, backed by Amazon MGM, has pulled in $16 million worldwide and stirred up plenty of headlines along the way.
From box office numbers to Rotten Tomatoes drama, here is everything you need to know about the documentary that has people talking across the political and entertainment worlds.
Trump Praises Melania at Washington Event
During his “Board of Peace” event in Washington, D.C., Donald Trump took a moment to celebrate his wife’s film success. The documentary, titled Melania, follows Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
Trump appeared amused and slightly competitive when discussing the film’s popularity.
“She has a very successful movie out right now, like number one. Can you believe this?” he said. “Big movie star, and I always say it’s trouble, because I always say there’s not room in one family for two stars. I told her that we can’t have two stars in one family, so I don’t know what that means. It’s not good.”
The crowd reacted with laughter, but Trump made it clear he is proud of her accomplishments. He also emphasized the documentary’s performance in theaters, claiming it has become one of the biggest documentary hits in decades.
“The theaters are all packed. Women, especially, they go back, and they see it two or three times, four times.”
Inside the Documentary ‘Melania’
The film Melania was directed by Brett Ratner and licensed by Amazon MGM Studios for $40 million. Amazon reportedly invested an additional $35 million into marketing the documentary, making it one of the most heavily backed documentary projects in recent years.
The film offers an inside look at Melania Trump’s life during the intense weeks leading up to her return to the White House. It presents her perspective as First Lady and gives viewers a closer look at her public and private persona during a pivotal political moment.
The documentary opened to $7 million at the domestic box office. That is considered a strong debut for a documentary feature, though some analysts pointed out that it is modest compared to the combined $75 million spent on acquisition and marketing.
Still, the film has now grossed $16 million worldwide, which places it among the more talked-about documentary releases of the year.
Box Office Drop and Audience Demographics
Despite a solid opening weekend, Melania experienced a sharp 67 percent drop in its second weekend. That decline sparked conversations in entertainment circles about long-term staying power and whether political documentaries can maintain mainstream momentum.
According to reports, the audience during the opening weekend was 72 percent female and 83 percent over the age of 45. Nearly 75 percent of ticket buyers were white. Those numbers suggest the documentary resonated strongly with a specific demographic, particularly older women.
Trump, however, framed the turnout as a major success story, highlighting repeat viewings and packed theaters.
Rotten Tomatoes Controversy and Bot Allegations
One of the biggest debates surrounding Melania has been the dramatic divide between critics and audience reactions on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film currently holds an 11 percent critic score while boasting a 98 percent audience score. That gap represents the largest disparity between critic and audience ratings in the platform’s history. The extreme contrast immediately fueled online speculation.
Some media commentators questioned whether supporters of Trump had artificially boosted the audience ratings. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel even weighed in, calling the film a $75 million “bribe” and questioning Amazon’s motives for backing the project.
Speculation spread that the documentary could be part of a broader strategy by Amazon to align more closely with the Trump administration. The controversy intensified as pundits debated whether a so-called bot army might be inflating the audience score.
In response to those claims, Rotten Tomatoes’ parent company, Versant, released a statement denying any manipulation.
“There has been no bot manipulation on the audience reviews for the ‘Melania’ documentary,” the company stated. “Reviews displayed on the Popcornmeter are VERIFIED reviews, meaning it has been verified that users have bought a ticket to the film.”
That clarification aimed to put the rumors to rest, though debate around the film’s reception continues online.
Amazon’s Big Bet on Political Storytelling
Amazon’s decision to invest $40 million in licensing the film and $35 million in marketing shows just how serious the company was about this release. The move placed the documentary at the center of both entertainment and political conversations.
Some critics argue that Amazon’s backing of Melania signals a broader shift in how major tech companies engage with political figures. Others see it as a straightforward business decision focused on attracting a loyal and motivated audience base.
Regardless of the motivation, the result is clear. The documentary has generated major press coverage, strong ticket sales for its genre, and a wave of social media discussion.
What Happens Next for ‘Melania’
For now, Melania continues its theatrical run. The documentary will eventually stream on Amazon Prime Video, where it is likely to reach an even wider audience.
MELANIA, the film
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) January 25, 2026
A Historic Moment
I am deeply humbled to have been surrounded by an inspiring room of friends, family, and cultural iconoclasts at the White House last night. Each of these individuals each brought their unique vision to the world, making a lasting… pic.twitter.com/NmAUuEQp2L
Whether viewed as a political statement, a personal portrait, or a cultural flashpoint, the film has undeniably made an impact. It has also added a new layer to Melania Trump’s public image, shifting her from political figure to box office headline.
As Donald Trump joked about there being room for only one star in the family, the documentary’s performance suggests that both Trumps are comfortable commanding attention in different arenas.
With $16 million already earned worldwide and more exposure coming through streaming, Melania remains one of the most talked-about documentary releases in recent memory.
Summary:
- Melania Trump’s documentary Melania has grossed $16 million worldwide following its theatrical release.
- Donald Trump praised the film during his “Board of Peace” event in Washington, D.C., calling Melania a “Big movie star.”
- The documentary follows Melania during the 20 days leading up to Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
- The film was directed by Brett Ratner and licensed by Amazon MGM Studios for $40 million, with an additional $35 million spent on marketing.
- Melania opened to $7 million domestically but dropped 67 percent in its second weekend.
- Opening weekend audiences were 72 percent female and 83 percent over age 45, with nearly 75 percent white ticket buyers.
- The film holds an 11 percent critic score and a 98 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, marking the largest critic audience gap in the platform’s history.
- Allegations of bot-driven audience reviews were denied by Rotten Tomatoes’ parent company, which confirmed that audience ratings are verified ticket purchases.
- The documentary continues its theatrical run and will later stream on Amazon Prime Video.
