Get ready for the predictable outrage from the left — because the new documentary on Melania Trump is not just performing well, it’s crushing expectations, and that has the usual suspects absolutely losing their minds.
While legacy media spent years trying to minimize, mock, or erase the role of the former first lady, this documentary is proving there’s a massive appetite for her story — straight from her perspective, without the usual bias and distortion. Audiences are turning out in numbers that any honest observer would call a success by any measure. Instead of crediting the film’s appeal, progressives on social media and in the press are throwing tantrums, claiming the numbers don’t “mean anything” or insisting the success is somehow manufactured.
First Lady Melania Trump arrives with President Donald J. Trump, Chairman of the Trump Kennedy Center, for the red-carpet premiere of her documentary “Melania” at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/BJTy42DSV9
— The Trump Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 30, 2026
According to Deadline, the movie is expected to bring in something in the neighborhood of $8.1 million, making it the best documentary debut in a decade. The entertainment outlet also reported that “sales are gaining, with Florida and Texas quite large, for the First Lady’s big-screen debut.”
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Not only that, but the viewer ratings are through the roof:
[B]ut the exit scores are quite royal with an A CinemaScore, 5 stars on Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak, and get this — an 89% definite recommend; unheard for any movie. If a movie is in the 70 percentile range, that’s outstanding. [….]
The turnout here is almost like that of a faith-based movie: 72% women, with 72% over 55. Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is 99% while critics have based the movie at 6%. Melania is playing best in the South (12% over the norm) and South Central with the Cinemark Palace 21 in Boca Raton, FL the pic’s current highest grossing location with over $10K. Pic’s top grossing markets are Dallas, Orlando, Tampa, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Miami, Minnesota, Nashville, Jackson, MI; St. Louis, Las Vegas, Cleveland — the list goes on…no NYC or LA in this bunch.
And of course, the president himself gave his lovely bride some kudos, writing on his Truth Social platform: “Last night I saw, ‘MELANIA,’ for the second time. The audience loved it, and so do I. Check it out — A MUST SEE!”
It’s interesting to note that nearly all viewers are giving it high ratings, while critics have come in with a mere 6 percent.
It’s the election all over again. https://t.co/xqPAyUPJmj pic.twitter.com/OHAV3HGEr8
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) January 31, 2026
This stark contrast reveals a clear bias and a complete disconnect from what the audience truly feels. The film is thriving despite the attempts to bring it down, and in fact, this criticism could be working in its favor, as many people have lost trust in reviewers.
But let’s be clear: this reaction speaks volumes. When a film about a conservative public figure is doing better than expected and sparking genuine discussion, the left doesn’t debate ideas — they whine. They double down on dismissive talking points because they can’t argue on substance, so they attack on emotion.
Bad news for the obsessional culturati who have been working to establish the Melania movie as a world-historic failure and embarrassment: It's going to make $8M in its first weekend, which is a colossal opening for a documentary.https://t.co/IKHFMYbXsk
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) January 31, 2026
The real takeaway is this: people aren’t buying the sanitized, one-dimensional portrayals fed to them by establishment outlets. They’re hungry for authenticity. And when audiences vote with their wallets and attention, no amount of tantruming by critics will change the outcome.
