Rotten Tomatoes responds to user score 'manipulation' claims after 'Melania' docu sets new record

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rotten Tomatoes has pushed back against claims of manipulated audience reviews after the Melania Trump documentary 'Melania' sparked intense debate online.

The film made headlines this week for setting a record-breaking gap between critic reviews and audience ratings.

Record-breaking score gap raises eyebrows

The Amazon-backed documentary 'Melania', directed by Brett Ratner, has achieved an unusual and controversial milestone. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film now holds the record for the largest discrepancy between critics’ scores and audience ratings in the site’s 27-year history.

Critics were overwhelmingly unimpressed. The film currently sits at just 8 percent on the Rotten Tomatoes “Tomatometer,” reflecting harsh reviews following its late January theatrical release. Despite the poor critical reception, audience response told a very different story.

On the site’s “Popcornmeter,” which tracks verified audience reactions, the film scored an astonishing 99 percent. The dramatic contrast immediately triggered online speculation, with some film fans questioning whether the audience score had been artificially inflated.

Rotten Tomatoes shuts down manipulation claims

In response to the growing backlash, Rotten Tomatoes’ parent company Versant addressed the claims directly. In a statement to Variety, the company firmly denied any wrongdoing.

“There has been NO manipulation on the audience reviews for the Melania documentary,” Versant said.

The company explained that the Popcornmeter only includes verified reviews. “Reviews displayed on the Popcornmeter are VERIFIED reviews, meaning that it has been verified that users have bought a ticket to the film through Fandango,” the statement added.

Several audience reviews highlighted admiration for the first lady. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Melania – her warmth, compassion, and dedication to this country,” one viewer wrote.

Another review praised the documentary’s tone, calling it “beautifully done” and adding, “Sophistication and class. Amazing First Lady!”

Box office success in US contrasts with UK performance

Despite the mixed reactions, the documentary has performed strongly at the US box office. Amazon reportedly spent $40 million to acquire the rights to the film and invested an additional $35 million in marketing.

In the United States, 'Melania' exceeded expectations during its opening weekend, earning $7 million at the box office. The strong financial debut suggests that public interest remains high, regardless of critical response.

The film’s performance overseas tells a different story. In the UK and Ireland, 'Melania' struggled to attract audiences. It brought in £32,974 across 155 cinemas, resulting in a modest screen average of £212.80.

The documentary debuted at number 29 at the UK box office, signaling limited traction outside the US.

Critics pan film as shallow and fictionalized

Critical reviews of the documentary have been sharply negative. In a one-star review, The Independent’s Nick Hilton dismissed the film as “somewhere between reality TV and pure fiction.”

Hilton argued that the portrayal of Melania Trump lacked depth and substance. “To call Melania vapid would do a disservice to the plumes of florid vape smoke that linger around British teenagers,” he wrote.

He further described the film as a distorted version of history, stating that it 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.”