CNN Airs Brutal Segment Predicting Melania Trump Documentary Will Crash and Burn

A new documentary centered on former First Lady Melania Trump is facing early criticism and modest box office expectations ahead of its nationwide release.

CNN data analyst Harry Enten discussed the film on Erin Burnett OutFront, citing prediction market data that suggests a 63% chance the documentary will score below 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, a level considered “rotten.”

Enten also noted that projected opening weekend earnings are estimated between $1 million and $5 million, figures that are relatively low for a heavily promoted studio-backed release.

The documentary, titled Melania, is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and is executive-produced by Melania Trump. It is directed by Brett Ratner.

Enten: "Historical critics don't really like Melania Trump either. Just take a look, historians' First Lady rankings — dead last! Melania Trump" pic.twitter.com/xiDPlQouUQ

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 29, 2026

The film promises behind-the-scenes access to Melania Trump’s activities during the final weeks leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration.

Ahead of its release, the project has sparked debate online. Platforms such as Letterboxd have seen a wave of early reviews, many of them negative, with some users acknowledging they have not yet seen the film.

Enten also referenced academic evaluations of First Ladies, noting that expert surveys such as those from Siena College have placed Melania Trump near the bottom in several categories, including public image and overall contribution.

Public opinion data reflects similar challenges. A YouGov poll from late 2025 showed Melania Trump’s favorability at 36%, down from 42% in 2021 when she left the White House.

Although Donald Trump has promoted the film heavily on Truth Social, reports suggest advance ticket sales remain limited, leaving uncertainty about how the documentary will perform after its January 30 release.

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