entertainment

February 9, 2026

Melania Drops 67% at US Box Office as Rotten Tomatoes Defends Record-Breaking Audience Scores

Despite an expanded release to some 2,000 screens, the gushing enthusiasm recorded on the vox pop Popcornometer is not powering a word-of-mouth hit

Melania Drops 67% at US Box Office as Rotten Tomatoes Defends Record-Breaking Audience Scores

TL;DR

  • The documentary 'Melania' saw a 67% decrease in US box office earnings in its second week.
  • Despite this decline, Amazon highlighted the film's "strong theatrical performance" and holistic distribution strategy.
  • Critics have almost universally panned the film, with some reviews calling it "a gilded trash remake of The Zone of Interest."
  • Audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes are exceptionally high (99% on the "Popcornmeter") compared to critic scores (8%).
  • Rotten Tomatoes' parent company, Versant, denied any manipulation of audience reviews, stating they are "VERIFIED reviews" from users who bought tickets via Fandango.
  • A disparity exists between "verified" audience reviews, which are overwhelmingly positive, and "all audience reviews," which tend to be more critical.
  • The film reportedly cost $40 million to acquire and an additional $35 million for marketing.

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