‘Melania’ review: Brett Ratner’s glossy, stage‑managed portrait of the first lady

Directed by Brett Ratner and released by Amazon MGM Studios, the documentary Melania chronicles 20 days in the life of Melania Trump ahead of President Trump’s 2025 inauguration, and was reviewed by The New York Times on Jan. 30, 2026. The film runs 1 hour 44 minutes, is rated PG and is in theaters.

The review notes the movie was not screened in advance for reviewers and arrives amid reports about its hefty price tag; Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for the film, and Mr. Ratner and Mrs. Trump are listed among the producers. The critic adds that Mr. Ratner — who largely disappeared from the public eye after being accused by six women of sexual misconduct, which he denied — approached the project like a big, starry show.

The film is described as a very circumscribed, carefully stage‑managed chronicle of Mrs. Trump’s day‑to‑day life during those 20 busy days. Much of its focus is on preparations for the inauguration, including clothing fittings with the French American designer Hervé Pierre, repeated closeups of her high heels and posed mirror checks, and cinematic touches by one of three credited directors of photography, Dante Spinotti.

Musical choices noted in the review include the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” “Billie Jean,” Bach and a Jonny Greenwood piece from Phantom Thread.

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