Scathing Review Correction Adds Insult to Injury for Melania Trump Documentary
The Guardian newspaper has delivered what might be the most humiliating correction in recent film criticism history regarding its review of first lady Melania Trump's new documentary. On Monday, the publication issued a formal correction to its already brutal assessment of the Amazon-backed film "Melania," directed by Brett Ratner.
From One Star to Zero: A Formatting Issue Reveals True Sentiment
The correction notice published by The Guardian stated clearly: "The star rating for this film was corrected on 2 February 2026. A formatting issue led an earlier version to be awarded one star, when the reviewer's intention was zero." This technical adjustment transformed what was already a negative review into an absolute condemnation, suggesting the film deserved no stars whatsoever in the critic's estimation.
Guardian contributor Xan Brooks, who originally published his review on Friday, didn't hold back in his assessment of the documentary about the former first lady. While most critics have panned the film, Brooks' review stands out for its particularly brutal comparisons and unflinching criticism of both the documentary's content and its subject matter.
Historical Comparisons and Scathing Analysis
In his review, Brooks drew unflattering parallels between Melania Trump and several notorious figures, including:
- The child-eating witch from the fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel"
- Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler's longtime girlfriend and brief wife
Brooks wrote: "No doubt there is a great documentary to be made about Melania Knauss. The ambitious model from out of Slovenia who married a New York real-estate mogul and then found herself cast in the role of a latter-day Eva Braun, but the horrific 'Melania' emphatically isn't it." He added that the film represents "one of those rare, unicorn films that doesn't have a single redeeming quality."
Documentary Content and Presidential Portrayal
The critic went on to describe what he perceived as the documentary's shallow content, noting that the first lady's biggest conflict in the film "chiefly hinges on her concern that her white blouse is too loose at the neck and needs to be cut." Brooks also referenced Melania Trump's controversial 2018 visit to a child migrant detention camp, where she wore a jacket emblazoned with the words "I really don't care, do U?"
President Donald Trump appears as more of a background character in the documentary according to Brooks, occasionally emerging to brag about himself or complain that his second presidential inauguration could be overshadowed by "televised college football playoffs." The review describes one scene where the president drags his wife off the red carpet at the film's world premiere at the Kennedy Center, presumably because the press showed more interest in talking to her than to him.
Financial Context and Critical Reception
Despite the overwhelmingly negative critical response, "Melania" managed to achieve some commercial success in its opening weekend. According to The New York Times, the documentary earned $7 million during its debut, representing the best opening for a documentary (excluding concert films) in fourteen years.
However, this financial performance must be viewed in context. Amazon reportedly spent a staggering $75 million to acquire distribution rights for "Melania" and market its release across 1,778 domestic theaters. Given this enormous investment, any profit the film generates will likely be minimal at best.
Brooks concluded his review with a devastating assessment: "Two hours of 'Melania' feels like pure, endless hell." The Guardian's correction from one star to zero stars only amplifies this sentiment, creating what may be remembered as one of the most humiliating moments in documentary film criticism history.
