Rotten Tomatoes Defends “Melania” Against Score Manipulation Claims
Rotten Tomatoes is responding to accusations that the audience score for the film “Melania” was artificially inflated. This particular movie has logged a record margin for the platform, with an astonishing 93 percent difference between its critics’ and audience ratings.
The film depicts First Lady Melania Trump during the three weeks leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, currently boasting a critic score of only 6%, while the audience rating sits at a striking 99%.
Versant, the parent company of Rotten Tomatoes, has asserted that there was no manipulation of the scores and indicated to Variety that all operations were above board. They stated that the reviews appearing on the Popcorn Meter are verified, ensuring that those posting reviews have indeed purchased tickets.
IMDb has noted over 48,200 user ratings for “Melania” since its release, where most reviews tend to hover around the lowest rank of 1 star. The film’s average rating there is just 1.3 stars, and IMDb has flagged the title for “unusual voting activity,” warning of potential irregularities.
Several media outlets have pointed out the stark contrast in audience reactions. The Daily Beast was among the first to report on this discrepancy, labeling it “suspicious” and suggesting that ticket sales might have been artificially boosted.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel also poked fun at the movie’s reported ticket sales, raising eyebrows over how it could sell $7 million worth of tickets despite the apparent emptiness of theaters prior to its launch. He humorously speculated on the possibility that ticket purchases may have been funneled to Republican supporters and nursing homes.
Despite the controversies, “Melania” did manage to surpass expectations in its opening weekend, raking in over $7.1 million. This made it one of the strongest openings for a non-music documentary. Amazon MGM Studios invested $40 million into the project and added another $35 million for its marketing efforts.
