Here’s a jaw-dropping revelation that’s sparking heated debates: Rotten Tomatoes insists there’s no bot manipulation behind the sky-high audience score for Melania, the documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump. But here’s where it gets controversial—while the film’s critic score sits at a dismal 8%, its audience score soars to a staggering 99%, leaving many to question: Is this too good to be true? And this is the part most people miss: Rotten Tomatoes claims all reviews are from verified ticket buyers, yet skeptics point to a suspicious pattern—nearly all positive reviews come from brand-new accounts with no prior history. Who’s behind these accounts, and are they really real fans?
Rotten Tomatoes doubled down on its stance, stating, ‘There has been NO bot manipulation on the audience reviews for the Melania documentary. Reviews displayed on the Popcornmeter are VERIFIED reviews, meaning it has been verified that users have bought a ticket to the film.’ But as the film’s box office numbers plummeted—dropping 67% in its second weekend to a 10-day total of $14.5 million against a $75 million budget—doubts persist. Social media users are firing back, with one tweeting, ‘The “verified” Rotten Tomatoes audience reviews for the Melania doc all come from new accounts that have never posted before. Who is paying for these bots?’
Here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Some observers noted that these verified reviews were exclusively 5-star ratings, and all tickets were purchased through Fandango. Another user quipped, ‘They’re calling Melania the most bot-inflated Rotten Tomatoes audience-reviewed movie of all time.’ Even Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t resist poking fun at the disparity, joking on his show, ‘The audience score for Melania is 99% positive, which is 1% higher than The Godfather. And I’m sure Donald J. Corleone had nothing to do with that at all!’
Kimmel didn’t stop there. He highlighted reports of bulk ticket purchases, allegedly distributed for free to Republican activists and senior citizen homes. ‘If you don’t believe this is the kind of thing they would do,’ he reminded viewers, ‘remember when the Republican National Committee bought $100,000 worth of Don Jr.’s book to make it a bestseller? No one’s ever read that book—it might be blank pages for all we know!’
So, what’s the truth behind Melania’s audience score? Is it a genuine reflection of viewer sentiment, or is something more sinister at play? Here’s the million-dollar question: In an age where online ratings can make or break a film, how can we trust platforms like Rotten Tomatoes to remain unbiased? And if these reviews are indeed manipulated, who stands to gain the most? Let’s keep the conversation going—what do you think? Is this a case of clever marketing, or something far more troubling? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
