Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood want their music out of the controversial Melania Trump documentary.
The acclaimed filmmaker and Radiohead guitarist discovered a piece from their 2017 masterpiece Phantom Thread was used without proper consultation.
They’re not happy about it.
And they’re demanding Amazon MGM Studios remove it immediately from Melania, the documentary that’s already sparked massive controversy since hitting theaters in late January.
A Breach of Agreement
Greenwood’s representatives issued a statement explaining the situation. While the composer doesn’t technically own copyright to Phantom Thread‘s score, Universal Pictures failed to consult him before licensing the music to a third party.
That’s a direct violation of his composer agreement.
It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the Melania documentary. Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement.
The statement made clear both artists want the music stripped from the documentary. For creative professionals who’ve built their reputations on artistic integrity, having their work associated with an unauthorized project cuts deep.
The Documentary Everyone’s Talking About
Melania landed in theaters January 30 amid a firestorm of attention. The film follows First Lady Melania Trump during 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025.
It’s performed surprisingly well at box office, raking in over $13 million during its first two weekends. That’s exceptional for documentary standards.
But financial success hasn’t quieted the controversy surrounding it.
A Staggering Investment
Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million for Melania and an upcoming docuseries. Marketing expenses added another $35 million to the tab.
Those numbers would make this one of most expensive documentaries ever produced.
Industry observers have questioned whether political motivations drove such an extraordinary investment. The timing, subject matter, and financial commitment raise eyebrows across Hollywood.
The Brett Ratner Factor
Adding another layer of controversy, director Brett Ratner helms the project. Multiple women accused Ratner of sexual misconduct in 2017.
He’s largely disappeared from public view since those allegations surfaced.
His involvement in such a high-profile documentary marks a significant return to mainstream filmmaking, which hasn’t gone unnoticed or uncriticized.
The Legacy of Phantom Thread
Phantom Thread represented Anderson and Greenwood’s fourth collaboration following There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Inherent Vice. Their partnership has become one of cinema’s most celebrated director-composer relationships.
The 2017 psychological drama starred Daniel Day-Lewis as a haute couture dressmaker in 1950s London. His character becomes obsessed with a young waitress played by Vicky Krieps, leading to a twisted, intoxicating love affair.
Critics and audiences embraced the film. It earned multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Score for Greenwood.
Current Oscar Glory
Anderson and Greenwood currently bask in Oscar attention for their latest collaboration, One Battle After Another. The darkly comedic thriller features Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall.
The film scored an impressive 13 Oscar nominations.
Greenwood received another Score nomination, cementing his status as one of cinema’s premier composers. Anderson appears poised to potentially break through after 14 career nominations without a single win.
He’s in contention for Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay. After decades of critical acclaim without Academy recognition, this could finally be his year.
What Happens Next
Amazon MGM Studios hasn’t responded to requests for comment about removing Phantom Thread music from Melania.
The situation places the studio in an awkward position. They’ve invested massive resources into the documentary and already released it globally. Removing score elements requires re-editing and potentially re-releasing the film.
Yet ignoring the request from two of Hollywood’s most respected artists creates its own problems. Anderson and Greenwood carry significant influence within the industry.
Universal Pictures, which holds Phantom Thread score copyright, finds itself caught between contractual obligations to Greenwood and whatever licensing agreement exists with Amazon MGM.
Artist Rights in Focus
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions around composer rights and music licensing. Even when studios own copyright to scores, composer agreements often include consultation clauses for third-party uses.
These provisions protect artists from having their work associated with projects they find objectionable or inappropriate.
Greenwood and Anderson clearly consider Melania such a project. Whether their music actually gets removed depends on legal interpretations of existing contracts and how much pressure they’re willing to apply.
But one thing’s certain: they’ve made their position unmistakably clear. And they’re not backing down.