Phantom Thread Creators Demand Music Removal from Melania Trump Documentary
In a significant development within the film industry, acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead have formally requested the removal of music from their 2017 drama Phantom Thread from the controversial documentary Melania. The film, directed by Brett Ratner, focuses on the life of former model Melania Knauss, who became First Lady of the United States after marrying Donald Trump.
Alleged Breach of Composer Agreement
The pair issued a statement to Variety, clarifying the situation. "It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the Melania documentary," they stated. "While 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. As a result Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary."
This move highlights the often complex nature of music licensing in film production, where even when copyright is held by a studio, composer agreements can mandate consultation for specific uses. The request underscores the creators' desire to maintain artistic control over their work, particularly in a project that has garnered widespread criticism.
Documentary Faces Scathing Reviews and Unusual Financial Backing
The documentary Melania has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. In a rare zero-star assessment, The Guardian's Xan Brooks described it as "deadly", "dispiriting", and "one of those rare, unicorn films that doesn't have a single redeeming quality". Despite this, the film has performed moderately at the box office, earning $13.35 million domestically over two weeks, largely driven by organised groups of Republican women viewing it as a political cause.
However, the financial aspects surrounding the film are particularly noteworthy. Amazon MGM paid an astonishing $40 million to acquire streaming rights, followed by an additional $35 million for theatrical marketing—an unprecedented sum for a nonfiction film not centred on nature or music. This has led to industry speculation that the purchase may be an attempt to curry favour with Donald Trump, who has been instrumental in reviving Ratner's career following numerous allegations of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement.
Political Connections and Industry Reactions
The documentary's backdrop is intertwined with political manoeuvring. In November 2025, it was reported that Rush Hour 4, a sequel Ratner long sought to revive, received the green light at Paramount Skydance after Trump intervened. The former president reportedly lobbied his supporter Larry Ellison, the largest shareholder of the newly formed Paramount Skydance, to secure funding. This entity, previously Paramount Global, had settled a lawsuit with Trump over a critical CBS News interview.
Paul Thomas Anderson recently acknowledged the critical reception of Melania while accepting a screenplay prize from the London Critics' Circle. He praised Brooks's review, which likened the film to "a gilded trash remake of Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest", calling it "one of the best pieces of writing" and "pretty damn good".
Phantom Thread, which received six Oscar nominations including Best Original Score, remains a critically acclaimed work. The current dispute adds another layer to the ongoing discussions about artistic integrity, political influence in entertainment, and the ethical considerations of film financing in today's polarised climate.
