Director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood have formally demanded that a track from their Oscar-nominated 2017 film Phantom Thread be taken out of Brett Ratner’s documentary Melania, which focuses on First Lady Melania Trump. This issue arose following the unexpected use of their music without proper authorization.
Unauthorized Use of Score Sparks Complaint Against Universal
Anderson and Greenwood revealed in a joint statement obtained by Variety that a segment of the Phantom Thread score appeared in the Melania documentary without Greenwood’s consent. Despite Greenwood not owning the copyright, Universal Pictures failed to consult him as required, violating his composer agreement. Consequently, the pair insisted on the immediate removal of their music from the film.
It has come to our attention that a piece of music from ‘Phantom Thread’ has been used in the ‘Melania‘ documentary,
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood 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.
Melania Documentary Faces Harsh Criticism Amid Release
The documentary Melania debuted on January 30 and follows the First Lady during the 20 days prior to Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration in January 2025. Despite its solid box office return, the film was met largely with negative reviews. For instance, TheWrap critic William Bibbiani condemned the project as a
tasteless, tedious, criminally shallow propaganda puff piece.
Financially, the documentary grossed $13.5 million within two weeks—a notable achievement for its genre—though this figure contrasts with the reported $40 million Amazon MGM paid to acquire the film alongside a related streaming docuseries, as well as an additional $35 million spent on marketing.
Greenwood and Anderson’s Longstanding Creative Partnership
Jonny Greenwood and Paul Thomas Anderson have maintained a close collaborative relationship since Greenwood composed the score for Anderson’s acclaimed 2007 film There Will Be Blood. Greenwood has since scored every Anderson-directed film, including Phantom Thread and the recent One Battle After Another. His work on Phantom Thread earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score in 2018, and he received another nod this year for One Battle After Another.
Anderson’s Award Season Success Reinforces Industry Standing
Currently immersed in the awards season, Anderson earned multiple accolades in January, including Golden Globe Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director, as well as Critics Choice Awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another. He recently won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film. Both Anderson and this film remain frontrunners for the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars.
Background on the Melania Film and Brett Ratner
Melania marks director Brett Ratner’s first project since facing sexual assault allegations in 2017. The documentary’s theatrical release and ambitious marketing reflect a significant investment by Amazon MGM, despite the controversy surrounding both the film and Ratner himself. The ongoing dispute over unauthorized music use adds further tension to the film’s release narrative.
Implications of Music Rights Violation in Documentary Filmmaking
The demand by Anderson and Greenwood to remove their music highlights the critical importance of securing proper permissions for copyrighted material, especially in high-profile documentaries about political figures. This controversy underscores ongoing industry concerns regarding artist rights and proper licensing, with potential repercussions for how studios handle third-party content in future documentaries.
