After taking notice of the use of a piece of music from their 2017 film Phantom Thread in Amazon MGM Studios‘ Melania Trump documentary, Melania, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood are requesting its removal.
“It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the Melania documentary,” said the duo in a statement issued by Greenwood’s camp.
They noted that 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.”
A cultural lightning rod released in theaters on January 30, with a global rollout, Melania follows the current First Lady during the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025. While the doc has already grossed far more than many docs do, with over $13M in its first two weekends, it’s been the subject of controversy ever since it was announced by Amazon MGM Studios in January 2025.
Reportedly, the studio paid a staggering $40M for the doc, along with a forthcoming docuseries, and spent around $35M on marketing efforts, which would make Melania one of the most expensive docs ever, all things considered. Some have speculated that the investment was politically motivated. Then, there’s the fact that the film is directed and produced by Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017 and has more or less flown under the radar ever since.
Marking Radiohead guitarist Greenwood’s fourth collaboration with Anderson, following There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Inherent Vice, Phantom Thread was a psychological drama centered on a haute couture ’50s London dressmaker (Daniel Day-Lewis) and the young waitress he takes as his muse (Vicky Krieps), leading to a twisted love affair. The film earned myriad Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Score, following its release through Focus Features.
Greenwood and Anderson have more recently teamed on One Battle After Another, the darkly comedic thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, which will compete in 13 categories at this year’s Oscars, with Greenwood in the running once again. Anderson is looking likely to finally break through — in Best Picture, Director and/or Adapted Screenplay — with 14 nominations but no wins to date.
Amazon MGM Studios couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
