Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood Request ‘Phantom Thread’ Score Removed From ‘Melania’ Documentary

Lead

Oscar-nominated director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood announced on Monday that they have asked for a piece of music from their 2017 film Phantom Thread to be taken out of the new documentary Melania. The pair said the score was used without proper consultation with Greenwood, who composed Phantom Thread’s orchestral soundtrack. Their statement accused Universal — the parent company of Phantom Thread’s distributor — of failing to consult Greenwood about third-party use. Anderson and Greenwood say they have formally requested removal of the music from the Melania film.

Key Takeaways

• Anderson and Greenwood issued a joint request on Monday asking that music from the 2017 film Phantom Thread be removed from the Melania documentary.
• Jonny Greenwood composed Phantom Thread’s orchestral score; the film was released by Focus Features, a unit of NBCUniversal.
• The statement asserts Greenwood does not own the score’s copyright and that Universal failed to consult him on the third-party use, which they call a breach of his composer agreement.
• Amazon MGM Studios acquired distribution rights to Melania for $40 million; the documentary has grossed more than $13 million in North America to date.
• Melania features original music by Tony Neiman, was directed by Brett Ratner, and follows the first lady in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.
• Melania has received largely negative critical reviews, holding an 8% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
• Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, One Battle After Another, received 13 nominations for the 98th Academy Awards in March; Greenwood scored that film and has three Oscar nominations for best original score.

Background

Composer rights and licensing for film music are governed by a mix of copyright ownership, publishing arrangements and bespoke composer agreements. In many studio releases, a distributor or production company may hold the copyright while the composer retains contractual protections that limit how a score can be exploited. Phantom Thread, released in 2017, featured a lush orchestral score by Jonny Greenwood and was distributed by Focus Features, part of NBCUniversal.

Documentary filmmakers sometimes license preexisting music for tone or montage, but third-party use can trigger contractual requirements such as composer approval or additional payments. The Melania documentary, directed by Brett Ratner and featuring original music by Tony Neiman, was picked up by Amazon MGM Studios for $40 million; its theatrical and critical performance has been widely reported. Ratner’s involvement is notable because it is his first feature credit since sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2017, which he has denied.

Main Event

On Monday Anderson and Greenwood released a joint statement saying they had become aware that a segment of the Phantom Thread score appears in Melania. They emphasized that Greenwood, while the composer, does not own the copyright and that Focus Features/Universal did not consult him before the documentary used the music. The statement labels this omission a breach of Greenwood’s composer agreement and says the two have requested that the music be removed from the film.

Amazon MGM Studios, which paid $40 million for the distribution rights to Melania, had not issued a public response to the request as of the statement. The documentary chronicles the first lady in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, and uses a mix of archival footage and original scoring by Tony Neiman. Melania has so far grossed more than $13 million in North America and holds an 8% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The dispute centers on licensing protocols inside corporate groups: Phantom Thread was released by Focus Features, a unit of NBCUniversal, and the joint statement suggests Universal authorized the documentary’s use without consulting Greenwood. Anderson and Greenwood framed their action as a rights and contract issue rather than a critique of Melania’s content or makers. Their request seeks removal of the Phantom Thread piece from the documentary’s soundtrack pending resolution.

Analysis & Implications

Legally, the situation turns on who controls synchronization and master-use rights and what Greenwood’s composer agreement permits. If Universal holds copyright to the score, it may have the technical authority to license the music, but composer agreements frequently include clauses requiring composer consent for third-party placements or additional fees. Greenwood’s statement highlights a claimed breach of that agreement, which could prompt a takedown, negotiated settlement, or contractual remedy.

For distributors and documentary producers, the episode is a reminder that corporate ownership of a film or score does not eliminate contractual obligations to creators. Studios that centrally manage catalogs must still track composer agreements and approvals to avoid disputes that can prompt public removal requests and reputational fallout. The public nature of Anderson and Greenwood’s demand increases scrutiny on internal licensing controls at NBCUniversal and any downstream licensees.

Reputationally, the claim brings attention to Melania’s circulation and to its director, Brett Ratner, whose return to directing has been controversial because of past misconduct allegations he denies. For Greenwood and Anderson, public action asserts composer agency and signals a willingness to enforce contract terms even against large corporate partners. For the film industry, the incident could accelerate clearer metadata and approval workflows when music from studio catalogs is reused in new projects.

Comparison & Data

The table shows the known, reported facts: Greenwood wrote the Phantom Thread score in 2017 under a Focus Features release; Melania’s distribution rights were acquired by Amazon MGM for $40 million and the film has grossed over $13 million in North America, with an 8% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. These public figures frame the commercial and legal stakes in the dispute.

Reactions & Quotes

“It has come to our attention that a piece of music from ‘Phantom Thread’ has been used in the ‘Melania’ documentary.”

Paul Thomas Anderson & Jonny Greenwood (joint statement)

“While Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on third third-party use, which is a breach of his composer agreement.”

Paul Thomas Anderson & Jonny Greenwood (joint statement)

Neither Amazon MGM Studios nor Universal had issued a public counterstatement at the time of Anderson and Greenwood’s request. Industry watchers note that similar disputes have often been resolved by removal, licensing settlements or clarified attributions, depending on the contractual details and commercial interests involved.

Unconfirmed

• Whether Universal knowingly licensed the Phantom Thread piece for Melania without composer approval is not independently verified by public documents.
• It is not yet confirmed whether Amazon MGM Studios or the Melania filmmakers will remove the piece, contest the claim, or negotiate a settlement.

Bottom Line

The public request from Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood highlights frictions that can arise when legacy film catalogs intersect with new documentary uses. Even when a studio holds copyright, composer agreements may impose approval steps for third-party placements; failure to follow those steps can trigger formal demands for removal and potential legal remedies.

What follows will depend on contract language and commercial calculus: studios and distributors may choose rapid removal to avoid litigation and negative headlines, or they may negotiate compensation or credit. For composers and filmmakers the episode underscores the importance of clear licensing workflows and contract terms that reflect how music may be reused in an era of abundant documentary and archival-driven content.

Sources

• NBC News — news report (original article)
• Box Office Mojo — industry box-office data (referenced for Melania gross)
• Rotten Tomatoes — review aggregator (referenced for Melania critic score)
• Focus Features — distributor information (studio unit of NBCUniversal)
• Amazon MGM Studios / MGM — distributor corporate site (acquirer of Melania distribution rights)