Paul Thomas Anderson and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood Want ‘Melania’ Doc to Remove ‘Phantom Thread’ Music: Its Use Is a ‘Breach of Composer Agreement’

Director Paul Thomas Anderson and Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood have formally requested the removal of a musical segment from the 2017 film "Phantom Thread" from the controversial documentary "Melania." The statement, provided by Greenwood's representative to Variety, clarifies that while the composer does not hold the copyright to the score, the use of his music by a third party constituted a breach of his agreement with Universal, as he was not consulted. Anderson, who directed the acclaimed period drama, has joined Greenwood in asking for the track to be excised from the film.

The documentary in question, directed by Brett Ratner, offers a surface-level portrait of the former First Lady and has generated significant box office attention for a non-nature or music documentary, earning $13.35 million domestically in its first two weekends. However, its financial context is staggering. Amazon MGM invested unprecedented sums, paying $40 million to acquire the film and a companion streaming series before committing an additional $35 million to its theatrical marketing campaign. This lavish expenditure, far beyond typical documentary budgets, has led industry observers to question the studio's motives, with some speculating it may be an attempt to curry favor with the current political administration. Given that theaters retain roughly half of all ticket revenue, the project faces a steep climb to profitability.

In a notable move, Amazon MGM issued a public statement addressing the film's second-weekend performance, underscoring the unusual level of scrutiny surrounding its release. Jonny Greenwood, who composed the score for "Phantom Thread," has been increasingly active in film over the past 25 years, contributing music to 12 features including "There Will Be Blood," "Inherent Vice," and "Licorice Pizza." This shift has made him more prominent as a film composer than as a rock musician with his iconic band. Reflecting on his "Phantom Thread" work in 2017, Variety's Owen Gleiberman praised its "plangent pull," noting how Greenwood's score, "rapturous with longing and anxiety, summons an unmistakable '50s-Hitchcock vibe." This artistic signature makes the unauthorized use in a politically charged documentary particularly jarring for the creators.