Social media has found its latest unexpected rivalry, and this time it’s centered around two former First Ladies and their very different film projects.
Michelle Obama and Melania Trump have become the focus of an online popularity tug-of-war, with fans passionately debating which documentary deserves more attention right now.
What’s really fueling the chatter is the timing, because Michelle Obama’s Becoming has suddenly surged in popularity just as Melania Trump’s brand-new documentary hit theaters.
Michelle Obama’s Becoming Makes a Surprise Comeback
Even though Becoming first premiered on Netflix back in 2020, it’s now enjoying a major resurgence.
Nearly six years later, the documentary has climbed into Netflix’s Daily Top 10 in the United States this week, giving it a fresh moment in the spotlight.
The renewed interest is especially striking because the film wasn’t always a blockbuster hit.
Netflix engagement data shows it drew about 1.5 million views between 2023 and 2025, but it has maintained a steady audience over the years.
Now, thanks to recent buzz, it seems to be finding a whole new wave of viewers.
Melania Trump’s Film Debut Sparks the Moment
At the same time, Melania Trump has entered the documentary conversation with her own project, titled Melania, which premiered in theaters last week.
The film focuses on her life during a pivotal stretch, the 20 days in January of last year leading up to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Like Becoming, it highlights a major turning point in a First Lady’s public journey, though from a very different angle.
The release of Melania appears to have directly coincided with the sudden spike in interest around Michelle Obama’s documentary.
Two Films, Two Very Different Stories
Both documentaries revolve around life connected to the White House, but their narratives take separate paths.
Michelle Obama’s Becoming follows her on a 34-city book tour supporting her bestselling memoir, offering personal reflections, family roots, and moments of connection with everyday people she meets along the way.
Melania Trump’s documentary, meanwhile, zeroes in on a narrower, more private window of time just before a historic political transition.
Melania’s Box Office Numbers Turn Heads
Melania’s film has already made a noticeable impact financially.
It earned around seven million dollars in ticket sales across the United States and Canada during its opening week.
That makes it the strongest theatrical documentary release, outside of concert films, since 2012.
It even outperformed early projections, which had estimated an opening closer to three million to five million.
However, the film came with an enormous price tag, costing forty million dollars to license and another thirty-five million to market.
Fans Turn It Into an Online First Lady Face-Off
With both films circulating at the same time, supporters on each side have taken to social media to loudly declare where they stand.
Michelle Obama fans have praised her documentary as a celebration of intelligence, class, and substance.
One user posted that anyone wanting to watch a documentary about a “smart, accomplished, classy First Lady” should stream Becoming, calling Obama “a true national treasure.”
Others took sharper jabs, accusing Melania’s film of echoing themes from Becoming and suggesting it was trying to imitate Obama’s cultural influence.
Melania Supporters Push Back Hard
On the flip side, Melania’s fans have been equally vocal.
Some dismissed Michelle Obama’s film entirely, with one supporter bluntly calling it “a hard pass.”
Despite critical skepticism, Melania’s documentary still delivered the biggest opening for a non-fiction feature in the past decade, giving her supporters plenty to celebrate.
Critics and Audiences Don’t Agree
One of the most interesting parts of this rivalry is how differently critics and audiences have responded.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Melania holds only five percent on the Tomatometer, while Becoming boasts an impressive ninety-three percent.
Audience reactions, however, tell a different story. Becoming has a seventy-seven percent audience score, while Melania has an eye-popping ninety-nine percent audience score.
So while critics strongly favor Michelle Obama’s film, theatergoers have overwhelmingly embraced Melania’s.
Inside the Films: Directors and Focus
Becoming, directed by Nadia Hallgren and produced by the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions, runs eighty-nine minutes and offers an intimate look at Obama’s life on the road and her personal evolution.
Melania runs longer at one hundred and eight minutes and was directed by Brett Ratner, known for Rush Hour.
This project marks his first film since 2017, when multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, allegations he has denied.
What Happens Next?
With Becoming rising again on Netflix rankings and Melania pulling strong box office numbers, the online debate doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
The bigger question now is whether this moment becomes a lasting cultural conversation or just another brief social media battle fueled by politics, celebrity, and timing.
Either way, the First Lady documentary showdown has officially become the internet’s newest obsession.
