Following the theatrical release of the documentary Melania, dedicated to Melania Trump, the documentary BecomingThe series, centered on Michelle Obama, saw a dramatic increase in viewership on Netflix. The number of minutes watched reached approximately 47,5 million the weekend of January 30th to February 1st, compared to only 354 minutes the previous weekend, representing an increase of more than 13 300%This explosion in audience numbers occurred precisely on the day of the film's release. Melania in the United States and several other countries.
A phenomenon triggered by social media
This meteoric rise is partly explained by a mobilization effort on social media. Internet users massively encouraged viewers to watch Michelle Obama's documentary, propelling it to the top of Netflix's rankings in the face of the release of MelaniaThe enthusiasm was amplified by celebrities, including the Colombian-American actor John Leguizamo, which prompted his subscribers to watch Becoming on repeat.
Spectacular figures
The statistics show an impressive audience turnout. From the 30 January, Becoming has accumulated nearly one million minutes of viewing time, corresponding to approximately 9,500 complete viewings. 31 January, this figure has climbed to 13,9 million minutes viewed, then culminated the 1er February à 32,7 million minutesThe following days continued to show millions of minutes watched, illustrating a "tailing" effect after the opening of the competing documentary in theaters. This surge allowed the film to re-enter the Top 10 Netflix movies in the United States, after a long absence.
Becoming: a documentary inspired by Michelle Obama's memoirs
Becoming, produced by the company Higher Ground Productions The film, featuring Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, is inspired by the former first lady's memoirs published in 2018, which sold millions of copies. Directed by Nadia Hallgren Released in May 2020, the film follows Michelle Obama on her book tour across 34 cities. Running 89 minutes, the documentary had already received several Emmy Award nominations.
Melania Trump: a resounding theatrical launch
For its part, MelaniaDirected by Brett Ratner, follows Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to her husband's second inauguration, Donald TrumpReleased in January 2025. 30th January 2026The documentary reported approximately 7 million During its opening weekend, it achieved one of the best openings for a non-musical documentary in the last decade. The release was supported by a major international marketing campaign.
A duel that reveals the political polarization
The confrontation between these two documentaries illustrates the cultural and political polarization in the media. While Melania generates a debate surrounding the current First Lady. Becoming It becomes a symbol for a different audience, ready to support Michelle Obama on Netflix. The contrasting reactions from the public and critics highlight a clear division in the reception of these films. This phenomenon shows how an existing documentary can experience a resurgence in viewership thanks to current events and social media.
