‘Becoming’ jumps during Melania film opening weekend

A surprising spike during a competing release

February 7, 2026: Michelle Obama’s 2020 Netflix documentary Becoming experienced an extraordinary resurgence during the opening weekend of Melania, the new documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump. Between January 30 and February 1, Becoming soared from 354,000 minutes streamed the prior weekend to 47.5 million minutes, a surge of more than 13,000 percent in U.S. viewership. Analysts attribute the jump to backlash and cultural conversation sparked by Melania’s release.

Image Credit: Getty; WireImage

What ‘Becoming’ captures

Directed by Nadia Hallgren, Becoming follows Michelle Obama on her 34-city book tour for her bestselling memoir and offers behind-the-scenes access to her life following her tenure in the White House. The documentary combines reflections on family, community and leadership with personal insights rarely seen on screen.

The context of the surge

The spike coincided with Melania’s theatrical debut, which grossed about $7 million in its opening weekend — the highest for a documentary in a decade — but received largely negative critical response and strong audience division. Becoming’s surge saw it re-enter Netflix’s most-watched rankings as viewers sought out an alternative narrative centered on empowerment and resilience.

Cultural and political undertones

Observers noted that the swelling interest in Becoming reflects broader cultural currents: audiences used streaming platforms to voice preference for one story over another, turning viewership into a kind of symbolic response. This trend underscored how media moments intersect with politics and identity in 2026.

Image Credit: Getty

Final thoughts

More than five years after its release, Becoming demonstrated the enduring appeal of Michelle Obama’s story — and how collective cultural reactions can breathe new life into media through shared viewing.
Legacy watched.

FAQs

Q1: Why did Becoming see a huge surge in viewership?
Its viewership jumped more than 13,000 % on Netflix during the weekend Melania was released, as audiences sought an alternative story and the documentary re-entered the platform’s rankings.

Q2: How many minutes was Becoming streamed?
It was streamed for 47.5 million minutes between January 30 and February 1 in the U.S. alone.

Q3: When was Becoming originally released?
The documentary debuted on Netflix in 2020 after its premiere at festivals.

Q4: What is Becoming about?
It follows Michelle Obama’s life post-White House, including her nationwide book tour and personal reflections.

Q5: How did Melania perform financially?
Melania had a strong opening by documentary standards with about $7 million in domestic box office revenue.