Michelle Obama, wife of former President Barack Obama, and Melania Trump, wife of President Donald Trump both have documentaries about being first ladies,

The differences between the subject matter and their respective receptions by the public say a great deal about what audiences actually want to watch. Amazon’s “Melania” follows Melania Trump for 20 days before the 2025 presidential inauguration. It hit theaters on Jan. 30 with massive expectations. The film had a record-breaking $40-million licensing deal and a $35-million marketing budget, making it one of the most expensive documentaries ever made.

Michelle Obama’s 2020 Netflix documentary “Becoming” landed at #6 on the streaming platform’s Top 10 after coming out in 2020. According to entertainment data company Luminate, “Becoming” saw a 13,300% increase in viewership the same weekend “Melania” premiered. Social media campaigns on TikTok and X had encouraged people to stream “Becoming” instead of “Melania.”

The reviews were a little intense. “Melania” has a 1.4 rating on IMDb. Critics called it “a lifeless PR exercise” and “numbingly dull,” saying it offers zero insight. One reviewer said the film “mistakes distance for depth.” “Becoming,” on the other hand, holds a 7.2 rating and was nominated for four Emmys and a Grammy.

“Melania” first opened in theaters, and it wasn’t shown in many theaters. It was released on March 9 on Amazon Prime. Many viewers said the film felt empty, like it was trying to create substance where there wasn’t much to begin with.

As I watched, “Melania,” it felt like she was trying to show viewers the luxury of being the President’s wife and the richness that comes with it. As a viewer, I didn’t feel any connection or emotion from this movie and didn’t feel like we got to know her realistically, but others beg to differ. One reviewer said, “ I enjoyed seeing the First Lady in her element, living the lavish life of a woman who married an extremely wealthy, influential, and now politically significant man.”

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but Melania Trump was the executive producer with full editorial control. That means it was polished to look perfect. In Michelle’s documentary “Becoming,” Michelle Obama traveled across many cities promoting her book, met with communities and students, shared personal stories about her childhood and marriage, reflected on leaving the White House, worked closely with her team during the tour, and inspired people to believe in themselves and stay involved in their communities.

It shows Michelle Obama as a person, not just a public figure. You see her vulnerability and her roots on the South Side of Chicago. People called it “inspiring” and “uplifting,” and I couldn’t agree more. My take after watching “Becoming” was so inspirational. Watching Michelle Obama’s journey showed how she worked so hard to become more than just “the President’s wife.” She is the standard for a presidential first lady. She was someone who used her platform to make real change and inspire people.

‘Melania” might have had the bigger budget, but “Becoming” has the better story and the viewership, which the numbers proved. As one viewer put it about Michelle Obama: “She’s an inspiring, funny, spunky lady who inspires young women to fight for their dreams.” That resonates because it’s real.

“Becoming” is streaming on Netflix. “Melania” is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.