The First Monday in May (2016): Met Gala Documentary Review, Cast & Where to Watch
Few events combine fashion, celebrity, art and exclusivity quite like the Met Gala. But while millions of people see the red carpet every year, very few get to see what happens before the cameras arrive.
That is exactly where The First Monday in May comes in. Directed by Andrew Rossi, the 2016 documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute and the preparation of its landmark China: Through the Looking Glass exhibition.
At the center of the film are two of the most important figures behind the event: Anna Wintour, Vogue's longtime editor-in-chief and Met Gala chair, and Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute curator responsible for the exhibition.
The First Monday in May is a 90-minute documentary directed by Andrew Rossi that follows the creation of the Met's China: Through the Looking Glass exhibition and the 2015 Met Gala. It features Anna Wintour, Andrew Bolton, Rihanna, Wong Kar Wai, Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and other major figures from fashion, art and entertainment.
What Is The First Monday in May About?
The documentary follows the enormous effort behind one of the most ambitious Costume Institute exhibitions in the history of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The exhibition, China: Through the Looking Glass, explored the influence of Chinese art and aesthetics on Western fashion. But the film is interested in more than beautiful clothes and museum displays.
Rossi uses the preparation process to examine the complicated relationship between fashion and fine art.
Andrew Bolton finds himself defending the artistic importance of fashion while dealing with institutional concerns, creative disagreements and the practical challenge of building an exhibition capable of attracting enormous public attention.
At the same time, Anna Wintour and her team are preparing the Met Gala, the celebrity-filled fundraising event that traditionally marks the opening of the Costume Institute's annual exhibition.
Anna Wintour and Andrew Bolton at the Center
One of the documentary's biggest strengths is that it does not simply present the Met Gala as a glamorous party. Instead, it shows how much planning and negotiation happens before guests ever walk onto the famous staircase.
Wintour's influence is a major part of the story. Her position at the center of Vogue, the fashion industry and the Met Gala gives her enormous power over how the event is presented to the world.
Bolton provides the film's quieter counterpoint. His concern is primarily the exhibition itself and the intellectual argument behind China: Through the Looking Glass.
Their different priorities create one of the film's most interesting tensions: how do you turn fashion into an artistic exhibition while also creating a global celebrity spectacle?
The Met Gala Behind the Scenes
The 2015 Met Gala is the event at the heart of the documentary. Rather than concentrating only on the celebrities walking the red carpet, Rossi shows the machinery behind the occasion.
Designers, museum staff, Vogue executives, artists and celebrities all become part of the enormous production.
The documentary also captures the strange contrast between the Met Gala's exclusivity and its enormous public reach. A relatively small group of people attends the event, but millions around the world follow every outfit, photograph and celebrity appearance.
That tension is one reason the movie remains relevant whenever Met Gala season returns.
Who Appears in The First Monday in May?
Vogue editor-in-chief and longtime chair of the Met Gala, appearing as herself.
Costume Institute curator and the creative force behind the China: Through the Looking Glass exhibition.
The global music star appears in the documentary as one of the major celebrity figures connected with the Met Gala.
The acclaimed filmmaker served as artistic director of China: Through the Looking Glass.
The legendary fashion designer is among the major fashion figures featured in the documentary.
The influential designer appears as part of the film's exploration of fashion and art.
The celebrated designer is among the fashion-world personalities featured in the film.
The filmmaker and creative consultant for the Met Gala is also featured in the documentary.
China: Through the Looking Glass Explained
The exhibition at the center of the documentary examined the influence of China on Western fashion.
Rather than presenting Chinese-inspired fashion as a simple historical trend, the exhibition explored how Western designers have interpreted, borrowed from and sometimes misunderstood Chinese imagery and aesthetics.
That made the exhibition particularly complicated. The creative possibilities were enormous, but so were the questions surrounding cultural representation.
The documentary follows Bolton and the Met team as they attempt to create an exhibition that can engage audiences aesthetically while taking its subject seriously.
When Did The First Monday in May Premiere?
The First Monday in May had its world premiere at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival on April 13, 2016, where it opened the festival.
It then received its U.S. theatrical release on April 15, 2016 through Magnolia Pictures.
The film was therefore released years before the current cycle of Met Gala-driven searches, but its subject matter gives it a recurring audience whenever the annual event dominates fashion and entertainment coverage.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| World Premiere | April 13, 2016 — Tribeca Film Festival |
| U.S. Release | April 15, 2016 |
| Director | Andrew Rossi |
| Runtime | 90 minutes |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Distributor | Magnolia Pictures |
The First Monday in May Review
A Fascinating Look Behind Fashion's Most Exclusive Night
The First Monday in May works because it understands that the Met Gala itself is only half the story. The other half is the enormous creative, institutional and logistical machine required to make the event possible.
Andrew Rossi gives viewers access to conversations and preparations that normally remain invisible, while the documentary's fashion-world personalities provide plenty of star power.
The strongest material, however, comes from the debate over whether fashion deserves the same artistic status as painting, sculpture or other traditional museum disciplines.
The Best Part of the Documentary
The behind-the-scenes access is the obvious attraction. Seeing the Met and Vogue teams prepare the exhibition and gala makes the finished red carpet feel very different.
Every major element — from exhibition design to celebrity appearances — exists because dozens of decisions have already been made behind closed doors.
Anna Wintour as a Documentary Subject
Wintour naturally commands attention. The film presents her not merely as a fashion editor but as a central force in the cultural machinery surrounding the Met Gala.
Her presence gives the documentary an unusual window into how fashion, celebrity, media and institutional power intersect.
The Fashion-as-Art Debate
This is ultimately what gives the documentary more substance than a conventional celebrity special.
The film repeatedly returns to the question of whether clothing should be considered art and what happens when a museum attempts to elevate fashion into a serious cultural exhibition.
That question remains relevant beyond the 2015 exhibition, which is why the documentary continues to work as more than a snapshot of one Met Gala.
Rotten Tomatoes Score and Critical Reception
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists The First Monday in May at 77% from 60 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10.
The response reflects the film's appeal as both a fashion documentary and a behind-the-scenes cultural portrait. Critics have generally recognized the access and visual appeal while differing on how deeply the film explores its larger questions.
Apple TV also currently lists the documentary with a 77% Tomatometer score and a 90-minute runtime.
Where to Watch The First Monday in May
The First Monday in May remains available through digital platforms, although availability can vary by country.
Apple TV currently lists the documentary in its movie catalog. Google Play Movies also lists it for rental and purchase, with current U.S. listings showing a $2.99 rental and $9.99 purchase price.
Magnolia Pictures lists the film as available on DVD and Digital HD.
Check Apple TV, Google Play Movies and other local digital stores for current rental or purchase availability. Streaming rights can change by country and over time.
Is The First Monday in May on Netflix?
Availability on Netflix depends on the country. Netflix currently has a listing for the documentary in some regions, but its availability is not universal.
For viewers who cannot stream it through Netflix, Apple TV and digital rental or purchase platforms are alternatives where the movie is currently offered.
Why The First Monday in May Still Matters in 2026
The documentary has an unusual advantage: its subject returns every year.
The Met Gala remains one of the biggest annual events in fashion and entertainment, and each year's red carpet inevitably generates renewed interest in how the event works.
That makes The First Monday in May a natural companion watch for anyone who follows the gala but has never seen what happens behind the scenes.
It also provides historical context for a Met Gala era that featured major figures including Rihanna, Karl Lagerfeld, Wong Kar Wai and Anna Wintour, making it particularly valuable for fashion fans interested in how the institution evolved.
Final Review: Should You Watch The First Monday in May?
If your interest in the Met Gala begins and ends with the red carpet, The First Monday in May offers a much deeper look at what makes the event possible.
It is part fashion documentary, part museum story and part celebrity-industry portrait. Andrew Rossi finds the drama not in manufactured conflict but in the competing demands of art, commerce, celebrity and institutional prestige.
The film is also an excellent choice for viewers who enjoy documentaries such as The September Issue, Dior and I and Bill Cunningham: New York.
Our verdict: The First Monday in May remains one of the best behind-the-scenes introductions to the Met Gala and the complicated world surrounding fashion's biggest night.
Frequently Asked Questions
The documentary follows the creation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's China: Through the Looking Glass exhibition and the 2015 Met Gala.
The documentary was directed by Andrew Rossi, known for films including Page One: Inside the New York Times.
The film premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival on April 13, 2016, before its U.S. theatrical release on April 15.
The documentary has a runtime of approximately 90 minutes.
Yes. Anna Wintour is one of the documentary's central figures and appears as herself.
Yes. The film follows the preparation for the 2015 Met Gala alongside the creation of the China: Through the Looking Glass exhibition.
Availability varies by country. The documentary is currently listed through Apple TV and digital rental or purchase platforms, including Google Play Movies in supported markets.
Netflix has carried the documentary in some regions, but availability varies by country. Check your local Netflix catalog before searching for other options.