The Phantom of the Opera

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The Phantom of the Opera

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1h 33m

Horror

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90%

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49 Reviews

84%

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1,000+ Ratings

Aspiring young opera singer Christine Daaé discovers that she has a mysterious admirer intent on helping her become a lead performer. This masked presence is Erik, also known as the Phantom, a horribly disfigured recluse who lives underneath the Paris Opera House. When the Phantom takes Christine prisoner and demands her devotion and affection, her suitor, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, sets out to rescue her.

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Critics Consensus

Decades later, it still retains its ability to scare -- and Lon Chaney's performance remains one of the benchmarks of the horror genre.

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Keith Phipps

AV Club

The atmosphere matches Chaney's performance perfectly. His grotesque appearance is achieved with wires, cotton balls, and eye-dilating chemicals, but his character, as usual, is animated from within.

Aug 16, 2013

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Lon Chaney's performance as the hideous organist prowling the sewers beneath the Paris Opera is still a cornerstone of gothic horror.

Aug 16, 2013

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

A grand, pulpy potboiler of a suspense melodrama.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 24, 2011

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

If it wasn’t quite the match of the fright fests that were being made over in Europe during this decade (Nosferatu, Haxan), it was certainly one of the most epic American undertakings this side of D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 13, 2023

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Robert E. Sherwood

LIFE

[Phantom] is not nearly so magnificent in scale, nor so stirring in theme, as The Hunchback -- but as represented on the screen it is a more consistently thrilling story. It is spook melodrama at its wildest and weirdest, and it is beautifully done.

Oct 7, 2021

Full Review

María Luz Morales (Felipe Centeno)

La Vanguardia (Spain)

The audience was always interested in Lon Cheney's mysterious character. [Full Review in Spanish]

Oct 2, 2020

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Kathy

Classic silent movie with music.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

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Alesia L

The Phantom's fear was noticeable through physical communication between the actors and the musical intensity, making it difficult to evoke positive emotions for the Phantom, unlike in the Broadway show and the 2004 movie, likely due to Andrew Lloyd Webber's score bringing to you sadness regarding the Phantom's situation. It was nice to learn that the Phantom's actual name is Erik. This was enjoyable to watch, and I regret not seeing it sooner and I have plans to revisit it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Queralt T

I had so much fun watching this film. The fact that with some music and body language they were able to really transmit the fear of the Phantom to the public amazes me. It's truly a pity that they no longer make movies like this. I have to say that i did not feel empathy for the Phantom's character, unlike other versions. I think it quite an important element of Erik's personality, but I also understand that they had to simplify the characters for the movies sake. I have no complaints. Sit back and enjoy, Phans. Happy 100th anniversary, btw.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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Dick C

It's an excellent mime...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/25

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Chloe A

Nothing can beat the original. Not even the musical.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

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NiB Y

If it wasn't for the completly different and out of place ending, this would be not only a perfect movie but a perfect adaptation. The best part is that even with the ending, it's still the absolute best adaptation of the novel and is a must see for any movie, horror, musical and book lover.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

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Rupert Julian

Director

Lon Chaney

Erik, The Phantom

Mary Philbin

Christine Daae

Norman Kerry

Vicomte Raoul de Chagny

Arthur Edmund Carewe

Ledoux

Gibson Gowland

Simon Buquet

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Synopsis

Aspiring young opera singer Christine Daaé discovers that she has a mysterious admirer intent on helping her become a lead performer. This masked presence is Erik, also known as the Phantom, a horribly disfigured recluse who lives underneath the Paris Opera House. When the Phantom takes Christine prisoner and demands her devotion and affection, her suitor, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, sets out to rescue her.

Director: Rupert Julian
Producer: Carl Laemmle
Screenwriter: Gaston Leroux, Bernard McConville
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Horror
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 6, 1925, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 11, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m

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