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Phantom of the Paradise

Play trailer Poster for Phantom of the Paradise PG 1974 1h 32m Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After record producer Swan (Paul Williams) steals the music of songwriter Winslow Leach (William Finley) and gives it to one of his bands, Leach sneaks into Swan's offices. Catching Leach, Swan frames him for dealing drugs, which lands him in prison. After Leach breaks out and again attempts to sabotage Swan's empire, an accident crushes his face. Leach then dons a costume and becomes the Phantom, intent on ruining Swan while saving singer Phoenix (Jessica Harper) from a terrible fate.
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Phantom of the Paradise

Phantom of the Paradise

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Critics Consensus

Brian De Palma's subversive streak is on full display in Phantom of the Paradise, an ebullient rock opera that rhapsodizes creativity when it isn't seething with disdain for the music industry.

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Critics Reviews

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Andrew Sarris Village Voice 06/27/2023
De Palma has mixed too many of his styles in Phantom of the Paradise, but this is still a movie to be seen and heard. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 06/27/2023
A crazy, savage film -- iconoclastic and truly liberating. Go to Full Review
Pauline Kael The New Yorker 06/27/2023
De Palma, who can't tell a plain story, does something that a couple of generations of student and underground filmmakers have been trying to do and nobody else has ever brought off. He creates a new Guignol, in a modern idiom. Go to Full Review
Alan Jones Radio Times Jul 2
4/5
This being a De Palma film, the Hitchcock references are in abundance, including the wittiest Psycho shower scene send-up ever. And Sissy Spacek dressed the sets! Go to Full Review
Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm 08/29/2024
2.5/4
...filters highbrow influences through colored 1970s strobe lights. Go to Full Review
Noah Gittell Washington City Paper 03/29/2024
Brian De Palma’s 1974 pastiche is a near-psychedelic experience built not on freaky visual effects but on pure passion and unadulterated artistry. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 17 One of my all time favorites. Definitely a gem, which means not many know about it. See more Jason H Oct 12 The music in this movie is excellent. See more Noel L Aug 24 This was Phantom of the Opera meets The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The songs were entertaining, the special effects were on point for it's time, and the acting wasn't half bad See more Blu B Aug 12 All Time Classic. It's a Musical, comedy, and horror mixed with a hint of Rocky Horror Picture Show (Although this came first), arthouse, and New Hollywood style to it and you get one of the most bizarre, crazy, super freakin creative, lighting in a bottle, masterfully written and layered, incredibly executed, and awesome things I've ever seen Just like R.H.P.S. this needs to be seen to be believed and understood. Everyone should give this a try once. You know as crazy as it is I feel like it ironcically is more grounded in fundamentals than R.H.P.S. is too. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 20 Unfunny in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Nick O Jun 18 I’m guessing DePalma had cocaine and LSD figured into the budget for this truly bizarre rock opera/horror musical that is Phantom Of The Opera meets Ziggy Stardust era Bowie but way weirder! See more Read all reviews
Phantom of the Paradise

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Movie Info

Synopsis After record producer Swan (Paul Williams) steals the music of songwriter Winslow Leach (William Finley) and gives it to one of his bands, Leach sneaks into Swan's offices. Catching Leach, Swan frames him for dealing drugs, which lands him in prison. After Leach breaks out and again attempts to sabotage Swan's empire, an accident crushes his face. Leach then dons a costume and becomes the Phantom, intent on ruining Swan while saving singer Phoenix (Jessica Harper) from a terrible fate.
Director
Brian De Palma
Producer
Edward R. Pressman
Screenwriter
Brian De Palma
Production Co
Harbor Productions, Pressman-Williams Enterprises
Rating
PG
Genre
Musical, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 31, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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