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The Phantom of the Opera

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90% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 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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The Phantom of the Opera

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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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Critics Reviews

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Keith Phipps AV Club Aug 16, 2013
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. Go to Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Aug 16, 2013
Lon Chaney's performance as the hideous organist prowling the sewers beneath the Paris Opera is still a cornerstone of gothic horror. Go to Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe Nov 24, 2011
4/4
A grand, pulpy potboiler of a suspense melodrama. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 13, 2023
3.5/4
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. Go to Full Review Robert E. Sherwood LIFE Oct 7, 2021
[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. Go to Full Review María Luz Morales (Felipe Centeno) La Vanguardia (Spain) Oct 2, 2020
The audience was always interested in Lon Cheney's mysterious character. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Elsie M Sep 10, 2025 This screening was accompanied by live music and it is the best way to enjoy a classic silent film. See more Kathy Mar 7, 2024 Classic silent movie with music. See more Joaquin U @Joaquin1 Aug 10, 2026 Entertaining. Chaney is amazing as usual. The movie itself isn’t that strong—the script is okayish, and the direction is serviceable but dull. Still, it’s a classic for several reasons: the makeup, the clever insane‑genius gadgets and traps, many of them used here for the first time in cinema. It inspired plenty of later works, especially the Broadway play, and it delivered one of the greatest monsters of all time. Almost an obligatory pleasure for fans of the genre. See more Steve D @RT35616104 Jul 22, 2026 A classic for a reason. Haunting for its time. See more Jade W @giveemsomethingto_jade Jun 28, 2026 You want the closest thing to the book? Watch this version. It found a spot in my heart for silent films See more Von W. @bandit999 Feb 9, 2026 Very well done especially for the time period. I really enjoyed it. The plot is clearly communicated even thought it is a silent film See more Read all reviews
The Phantom of the Opera

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) The Phantom of the Opera (1925) View more photos

Movie Info

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, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 6, 1925, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 47m
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