The story of the Phantom of the Opera has been seen in movies, television, and even on the stage, but some are ranked higher than others.

SUMMARY

 The Phantom of the Opera has been adapted into various TV and film versions, but not all have been successful.
 Some adaptations deviate from the original book and focus more on the Phantom as a slasher villain.
 The 1989 horror version with Robert Englund is confusing and does not follow the book closely, resulting in a critical and financial failure.

The Phantom of the Opera has been adapted for television and movies for almost a century, and some productions have been far better than others. This includes several horror versions and ones based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that premiered in the 1980s. There have also been many famous faces behind the masked men, including Ramin Karimloo and even the late Julian Sands.

The Phantom of the Opera started as a book published by Gaston Leroux in 1909. The story follows a disfigured musical genius named Erik Destler, or the Phantom, who lives in the Paris Opera House and is obsessed with a beautiful singer named Christine Daaé. Over the years, there have been many variations of the classic book, with some versions trying to stay as close to the book as possible while others follow the musical.

12. The Phantom of the Opera (1989)

Starring Robert Englund (Erik/The Phantom/Mr. Foster), Jill Schoelen (Christine), Meg (Molly Shannon), Alex Hyde-White (Richard Dutton), Bill Nighy (Martin Barton), Terence Harvey (Inspector Hawkins), Stephanie Lawrence (La Carlotta)

The 1989 horror version with Robert Englund deviated from the book by having the story set in the modern day and later transitioning over to the 1880s. Similar to the classic tale, it follows Christine Day as she goes for an audition at a New York opera. She later gets hit on the head with a sandbag during the audition and goes back in time to the 1880s, where she is a rising opera star being taught by a disfigured musical genius who is falling in love with her.

While the music in the film is very well done, it is too focused on making Phantom Robert Englund into a slasher villain rather than a tragic anti-hero and does not follow the book. The movie’s use of transitioning from the present to the past also makes it more confusing for those who have not read the book. It is one of the few Phantom of the Opera films on this list with an R rating and was a critical and financial failure, with a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

11. The Phantom of the Opera (1998 Film)

Starring Julian Sands (The Phantom), Asia Argento (Christine Daaé), Andrea Di Stefano (Raoul, Baron de Chagny)

Having the Phantom be a slasher villain was a popular choice back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, with this version being no exception. The 1998 film version of The Phantom of the Opera was a complete flop, garnering a 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and is the second movie on this list with an R rating.

With the late Julian Sands starring as the tragic Phantom and Asia Argento starring as Christine, this movie lets the actors down. Having the Phantom raised by rats makes the movie completely unrealistic to the original Leroux tale and is one of the worst movies that Argento has been in.

10. Love Never Dies (2012)

Ben Lewis (The Phantom), Anna O’Byrne (Christine Daaé), María Mercedes (Madame Giry), Simon Gleeson (Raoul), Sharon Millerchip (Meg Giry), Jack Lyall (Gustave)

Love Never Dies is the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version of The Phantom of the Opera and is also loosely based on the book The Phantom Takes Manhattan.

It takes place 10 years after the musical, with Christine coming to America to perform at Phantasma, a new sideshow in Coney Island run by the Phantom. The only good thing about this version is Ben Lewis and Anna O’Bryne’s singing. Despite having a good reputation as a composer, this is one Lloyd Webber show that completely misses the mark.

The stage version of this sequel makes the already-sad tale even sadder with Christine being the only fatality at the end of the story and adding in a lot of out-of-character elements for everyone else, especially Meg and Raoul.

The story takes away everything from the original Lloyd Webber musical and gives the characters little purpose. Critics who saw the show in London and Australia also agreed that the show served little purpose and did not add anything to the original story.

9. The Phantom of the Opera (1983)

Starring Maximilian Schell (The Phantom), Jane Seymour (Maria Gianelli/Elena Korvin), Michael York (Michael Hartnell), Jeremy Kemp (Baron Hunyadi), Diana Quick (Madame Brigida Bianchi)

The 1983 story stars Maximilian Schell as the Phantom and gives him more of a tragic backstory. This version of the Phantom sees him as a promising orchestra conductor who is married to a singer who later commits suicide.

While it is a well-done movie for its time, it was not well-received by audiences or by the critics. Schell’s portrayal of the Phantom is the only saving grace for this movie, but the entire movie feels like the filmmakers attempted to have it be the next big thing and failed.
8. Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Starring Paul Williams (Swan/The Phantom’s singing voice), William Finley (The Phantom), George Memmoli (Arnold Philbin), Jessica Harper (Phoenix)

Phantom of the Paradise is a bit unusual in that it does not take place in the 1880s, but rather in the present day. Starring William Finley as Winslow Leach or the Phantom, it covers the story of a record producer who steals Leach’s music, causing Leach to get revenge after the producer frames him for doing drugs and puts him in jail. After an accident wrecks his face, Leach becomes the Phantom with the sole intent of getting revenge on the producer, while tutoring an up-and-coming singer.

While the story works well for audiences who may like rock and roll music, it can be hard to swallow for audiences who want to see the classic Phantom story. The film uses the inspiration of multiple stories instead of just one, including Faust and Oscar Wilde.

The film was a box office failure but has since reached cult status in the years since and is known as one of Brian de Palma’s best films. In fact, it could be argued that it is better than 1975’s Rocky Horror Picture Show.

6. The Phantom of the Opera (1962 film)

Starring Herbert Lom (The Phantom/Professor Petrie), Heather Sears (Christine Charles), Edward de Souza (Harry Hunter), Michael Gough (Lord Ambrose D’Arcy)

Herbert Lom’s Phantom is another horror version of the story, but unlike later versions, it is not overly gory or overly scary. Unlike the Leroux book, the 1962 film does not take place in Paris, but in London.

The Phantom is portrayed as a more sympathetic man and eventually dies saving Christine from a falling chandelier, rather than letting Christine go with another man. This more sympathetic approach works for the movie and keeps it suspenseful while giving it heart.

5. The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)

Starring Gerard Butler (The Phantom), Emmy Rossum (Christine Daaé), Patrick Wilson (Raoul), Miranda Richardson (Madame Giry), Minnie Driver (Carlotta Giudicelli)

The 2004 version of The Phantom of the Opera is based solely on the stage musical. Starring Gerard Butler as the Phantom and Emmy Rossum as Christine, it is a fresh version of the musical with modern faces. It is one of the few Phantom stories that have the Phantom stay alive throughout the entire story.

While Butler may not be a trained singer, his rough and raw voice is perfect as the Phantom and a then-teenaged Rossum succeeds as Christine. Critic reviews at the time of the premiere were mixed, but it was well received by audiences worldwide, most of them probably teenagers themselves.

4. The Phantom of the Opera (1990 Miniseries)

Starring Charles Dance (The Phantom), Teri Polo (Christine Daaé), Adam Storke (Comte Philippe de Chagny), Burt Lanchester (Gerard Carriere)

This is the only television series on this list and is based on Phantom, a 1991 musical by Andrew Kopit. Despite some changes made to the plot, this version of Phantom stays as true to the original book as possible but allows for creative liberties without feeling forced.

The film does not show the Phantom as a slasher villain who thrives on kills but rather as a tragic anti-hero who has not been shown the kinder things in life. Portraying the Phantom as a tragic anti-hero works well for this television series and makes his actions understandable.

3. The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

Starring Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom), Sierra Boggess (Christine Daaé), Hadley Fraser (Raoul), Wendy Ferguson (Carlotta Giudicelli)

Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess have had a long history with the musical version of The Phantom of the Opera, so it only made sense to have a filmed version of the stage production starring them rank high on this list. Filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011, this version came out to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the musical.

With only a few minor differences from the original musical version due to timing constraints, it is a powerful performance by both Karimloo and Boggess, especially in the title song.

2. Phantom of the Opera (1943)

Starring Claude Rains (The Phantom/Erique Claudin), Susanna Foster (Christine DuBois), Nelson Eddy (Anatole Garron), Edgar Barrier (Raoul Dubert)

1943’s Phantom of the Opera was a box office success despite mixed reviews when it was released. Even though it is only loosely based on the original Leroux tale, the story is compelling enough to make audiences not worry about it.

Unlike Christine in other adaptations of the Leroux tale, Susanna Foster’s Christine is independent and determined, eventually choosing not to pursue suitors and dedicating herself to her singing career. The film is also the only Universal horror film to win two Oscars, one for Art Direction and another for Cinematography.

1. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Starring Lon Chaney (The Phantom), Norman Kerry (Vicomte Raoul de Chagny), Mary Philbin (Christine Daaé), Arthur Edmund Carewe (Ledoux), Virginia Pearson (Carlotta)

The first movie of The Phantom of the Opera, Lon Chaney’s 1925 silent film version, is a classic for audiences who love the silent horror films of the late 1920s. Known as the Man of a Thousand Faces, Lon Chaney did his own makeup for the film, creating a spooky, Frankenstein-like effect that left audiences appropriately terrified.

There are no changes to the plot or the characters and any violence is implied, never shown, making it successful and true. The film was a critical success on its release in 1925 and was added to the United States National Film Registry in 1998.