Phantom of the Paradise

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Phantom of the Paradise

PG

1974

1h 32m

Musical

Comedy

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

70 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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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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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.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

06/27/2023

A crazy, savage film -- iconoclastic and truly liberating.

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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.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jun 17

5/5

…some old-school baroque and roll…what makes Phantom of the Paradise a stone cold classic are the songs and De Palma’s wild style…his reputation isn’t exactly set on his musicals, and yet his flair is ideal for this OTT rock and roll pastiche…

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Jack Kapica

Montreal Gazette

Apr 2

Filmed with skill, it's certainly one of the more original movies of the year, and worth a look.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

07/02/2025

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!

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Al H

@RT44447405 2d

A silly, fun and entertaining movie. I liked it in the theatre in 1974 and still like it. And Paul Williams’ music is excellent…

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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.

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Jason H

@RT50328122 Oct 12

The music in this movie is excellent.

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Noel L

@RT15930389 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

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Blu B

@RT43513976 08/12/2025

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.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 06/20/2025

Unfunny in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Brian De Palma

Director

Paul Williams

Swan

William Finley

Winslow

Jessica Harper

Phoenix

George Memmoli

Philbin

Gerrit Graham

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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, Fantasy
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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