View source for The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)

{{Short description|2004 film by Joel Schumacher}}
{{About| a film adaptation |the novel and other uses|The Phantom of the Opera (disambiguation)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = The Phantom of the Opera
| image          = Poto2.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Joel Schumacher]]
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist| 
* [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]
* Joel Schumacher
}}
| based_on       = ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' by Andrew Lloyd Webber<br />[[Charles Hart (lyricist)|Charles Hart]]<br />[[Richard Stilgoe]]<br />''[[The Phantom of the Opera (novel)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' by [[Gaston Leroux]]
| producer       = Andrew Lloyd Webber
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Gerard Butler]]
* [[Emmy Rossum]]
* [[Patrick Wilson]]
* [[Miranda Richardson]]
* [[Minnie Driver]]
}}
| cinematography = [[John Mathieson (cinematographer)|John Mathieson]]
| editing        = [[Terry Rawlings]]
| music          = Andrew Lloyd Webber
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* Odyssey Entertainment
* Joel Schumacher Productions
* [[Really Useful Group|Really Useful Films]]
* Scion Films
}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Entertainment Film Distributors]] (United Kingdom)<ref name="mojo"/>
* [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] (United States and Canada)
* Odyssey Entertainment (Overseas)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|2004|12|10|United Kingdom|2004|12|22|United States}}
| runtime        = 143 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 142:38--><ref>{{cite web|title=''Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera'' (12)|url= https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/andrew-lloyd-webbers-the-phantom-of-the-opera-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zntu4mdg |work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=26 August 2004|access-date=4 March 2013}}</ref>
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United Kingdom
* United States
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $70–80 million<ref name="mojo"/><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |url= https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/mavericks-reap-oscar-rewards-1117918901/ |title= Mavericks reap Oscar rewards|first= Dana|last= Harris |date= 6 March 2005 |website=Variety}}</ref>
| gross          = $154.6&nbsp;million<ref name="mojo">{{Cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr4100215301/|title=The Phantom of the Opera|website= [[Box Office Mojo]] }}</ref>
}}

'''''The Phantom of the Opera''''' is a 2004 [[musical film|musical]] [[romantic film|romantic]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] based on [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s [[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|musical of the same name]], which in turn is based on [[Gaston Leroux]]'s novel, ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (novel)|Le Fantôme de l'Opéra]]''. Produced and co-written by Lloyd Webber and directed by [[Joel Schumacher]], the film features an [[ensemble cast]] consisting of [[Gerard Butler]] as [[Erik (The Phantom of the Opera)|the titular character]], with [[Emmy Rossum]], [[Patrick Wilson]], [[Miranda Richardson]], [[Minnie Driver]], [[Simon Callow]], [[Ciarán Hinds]], [[Victor McGuire]] and [[Jennifer Ellison]] in supporting roles.

The film was announced in 1989, although production did not start until 2002 due to Lloyd Webber's divorce and Schumacher's busy career. It was shot entirely at [[Pinewood Studios]], with scenery created with miniatures and computer graphics. Rossum, Wilson and Driver had singing experience, but Butler had none and was provided with music lessons prior to filming. ''The Phantom of the Opera'' grossed $154.6&nbsp;million worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the visuals and acting, particularly the performances of the lead actors, but criticism towards the writing, direction and unnecessary deviations from the source material. Despite its initial reception, the film received several awards and a trio of Oscar nominations, as well as a positive reception from the audience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Phantom of the Opera {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/phantom_of_the_opera |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for films are 400 to 700 words. -->
In 1870, a [[Paris]]ian [[opera house]] prepares for the performance of the opera ''Hannibal'', headed by soprano [[Carlotta (The Phantom of the Opera)|Carlotta Giudicelli]]. Theatre manager Monsieur Lefèvre plans to retire, leaving the building under the ownership of [[scrap]]pers Richard Firmin and Gilles André, who introduce their patron, [[Viscount Raoul de Chagny]]. Carlotta refuses to perform due to being constantly tormented by the theatre's resident "Opera Ghost", who is said to live in the [[catacombs]] below. Facing the performance's cancellation, [[Ballet master|ballet mistress]] [[Madame Giry]] suggests that dancer [[Christine Daaé]], Raoul's childhood sweetheart, stands in for Carlotta; she displays her singing talents and is a success on opening night.

Christine tells her best friend [[Meg Giry|Meg]], Giry's daughter, that she is being coached by a tutor she calls the "Angel of Music", which had been sent by her late father following his passing. Christine reunites with Raoul and confides that she has been visited by the Angel, but he dismisses her story. That night, the masked Opera Ghost, better known as the "Phantom", appears before Christine in a [[mirror]], leading her away to his underground lair. After the Phantom reveals a mannequin of Christine dressed in a [[wedding dress]] he made for her, Christine faints and sleeps in the lair.

Once Christine awakens and sees the Phantom, she removes his mask; he reacts violently and covers his face with his hand. After they have an understanding, the Phantom then returns Christine to the theatre unharmed but orders the managers to make her the lead in ''Il Muto'', only for them to choose the returning Carlotta instead. During the performance, the Phantom switches Carlotta's throat spray, causing her to sing out of tune, and Christine replaces her. The Phantom then encounters [[Joseph Buquet|the stagehand]] and hangs him from above the stage. Christine and Raoul flee to the roof, declaring their love for each other. The Phantom, now heartbroken after witnessing the scene, vows [[revenge]].

Three months later, Christine and Raoul announce their [[engagement]] at a [[New Year]] [[masquerade ball]]. The Phantom soon crashes the ball and orders his own opera, ''Don Juan Triumphant'', to be performed. Upon seeing Christine's [[engagement ring]], the Phantom steals it and flees, pursued by Raoul, but Giry thwarts him as she then privately discloses how she rescued the Phantom, once a much-abused and deformed young boy billed in a [[freak show]], when she was younger. The next day, Christine visits her father's tomb with the Phantom posing as his spirit to win her back, but Raoul intervenes.

Raoul and the managers plan to capture the Phantom during his opera, but he usurps the lead tenor to get to Christine, who soon unmasks him during a duet and exposes his deformed face to the horrified audience. The Phantom then abducts Christine and retreats as he causes the [[auditorium]]'s [[chandelier]] to crash, sparking a building-wide inferno to cover his tracks. However, a [[mobbing|mob]] aided by the gathered authorities forms to hunt him down. Giry leads Raoul to the Phantom's lair to rescue Christine, while Meg also leads the mob.

The Phantom has Christine wear the wedding dress and proposes [[marriage]]. Christine tries reasoning with him by confessing that she only fears his malicious actions, not his appearance. When Raoul arrives, the Phantom threatens his life unless Christine weds him, to which she kisses him out of pity. Moved by her compassion, the Phantom allows the couple to leave. Comforted by a [[music box]], the Phantom is allowed to keep Christine's ring. He then escapes before the mob arrives, with Meg finding only his discarded mask.

Later in 1919, at a [[public auction]] held to clear out the now-condemned opera house's vaults, an elderly Raoul bids against the now-retired Giry for the Phantom's music box. He later visits the recently deceased Christine's grave and places the instrument before it. Before leaving, he notices a freshly laid [[rose]] with Christine's ring around its stem, implying that the Phantom is still alive and will always love her.

==Cast==

* [[Gerard Butler]] as [[Erik (The Phantom of the Opera)|The Phantom]]
* [[Emmy Rossum]] as [[Christine Daaé]] 
* [[Patrick Wilson]] as [[Viscount Raoul de Chagny|Raoul de Chagny]]
* [[Miranda Richardson]] as [[Madame Giry]]
* [[Minnie Driver]] as [[Carlotta (The Phantom of the Opera)|Carlotta Giudicelli]]
** [[Margaret Preece]] additionally provides the character's singing voice, with the exception of "[[Learn to Be Lonely]]"
* [[Simon Callow]] as Gilles André
* [[Ciarán Hinds]] as Richard Firmin
* [[Victor McGuire]] as Ubaldo Piangi
* [[Jennifer Ellison]] as [[Meg Giry]]
* [[Murray Melvin]] as [[Ernest Reyer]]
* [[Kevin McNally]] as [[Joseph Buquet]]
* [[James Fleet]] as Monsieur Lefèvre
* [[Ramin Karimloo]] as Gustave Daaé
* [[Paul Brooke]] as the auctioneer in the film's prologue

==Production==

===Development===
[[Warner Bros.]] purchased the [[film rights]] to ''The Phantom of the Opera'' in early 1989, granting Andrew Lloyd Webber total [[artistic control]].<ref name=preview/> Despite interest from [[A-list]] directors, Lloyd Webber and Warner Bros. instantly hired Joel Schumacher to direct; Lloyd Webber had been impressed with Schumacher's use of music in ''[[The Lost Boys]]''.<ref name="makingof">[[#DVD1|''The Making of The Phantom of the Opera'']]</ref> The duo wrote the screenplay that same year,<ref name="makingof"/> while [[Michael Crawford]] and [[Sarah Brightman]] were cast to reprise their roles from the original stage production. Filming was set to begin at [[Pinewood Studios]] in England in July 1990, under a $25 million budget.<ref>{{cite news|first=Susan Heller |last=Anderson |title=Chronicle |work=The New York Times |date=31 March 1990 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/04/style/chronicle-117790.html |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>

However, the start date was pushed to November 1990 at both [[Studio Babelsberg|Babelsberg Studios]] in Potsdam, Germany and [[Barrandov Studios]] in Prague, Czech Republic.<ref>{{cite news |author=Van Gelder |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Van Gelder |date=10 August 1990 |title=At the Movies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/10/movies/at-the-movies.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Production for ''The Phantom of the Opera'' was stalled with Lloyd Webber and Brightman's divorce.<ref name="preview" /> "Everything got tied up in settlements", Schumacher reflected. "Then my career took off and I was really busy."<ref name=Todd>{{cite news|first=Todd |last=Gilchrist|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/574/574586p1.html|title=Interview: Joel Schumacher|work=[[IGN]]|date=20 December 2004|access-date=26 September 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126000257/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/21/interview-joel-schumacher |archive-date=2013-01-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a result, ''The Phantom of the Opera'' languished in [[development hell|development limbo]] for Warner Bros. throughout the 1990s.<ref name="cast">{{cite news |last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=1 April 2003 |title='Phantom' cues Wilson for tuner's adaptation |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/phantom-cues-wilson-for-tuner-s-adaptation-1117883926/ |access-date=20 September 2009 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> In February 1997, Schumacher considered returning, but eventually dropped out in favour of ''Batman Unchained'', ''[[Runaway Jury]]'' and ''[[Dreamgirls (film)|Dreamgirls]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first= Michael |last=Fleming|url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/helmer-s-3rd-at-bat-1117435255/|title=Helmer's 3rd at Bat|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=21 February 1997|access-date=19 September 2009}}</ref> The studio was keen to cast [[John Travolta]] for the lead role,<ref>{{cite news |last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=15 May 1997 |title=Krane Takes Bull By Horns |url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/krane-takes-bull-by-horns-1117341748/ |access-date=19 September 2009 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> but also held discussions with [[Antonio Banderas]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Carver |first1=Benedict |last2=Williams |first2=Michael |date=1998-04-06 |title=Banderas drawn to 'Phantom' |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/banderas-drawn-to-phantom-1117469497/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> who undertook vocal preparation and sang the role of the Phantom in the TV special ''Andrew Lloyd Webber: The [[Royal Albert Hall]] Celebration''.<ref name=Hugh/>

Schumacher and Lloyd Webber restarted development for ''The Phantom of the Opera'' in December 2002.<ref name=makingof/> It was then announced in January 2003 that Lloyd Webber's [[Really Useful Group]] had purchased the film rights from Warner Bros. in an attempt to produce ''The Phantom of the Opera'' independently.<ref name=Hugh>{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Fleming|url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/columns/lloyd-webber-back-on-phantom-prowl-1117878489/|title=Lloyd Webber back on 'Phantom' prowl|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=9 January 2003|access-date= 19 September 2009}}</ref> As a result, Lloyd Webber invested $6&nbsp;million of his own money.<ref name=top/> ''The Phantom of the Opera'' was produced on an $80&nbsp;million budget.<ref name="auto1"/> Warner Bros. was given a [[first-look deal]] for distribution; when the principal cast was chosen in June 2003, Warner Bros. paid under $8 million to acquire the North American distribution rights.<ref name="Dawtrey">{{cite news |last=Dawtrey |first=Adam |date=13 June 2003 |title='Phantom' pic announces latest castings |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/phantom-pic-announces-latest-castings-1117887900/ |access-date=20 September 2009 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/>

===Casting===
[[Hugh Jackman]] was among those considered for the role of Phantom, but he faced scheduling conflicts with ''[[Van Helsing (film)|Van Helsing]]''. "They rang to ask about my availability", Jackman explained in an April 2003 interview, "probably about 20 other actors as well. I wasn't available, unfortunately. So, that was a bummer."<ref name="Zaro">{{cite news |last=Zaromski |first=Michelle |date=29 April 2003 |title=An Interview with Hugh Jackman |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/399/399999p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115074350/http://movies.ign.com/articles/399/399999p1.html |archive-date=15 January 2008 |access-date=25 September 2009 |work=[[IGN]]}}</ref> "We needed somebody who has a bit of rock and roll sensibility in him", Andrew Lloyd Webber explained. "He's got to be a bit rough, a bit dangerous; not a conventional singer. Christine is attracted to the Phantom because he's the right side of danger."<ref name=makingof/> Director Joel Schumacher had been impressed with Gerard Butler's performance in ''[[Dracula 2000]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hirschberg |first=Lynn |author-link=Lynn Hirschberg |date=13 March 2005 |title=Trading Faces |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/style/tmagazine/trading-faces.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Prior to his audition, Butler had no professional singing experience and had only taken four voice lessons before singing "[[The Music of the Night]]" for Lloyd Webber.<ref name="preview">{{Cite magazine |date=10 August 2004 |title=Movie Preview: ''The Phantom of the Opera'' |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,679403,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014094735/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,679403,00.html |archive-date=2012-10-14 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

[[Katie Holmes]], who began working with a vocal coach, was the front-runner for Christine Daaé in March 2003.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Fleming|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/columns/men-treads-carefully-into-sequel-territory-1117882237/|title='Men' treads carefully into sequel territory|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=13 March 2003|access-date= 20 September 2009}}</ref> She was later replaced by [[Anne Hathaway]], a classically trained soprano, in 2004. However, Hathaway dropped out of the role because the production schedule of the film overlapped with ''[[The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement]]'', which she was contractually obligated to make.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anne Hathaway: Biography |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anne-hathaway/bio/140171 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127125822/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anne-hathaway/bio/3030057652/ |archive-date=2023-01-27 |access-date=19 October 2009 |work=TV Guide}}</ref><ref>{{Cite podcast |url=https://sites.libsyn.com/478023/emmy-rossum |title=Emmy Rossum |website=Happy Sad Confused |last=Horowitz |first=Josh |date=24 May 2022 |time=38:00 |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> Hathaway was then replaced with [[Emmy Rossum]]. The actress modeled the relationship between the Phantom and Christine after [[Suzanne Farrell]] and [[George Balanchine]].<ref name="top">{{cite news |last=Hoban |first=Phoebe |author-link=Phoebe Hoban |date=24 December 2004 |title=In the 'Phantom' Movie, Over-the-Top Goes Higher |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/movies/in-the-phantom-movie-overthetop-goes-higher.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Patrick Wilson was cast as Raoul based on his previous Broadway theatre career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=2 April 2003 |title=Patrick Wilson Will Co-Star in Film of Lloyd Webber?s ''Phantom'' |url=https://playbill.com/article/patrick-wilson-will-co-star-in-film-of-lloyd-webber-s-phantom-com-112429 |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=Playbill}}</ref> For the role of Carlotta, Minnie Driver devised an over-the-top and [[camp (style)|campy]] performance as the egotistical [[prima donna]]. Despite also lacking singing experience, Ciarán Hinds was cast by Schumacher as Richard Firmin; the two had previously worked together on ''[[Veronica Guerin (film)|Veronica Guerin]]''.<ref name=makingof/> [[Ramin Karimloo]], who later played the Phantom as well as Raoul on London's West End,  briefly appears as the [[portrait]] of Gustave Daaé, Christine's father.

===Filming===
[[Principal photography]] lasted from 15 September 2003 to 15 January 2004. The film was shot entirely using eight [[sound stage]]s at [[Pinewood Studios]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/pr/?id=1434&p=.htm|title=Production Commences On 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera'|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=1 October 2003|access-date= 26 September 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040827195001/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/pr/?id=1434&p=.htm |archive-date=2004-08-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> where, on the Pinewood [[backlot]], the bottom half exterior of the opera house was constructed. The top half was implemented using a combination of [[computer-generated imagery]] and a [[scale model]] created by [[Cinesite]]. The surrounding skyline seen during the "All I Ask of You" sequence was entirely composed of [[matte painting]]s.<ref name=makingof/> Cinesite additionally created a miniature version of the auditorium's chandelier used for its fall, since a life-size model was too big for the actual set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/articles/production/iphantom-operai-classic-miniature|title=Phantom of the Opera: A Classic in Miniature|website=[[Animation World Network]]|first=Mary Ann|last=Skweres|date=22 December 2004|access-date=23 December 2009}}</ref>

Production designer [[Anthony D. G. Pratt]] was influenced by French architect [[Charles Garnier (architect)|Charles Garnier]], designer of the original Paris opera house, as well as [[Edgar Degas]], [[John Singer Sargent]], [[Gustave Caillebotte]], the [[Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood]] and [[Dante Gabriel Rossetti]]. Schumacher was inspired by [[Jean Cocteau]]'s ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1946 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (1946) and featured a hallway lined with [[candelabra]]-holding arms. The cemetery was based on the [[Père Lachaise Cemetery|Père Lachaise]] and [[Montparnasse Cemetery|Montparnasse]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Missy |last=Schwartz|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,768234__735580,00.html|title=Behind the Music|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=5 November 2004|access-date=25 September 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070526021148/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,768234__735580,00.html |archive-date=2007-05-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Costume designer [[Alexandra Byrne]] used a limited black, white, gold and silver color palette for the "Masquerade" sequence in spite of the lyrics indicating that it is a multicolored affair in which mauve, puce, green and yellow are some of the colors worn by attendees.<ref name=makingof/>

==Reception==

===Release===
''The Phantom of the Opera'' was released in the United Kingdom on 10 December 2004 and the United States on 22 December 2004. With a [[limited release]] of 622 theaters, it opened at tenth place at the weekend box office, grossing $6.3&nbsp;million across five days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Phantom of the Opera - Domestic Weekend |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1214809601/weekend/?ref_=bo_rl_tab#tabs |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> After [[Wide release|expanding]] to 907 screens on 14 January 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/box-office/fockers-finds-foes-1117916295/|title='Fockers' finds foes|last=Snyder|first=Gabriel|date=13 January 2005|access-date=16 February 2011|work=Variety |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629154817/https://variety.com/article/VR1117916295?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=live}}</ref> the film obtained the 9th spot at the box office,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_294170.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216111558/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_294170.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-16 |work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]] |title='Coach Carter' tops local, national box office in slow weekend |first=Ed |last=Blank |date=18 January 2005 |access-date=16 February 2011 }}</ref> which it retained during its 1,511 screens wide release on 21 January 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/90699-The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-Opens-Nationwide-Jan-21 |title="The Phantom of the Opera" Opens Nationwide Jan. 21 |first=Andrew |last=Gans |date=21 January 2005 |work=[[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]] |access-date=16 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629150947/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/90699-The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-Opens-Nationwide-Jan-21 |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2005&wknd=03&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office Results for January 21–23, 2005|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> The total domestic gross was $51.2 million. With a further $107&nbsp;million earned internationally, ''The Phantom of the Opera'' reached a worldwide total of $154.6 million.<ref name="mojo"/> A few foreign markets were particularly successful,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1696&p=.htm |title=Around the World Round Up: 'Fockers' Inherit the World |first=Conor |last=Bresnan |date=2 February 2005 |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=16 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708085902/http://www2.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1696&p=.htm |archive-date=8 July 2011 }}</ref> such as Japan, where the film's [[Japanese yen|¥]]4.20&nbsp;billion ($35&nbsp;million) gross stood as the 6th most successful foreign film and 9th overall of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eiren.org/boxoffice_e/2005.html|title=Movies with Box Office Gross Receipts Exceeding 1 Billion Yen|website=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan|access-date=16 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/intl/japan/yearly/?yr=2005&p=.htm|title=2005 Japan Yearly Box Office|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> The United Kingdom and South Korea both had over $10&nbsp;million in receipts, with $17.5&nbsp;million and $11.9&nbsp;million, respectively.<ref name="mojo"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=phantomoftheopera.htm|title=The Phantom of the Opera – International Box Office Results|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=16 February 2011}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
Anthony Pratt and [[Celia Bobak]] were nominated for the [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]], as was John Mathieson for [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]. However, both categories were awarded to ''[[The Aviator (2004 film)|The Aviator]]''. Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist [[Charles Hart (lyricist)|Charles Hart]] were nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] ("[[Learn to Be Lonely]]") but lost to "[[Al otro lado del río]]" from ''[[The Motorcycle Diaries (film)|The Motorcycle Diaries]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1255518925502|title=The Phantom of the Opera|work=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]|access-date=14 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714145550/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1255518925502|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> The song was also nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Golden Globe]] but it lost to [[Alfie (2004 film)|''Alfie'']]'s "[[Old Habits Die Hard]]". In the [[62nd Golden Globe Awards|same ceremony]], Emmy Rossum was nominated for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]], losing to [[Annette Bening]] in ''[[Being Julia]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/25940 |title=Phantom of the Opera, The |work=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=14 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215204343/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/25940 |archive-date=15 December 2009 }}</ref> At the [[Saturn Awards]], Rossum won for [[Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor|Best Performance by a Younger Actor]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |title=Past Saturn Awards |work=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films |access-date=14 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207072429/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=7 February 2008  }}</ref> while ''The Phantom of the Opera'' was nominated for [[Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film|Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film]] and Alexandra Byrne was nominated for [[Saturn Award for Best Costume|Costume Design]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |title=2005 Saturn Awards Nominations |work=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films |access-date=14 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228135146/http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |archive-date=28 February 2009 }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category 
! Nominated work
! Result
|-
|rowspan=3|[[77th Academy Awards|2004]] || rowspan=3|[[Academy Awards]] || [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]] || [[Anthony D. G. Pratt|Anthony Pratt]] (art director) <br/> [[Celia Bobak]] (set decorator) || {{nom}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] || [[John Mathieson (cinematographer)|John Mathieson]] || {{nom}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] || [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]  (composer) <Br/> [[Charles Hart (lyricist)|Charles Hart]] (lyricist) <br/> For the song "Learn To Be Lonely" || {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[62nd Golden Globe Awards|2004]] || rowspan=3|[[Golden Globe Awards]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Musical or Comedy – Motion Picture]] || ''The Phantom of the Opera'' || {{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical|Best Actress – Musical or Comedy]] || [[Emmy Rossum]] || {{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] || [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]  (music) <br/>[[Charles Hart (lyricist)|Charles Hart]] (lyrics) <br/>Song: "Learn to Be Lonely" || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Saturn Awards|2004]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Saturn Awards]]
|[[Saturn Award for Best Action or Adventure Film|Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film]]
|''The Phantom of the Opera''
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor|Best Performance by a Younger Actor]]
|Emmy Rossum
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costumes]]
|Alexandra Byrne
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[British Society of Cinematographers|2004]]
|[[British Society of Cinematographers]]
|[[British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film|Best Cinematography]]
|John Mathieson
|{{Won}}
|-
|2004
|[[San Diego Film Critics Society|San Diego Film Critics Society Awards]]
|[[San Diego Film Critics Society|Best Cinematography]]
|John Mathieson
|{{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[10th Critics' Choice Awards|2004]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Critics' Choice Awards]]
|[[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
|''The Phantom of the Opera''
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer]] || Emmy Rossum || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="11" |[[Satellite Awards|2005]]
| rowspan="11" |[[Satellite Awards]]
|Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
|Emmy Rossum
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
|Gerard Butler
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical
|Minnie Driver
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical
|Patrick Wilson
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
|''The Phantom of the Opera''
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Original Song
|[[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] ("Learn to Be Lonely")
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|John Mathieson
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Sound (Editing & Mixing)
|Tony Dawe
Andy Nelson
Anna Behlmer
Martin Evans
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Art Direction/Production Design
|Anthony Pratt
Celia Bobak
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Costume Design
|Alexandra Byrne
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Screenplay, Adapted
|[[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]
[[Joel Schumacher]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|2005
|[[London Film Critics' Circle|London Critics Circle Film Awards]]
|British Supporting Actress of the Year
|Minnie Driver
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|2005
|[[Motion Picture Sound Editors]]
|Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Music - Musical
|Yann McCullough
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|2005
|[[National Board of Review]]
|Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
|Emmy Rossum
|{{Won}}
|-
|2005
|[[Online Film Critics Society|Online Film Critics Society Awards]]
|Best Breakthrough Performance
|Emmy Rossum
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|2005
|[[Art Directors Guild]]
|Period or Fantasy Film
|[[Anthony D. G. Pratt|Anthony Pratt]]
John Fenner
Paul Kirby
Anthony Caron-Delion
Iain McFadyen
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2005
| rowspan="2" |[[Young Artist Award]]s
|Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress
|Emmy Rossum
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Family Feature Film - Comedy or Musical
|''The Phantom of the Opera''
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2005
| rowspan="2" |[[Visual Effects Society|Visual Effects Society Awards]]
|Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture
|Claas Henke
Laurent Ben-Mimoun
Anupam Das
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture
|Claas Henke
Laurent Ben-Mimoun
Anupam Das
|{{Nominated}}
|}

===Critical reception===
On the review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 33%, based on reviews from 171 critics, with an average score of 5.01/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "The music of the night has hit something of a sour note: critics are calling the screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular musical histrionic, boring and lacking in both romance and danger. Still, some have praised the film for its sheer spectacle."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/phantom_of_the_opera/ | title= The Phantom of the Opera |work= [[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date= 19 April 2020 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] it has a weighted average score of 40 out of 100 based on 39 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-phantom-of-the-opera |title= The Phantom of the Opera|website= [[Metacritic]] |access-date= 19 September 2009 }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Phantom of the Opera, The (2004) A |work= [[CinemaScore]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref>

{{quote box|align=right|width=30em|style=max-width:40%|"The film looks and sounds fabulous and I think it's an extraordinarily fine document of the stage show. While it doesn't deviate much from the stage material, the film has given it an even deeper emotional centre. It's not based on the theatre visually or direction-wise, but it's still got exactly the same essence. And that's all I could have ever hoped for."|—Andrew Lloyd Webber<ref name=makingof/>}}

Despite having been impressed with the cast, [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] of the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' wrote that "Teen romance and operetta-style singing replace the horror elements familiar to film-goers, and director Joel Schumacher obscures any remnants of classy stage spectacle with the same disco overkill he brought to ''[[Batman Forever]]''."<ref>{{cite news|first=Jonathan |last=Rosenbaum|author-link=Jonathan Rosenbaum|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-phantom-of-the-opera/Film?oid=1053502|title=The Phantom of the Opera|work=[[Chicago Reader]]|date=20 December 2004| access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> [[Stephanie Zacharek]] of ''[[Salon.com]]'' believed that ''Phantom of the Opera'' "takes everything that's wrong with Broadway and puts it on the big screen in a gaudy splat."<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephanie |last=Zacharek |author-link=Stephanie Zacharek|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/2004/12/22/phantom/index.html |title=The Phantom of the Opera |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |date=22 December 2004 |access-date=6 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904014529/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/2004/12/22/phantom/index.html |archive-date=4 September 2009 }}</ref>

In a mixed review for ''[[Newsweek]]'', [[David Ansen]] praised Rossum's performance, but criticized the filmmakers for their focus on visual design rather than presenting a cohesive storyline. "Its kitschy romanticism bored me on Broadway and it bores me here—I may not be the most reliable witness. Still, I can easily imagine a more dashing, charismatic Phantom than Butler's. Rest assured, however, Lloyd Webber's neo-[[Giacomo Puccini|Puccinian]] songs are reprised and reprised and reprised until you're guaranteed to go out humming."<ref>{{cite news|first=David |last=Ansen|author-link=David Ansen|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/56147|title=The Phantom of the Opera: Into the Night|work=[[Newsweek]]|date=20 December 2004|access-date=9 October 2009}}</ref> [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' believed Schumacher did not add enough dimension in adapting ''The Phantom of the Opera''. "Schumacher, the man who [[Batman & Robin (film)|added nipples to Batman's suit]], has staged Phantom chastely, as if his job were to adhere the audience to every note".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |date=15 January 2005 |title=The Phantom of the Opera (2004) |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1011985,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205043056/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1011985,00.html |archive-date=5 February 2007 |access-date=30 March 2024 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]], who gave the film three stars out of four, reasoned that "part of the pleasure of movie-going is pure spectacle—of just sitting there and looking at great stuff and knowing it looks terrific. There wasn't much Schumacher could have done with the story or the music he was handed, but in the areas over which he held sway, he has triumphed."<ref>{{cite news |author=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=22 December 2004 |title=The Phantom of the Opera |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/andrew-lloyd-webbers-phantom-of-the-opera-2004 |access-date=9 October 2009 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> In contrasting between the popularity of the Broadway musical, Michael Dequina of ''[[Film Threat]]'' magazine explained that "it conjures up this unexplainable spell that leaves audiences sad, sentimental, swooning, smiling—in some way transported and moved. Now, in Schumacher's film, that spell lives on."<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Dequina|url= https://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=6784 |title=Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera|work=[[Film Threat]]|date=22 December 2004|access-date=9 October 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050411204155/http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=6784 |archive-date = 11 April 2005}}</ref>

In a 2013 interview with Hollywood.com, [[Cameron Mackintosh]], a co-producer on the stage musical who had nothing to do with this movie, said "I would have wanted to do the film differently. This new version which we’ve done (a touring production with reimagined staging) is dangerous and gritty. It combines the world of upstage and the lair below. You see two different worlds. That would have been my approach to the film."<ref>{{cite web |date=1 April 2013 |title=Cameron Mackintosh Reveals Details on Miss Saigon and My Fair Lady Movies |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/168437/cameron-mackintosh-reveals-details-on-miss-saigon-and-my-fair-lady-movies/ |website=Broadway.com}}</ref> In a 2021 interview with ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed that he personally felt director Joel Schumacher made a mistake in casting Gerard Butler. He said "The Phantom was too young, and the whole point of the Phantom is he needs to be quite a bit older than Christine."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2021/legit/features/andrew-lloyd-webber-broadway-reopening-phantom-of-the-opera-cats-cinderella-1235081430/ | title=Andrew Lloyd Webber on Broadway's Reopening, 'Cinderella' and Why the 'Cats' Movie Caused Him to Buy a Dog | date=6 October 2021 |website=Variety }}</ref>

==Possible remake==
In June 2025, Lloyd Webber revealed that a remake of the film is in the early stages of development. While not revealing potential directors or actors, he suggested that he would like to see "somebody who is in their early 40s" play the Phantom in the new film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Teases-Possible-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-Movie-Remake-20250623|title=Andrew Lloyd Webber Teases Possible PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Movie Remake|website=BroadwayWorld|last=Sharpe|first=Josh|date=23 June 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[The Phantom of the Opera (2004 soundtrack)|''The Phantom of the Opera'' (2004 soundtrack)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite video | people =[[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] (writer), [[Joel Schumacher]] (director)  |title =The Phantom of the Opera |chapter=''The Making of The Phantom of the Opera'' | medium = DVD | date = 2005 | publisher = [[Warner Home Video]] | ref = DVD1}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0293508|The Phantom of the Opera}}
* {{TCMDb title|453520|The Phantom of the Opera}}
* {{mojo title|phantomoftheopera|The Phantom of the Opera}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|phantom_of_the_opera|The Phantom of the Opera}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=The Phantom of the Opera}}

{{Andrew Lloyd Webber}}
{{Phantom of the Opera}}
{{Joel Schumacher}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phantom Of The Opera (2004 film), The}}
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:2004 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:British musical films]]
[[Category:British romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films about opera]]
[[Category:Films based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Films based on multiple works]]
[[Category:Films based on musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber]]
[[Category:Films based on The Phantom of the Opera| 2004]]
[[Category:Films directed by Joel Schumacher]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Joel Schumacher]]
[[Category:Films partially in color]]
[[Category:Films set in Paris]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1870s]]
[[Category:Films set in 1870]]
[[Category:Films set in 1871]]
[[Category:Films set in 1919]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:American historical romance films]]
[[Category:British nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:American nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:Films shot at Pinewood Studios]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Odyssey Entertainment films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:2000s British films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic drama films]]