Overview
A rock opera that blends horror and comedy, exposing the dark side of fame and ambition.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- campy
- kinetic
- outrageous
- cult movie night
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly admire the film's kinetic direction, outrageous rock-opera energy, and visual ingenuity, while finding its parody broad and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Swan's record empire, the Paradise, and the rock opera ridicule music-industry greed and manufactured stardom.
Winslow's work is based on Faust, while Swan's bargain and the staged rock spectacle make that myth central.
The cavernous Paradise, masked Phantom imagery, and kinetic musical performances create an extravagant stage-like world.
Swan steals Winslow's music and reshapes it for commercial success while controlling Phoenix's public image.
Films like Phantom of the Paradise, and why
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
campy musical horror, theatrical excess, and satirical treatment of celebrity culture
Little Shop of Horrors
stylized horror comedy, gothic imagery, and flamboyant genre parody
All That Jazz
musical ambition, corrosive show-business satire, and heightened visual invention
Tommy
rock music spectacle, Faustian themes, and extravagant countercultural performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Brian De Palma
- Release Date
- 1974-10-31
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (783)
Cast
- William Finley
- Paul Williams
- Jessica Harper
- George Memmoli
- Gerrit Graham
- Archie Hahn
- Jeffrey Comanor
- Peter Elbling
- Colin Cameron
- David Garland
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Phantom of the Paradise about?
- A disfigured composer wages flamboyant revenge against the Faustian record mogul who steals his music and turns his tragedy into rock spectacle.
- What is Phantom of the Paradise like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Phantom of the Paradise as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Phantom of the Paradise violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Phantom of the Paradise as moderate.
- What did critics think of Phantom of the Paradise?
- Critics broadly admire the film's kinetic direction, outrageous rock-opera energy, and visual ingenuity, while finding its parody broad and uneven.
- Which films are like Phantom of the Paradise?
- Films with a similar feel include The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Little Shop of Horrors, All That Jazz, and Tommy.
- How long is Phantom of the Paradise?
- Phantom of the Paradise runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Phantom of the Paradise?
- In United States, Phantom of the Paradise is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
