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Drama thriller

Phantom of the Paradise (1974): Cast, Ratings & Where to Watch

Phantom of the Paradise (1974) movie poster

Phantom of the Paradise is a 1974 drama thriller directed by Brian De Palma, starring William Finley, Paul Williams and George Memmoli. It is partly based on Faust, Part I by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and David Constantine. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $2,245 worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
82%
worldwide gross
$2.2K
award nominations
2
Phantom of the Paradise (1974) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Director
Brian De Palma
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Fantasy , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Phantom of the Paradise About?

The premise of Phantom of the Paradise without spoilers, adapted from Faust, Part I by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and David Constantine. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A struggling songwriter’s music is stolen by a powerful and ruthless producer, setting off a darkly comedic and twisted story of artistic betrayal and revenge. After a disfiguring accident, the victim resurfaces as the mysterious Phantom, determined to exact vengeance on his oppressor and free a captivating singer from his control. He engages in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, blurring the lines between justice and obsession in this unique and theatrical tale.

Phantom of the Paradise Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • cult favorite
  • rock opera
  • rock 'n' roll
  • rock star
  • independent film
  • masked man
  • record company
  • deal with the devil
  • casting couch
  • drug abuse
  • reflection
  • reference to dorian gray
+38 more
  • man wears eyeglasses
  • campy
  • composer
  • record tycoon
  • phantom
  • eternal youth
  • contract
  • mask
  • soul selling
  • false accusation
  • disillusionment
  • sing sing prison new york
  • music production
  • vinyl
  • newspaper headline
  • heroin
  • abuse of power
  • moral corruption
  • songwriting
  • female singer
  • suicide attempt
  • record press
  • tape recorder
  • metal teeth
  • pianist
  • videotape
  • strangulation
  • prison
  • press conference
  • mirror
  • electrocution
  • music producer
  • glove
  • brassiere
  • crossdressing
  • disfigured face
  • good versus evil
  • showbusiness
Where to watch

Where to Watch Phantom of the Paradise

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Phantom of the Paradise Cast

William Finley leads the cast, with Paul Williams and George Memmoli. Directed by Brian De Palma; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Phantom of the Paradise Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Phantom of the Paradise 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

Plot

Phantom of the Paradise Plot Summary

What happens in Phantom of the Paradise from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Winslow Leach, portrayed by William Finley, is an aspiring songwriter and composer who catches the attention of the nefarious record producer, Swan, played by Paul Williams, during a performance as a backing artist for the nostalgia band The Juicy Fruits, who Swan manages. Swan is captivated by Winslow’s music, believing it to be the ideal fit for the grand opening of his imminent concert venue, “The Paradise.” However, betrayal looms as Swan sends his loyal accomplice, Arnold Philbin, depicted by George Memmoli, to steal Winslow’s composition and claim it for himself. When Winslow arrives at Death Records, Swan’s label, he is summarily dismissed.

Full summary

The whole story of Phantom of the Paradise, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Phantom of the Paradise Box Office

Phantom of the Paradise grossed $2,245 worldwide.

1974 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.2K

International
$329
Awards

Phantom of the Paradise Awards & Nominations

Phantom of the Paradise was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Phantom of the Paradise Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 2 trailers, 3 clips and 3 featurettes.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Trailer
  • Clip Clip: Life At Last
  • Clip Split Screen Car Bomb
  • Clip Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye...
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Phantom of the Paradise?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character and composer in Phantom of the Paradise?

Cars

Cars in Phantom of the Paradise

6 cars on screen, including the 1960 Bentley S2 and the 1974 Dodge Coronet.

All 6 cars
  • 1960 Bentley S2 in Phantom of the Paradise 1960 Bentley S2 Important role
  • 1974 Dodge Coronet in Phantom of the Paradise 1974 Dodge Coronet Minor role
  • 1968 GMC C-Series in Phantom of the Paradise 1968 GMC C-Series Minor role
  • 1973 Buick Century Regal in Phantom of the Paradise 1973 Buick Century Regal Background role
Details

Phantom of the Paradise Also Known As

20 alternative titles, including “Aavemusa” and “Το Φάντασμα του Παραδείσου”.

Also known as
  • Aavemusa
  • Το Φάντασμα του Παραδείσου
  • 천국의 유령
  • Il fantasma del palcoscenico
  • Das Phantom im Paradies
  • El fantasma del paraíso
  • O Fantasma do Paraíso
  • פנטום גן העדן
  • ファントム・オブ・パラダイス
  • Cennetteki Hayalet
  • Фантомът на Рая
  • Le Fantôme du Paradis
+8 more
  • Призрак рая
  • 魅影天堂
  • Un fantasma en el paraíso
  • Phantom of the Paradise - aavemusa
  • Upiór z raju
  • A paradicsom fantomja
  • Привид раю
  • Fantom ráje

Seen Phantom of the Paradise?

FAQ

Phantom of the Paradise FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of Phantom of the Paradise, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Phantom of the Paradise?

Phantom of the Paradise runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was Phantom of the Paradise released?

Phantom of the Paradise was released on November 1, 1974.

Who directed Phantom of the Paradise?

Phantom of the Paradise was directed by Brian De Palma.

More films by Brian De Palma

Who is in the cast of Phantom of the Paradise?

Phantom of the Paradise stars William Finley, Paul Williams and George Memmoli, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch Phantom of the Paradise?

In the US, Phantom of the Paradise is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Phantom of the Paradise make at the box office?

Phantom of the Paradise grossed $2,245 worldwide.

How is Phantom of the Paradise rated?

Phantom of the Paradise has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

Is Phantom of the Paradise based on a book?

Yes. Phantom of the Paradise is partly adapted from Faust, Part I by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and David Constantine.

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