Theatre manager Monsieur Lefèvre plans to retire, leaving the theatre under the ownership of Richard Firmin and Gilles André, who introduce their patron, the young Raoul. The theatre prepares for the performance of the grand opera, Hannibal, headed by soprano Carlotta Giudicelli. As it is hoisted up to the roof, the story moves back to 1870. The auctioneer presents a repaired chandelier, relating it to 'the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera'. The elderly Viscount Raoul de Chagny bids against Madame Giry, the retired ballet instructor of the theatre, for a papier-mâché music box shaped like a barrel organ with the figure of a cymbal-playing monkey attached to it. In 1919, in Paris, a public auction is held to clear a dilapidated opera house's vaults.

Critics praised the visuals and acting, particularly the performances of Butler and Rossum, but criticized the writing, directing and unnecessary deviations from the stage version. The Phantom of the Opera grossed $154.6 million worldwide, and received neutral reviews from critics, but was well-received by audiences. Rossum, Wilson and Driver had singing experience, but Butler had none and was provided with music lessons prior to filming. It was shot entirely at Pinewood Studios, with scenery created with miniatures and computer graphics. The film was announced in 1989, although production did not start until 2002 due to Lloyd Webber's divorce and Schumacher's busy career. Produced and co-written by Lloyd Webber and directed by Joel Schumacher, it stars Gerard Butler in the title role, with Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, and Jennifer Ellison in supporting roles. The Phantom of the Opera is a 2004 musical romantic drama film based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1910 French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.

Phantom of the opera characters