Фантом Оперы (1989): История создания и провал фильма ужасов.

1989 film by Dwight H. Little

The original music, written for the film by Misha Segal (also known for the soundtrack to The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking), won a 1989 Brit for best soundtrack. Segal also commissioned the Budapest Symphony Orchestra for the theme. Of particular interest to fans of the original novel is Segal's rendition of the Phantom's opera composition 'Don Juan Triumphant', with the Phantom on the organ and Christine singing.

The Phantom of the Opera opened theatrically on November 3, 1989 in 1,468 venues, ranking sixth at the domestic box office, with $2,050,000 in its first weekend. The film closed three weeks later, having grossed $3,953,745.

The film received negative reviews from critics. Caryn James of The New York Times wrote, "This 'Phantom' is not lively enough to be kitschy, or original enough in its badness to be funny." Variety called the film "competent but flatly directed," adding that "Englund is his usual broad self. Yet gorehounds expecting a 'Freddy of the Opera' are bound to be disappointed, for the stabbings, stranglings and decapitations he executes lack suspense, surprise or innovation." Dave Kehr of the Chicago Tribune called it "a stern, lugubrious affair, almost completely devoid of the humor and invention that have made the 'Nightmare' films consistently watchable." Kim Newman of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that it "occasionally has a pleasant Hammer Films/Gothic feel," but that "Englund is buried under thick make up even when trying to pass for normal and is unable to do much with the role." The film holds a 33% 'Rotten' rating on review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 12 reviews.

The film was released on VHS in 1990 by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video and on DVD in 2004 by MGM Home Entertainment. Scream Factory (a subsidiary of Shout! Factory) released the film on February 17, 2015 for the first time on Blu ray in the United States. The film was released alongside the documentary film, Behind the Mask: The Making of "The Phantom of the Opera". The documentary film featured interviews with Englund, Nighy, Hyde White, Shannon, and director Little.

Englund was under contract to appear in a sequel, but it was canceled after the film's poor reception, and has been the subject of numerous rumors. Fangoria Magazine stated in 1991 that the script was re written into what became 1992's film Dance Macabre, also starring Englund. Englund confirmed in a 2004 interview that a script had been written, and while he personally felt it was superior to the first film, it had never been filmed in any capacity. In 2012, Englund was asked at a memorabilia sale about the possibility of a sequel happening in the near future; Englund informed everybody in attendance that although it would be overwhelming to see a sequel, the chances of it happening at this stage are "highly unlikely".