本片改编自著名的同名小说。在巴黎一座古老的歌剧院里面,在幽暗的角落里住着一个不为人知的怪人——歌剧院魅影(朱利安•山德斯 Julian Sands 饰)。新来的女高音克莉丝汀(艾莎•阿基多 Asia Argento 饰)虽然美丽迷人、才华横溢,但由于种种原因而一直没有当上女主角。魅影被克莉丝汀的才华和美丽深深吸引,同时为她的怀才不遇而感到深深怨恨。魅影为了帮助克莉丝汀顺利登上女主角的宝座,开始不择手段帮她一一清楚障碍。于是,恐怖的事件开始接连发生。Standard story of the Phantom does have one major variation - The phantom is not a disfigured individual, but rather is an unwashed orphan abandoned in the sewers under the Paris Opera & raised by rats. The Phantom invokes death upon anyone who dares harm his beloved rats. In fact, The Phantom's nemesis is the chief exterminator who develops a rat-catching machine.