Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera

The Paris Opera House was the inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera.  On May 20, 1896 a counter-weight from the Opera House chandelier broke and fell, killing one person and injuring several others.  This inspired Gaston Leroux's famous novel "The Phantom of the Opera."  The entire chandelier did not fall, as depicted in the novel and movies.  There are many ghost stories about the Palais Garnier, including a rumor that a skeleton was found in the foundation, but nothing has been confirmed.  Some of the ghost stories may have been inspired by "The Phantom of the Opera" novel, rather than the other way around.  The opera house's official website is here:  Palais Garnier

The Opera House is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily, but quite often the auditorium is closed because they are rehearsing on stage.  It was closed when we visited in May of 2025, but we were able to go out on an upstairs balcony and still view the auditorium.  Tickets are 15 euro each.  When we visited in March we didn't have to purchase our tickets ahead of time or book a reservation, we were able to just show up and buy tickets after waiting in a short line.

The Palais Garnier was commissioned by Napoleon and was completed in 1875.  It is named Palais Garnier because Charles Garnier was the architect that designed it.  In 1910, Gaston Leroux wrote the novel "The Phantom of the Opera" and that catapulted the Palais Garnier to one of the most popular places to visit in Paris.  Although Phantom of the Opera is set at the Palais Garnier, it wasn't always filmed in the opera house.  A 1990 television mini-series of Phantom of the Opera was filmed inside Palais Garnier, though.  The Phantom of the Opera musical itself has never been performed inside Palais Garnier.  

Palais Garnier is located at the corner of rue Scribe and rue Auber, 75009 Paris.  Take the metro to the Opera stop.  If you are viewing the opera house from across the street, pay attention to the huge grated vents in the sidewalk.  I was admiring the opera house as we walked along the sidewalk across the street and didn't pay attention as I walked onto the grates.  I was wearing a dress and the air flowing up the vents blew my dress straight up in the air!  It was a Marilyn Monroe moment, although certainly not as attractive!  Watch out for those vents!

Location of Palais Garnier

My daughter at the Palais Garnier

Inside the Palais Garnier

We were able to view the Auditorium from one of the balconies - the chandelier hanging in the center of the ceiling.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

The London Eye

London, England is a prominent location in the filming of the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.  In this scene, the Fantastic Four save the London Eye from being destroyed:

The London Eye in the Fantastic Four  The movie was created in 2007.

The official website of the London Eye is here:  The London Eye  Tickets are 29 pounds per adult if you purchase them online.  If you purchase them in person they are 39 pounds each.  There are other more expensive options, such as a fast track ticket or ticket combined with a river cruise.  It is open from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the summer, and 6 p.m. in other seasons except on certain occasions.  You can book your tickets up to 5 months in advance.

The London Eye is located at Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB.  It is 443 feet high.  It is also known as the Millennium Wheel and was designed as part of a competition to design something to bring in the new millennium.  It opened in 2000.  It is on the edge of the Thames River and offers 360 degree views as it spins around.  It is the tallest observation wheel in the world.  It is on a slow rotation, with each ride taking about 30 minutes.  It rotates slow enough for passengers to climb in and out as it continues rotating.  

Big Ben, Elizabeth Tower, and Westminster

Big Ben and Westminster also appear in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.  Big Ben is the world's most famous clock.  It is located in London, England along the Thames River.  Their official website is here:  Big Ben & the UK Parliament

You can book a tour of Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower up to 3 months in advance.  There are 334 steps in the spiral staircase inside the bell tower.  The tour takes 2 hours.  Tickets are 35 pounds for adults, and 20 pounds for children.  Big Ben is located at London SW1A OAA, United Kingdom.  It is right next to Westminster Palace.  You can see Big Ben at many places throughout London, probably the most picturesque place being from the Westminster Bridge.  This is where Big Ben often appears in movies.  There are also red phone booths spread through the street along Westminster where people stand in line to pose next to a phone booth with Big Ben behind them.  Big Ben was built in 1834.  

Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower

Walking on Westminster Bridge toward Big Ben and Westminster

Location of Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, and the London Eye

Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation

 Mission Impossible 6:  Rogue Nation

Tower Bridge appears in Mission Impossible:  Rogue Nation at 1 hour 48 minutes into the movie. When Ethan Hunt is negotiating with Solomon Lane, as Benji Dunn has a bomb strapped to him, they are sitting right next to the Tower Bridge.  Tower Bridge is located at Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom.  You can walk or drive across the lower portion of the bridge at any time, free of charge.  In order to go in the towers and walk across the upper walkways, including the glass floor, and see the engine rooms, you have to purchase tickets on their official website:  Tower Bridge  Tickets are 16 pounds for adults, and 8 pounds for children, and I'd recommend purchasing them at least one day in advance to be sure they don't sell out.  The Tower is open between 9:30 am and the last entrance at 4:30 p.m.  

Big Ben, Elizabeth Tower, Westminster, and Westminster Bridge appear in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation at one hour 21 minutes into the movie.  Big Ben is located at London SW1A OAA, United Kingdom.  Their official website where you can book tickets to tour the tower is here:  Big Ben  

Tickets cost 35 pounds for adults and 20 pounds for children.  You can purchase them up to 3 months in advance.  There are 334 steps in the spiral staircase of the tower.  

walking on Westminster Bridge