The Phantom of the Opera has a particular magic. There’s the gothic atmosphere of the Paris Opera House, the doomed romance, the soaring Andrew Lloyd Webber score, the mystery of a masked man and a sense of grand theatrical spectacle. Once you’ve fallen for it, it’s natural to want more.
This list collects 10 musicals that share some of Phantom’s DNA. We looked for gothic or dark romance, lush, sweeping music, characters torn between love and obsession, and big theatrical moments. Some are close cousins; others share only a mood or a musical style.
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If you want to revisit Phantom’s score first, see our Phantom of the Opera songs explained guide.
What Phantom Fans Usually Love
Before the list, it helps to name what you’re looking for. Some fans love Phantom for the romance and the triangle between the Phantom, Christine and Raoul. Others love the score: lush orchestration, a big organ theme and duets like “All I Ask of You.” Still others love the mystery and the backstage world of the opera house. Each pick below notes which of these it shares.
1. Love Never Dies
The most direct follow-up is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s own sequel. Love Never Dies, with lyrics by Glenn Slater, opened in London in 2010. It’s set about ten years after Phantom, at Coney Island in New York, where the Phantom has built a new life in the world of fairground entertainment. Christine arrives with her family, and old feelings resurface.
Fans are divided over the sequel’s story, but many love its score, especially the title song and “Till I Hear You Sing.” If you’re curious, it’s an essential stop. We compare the two shows in detail in our Phantom vs Love Never Dies guide.
2. Les Misérables
Les Mis opened in London in 1985, a year before Phantom, and the two became the defining “megamusicals” of the era. It’s more social drama than gothic romance, but it shares a sweeping, mostly sung score, a period setting in France and intense emotions.
The relationship between Valjean and Javert, the love triangle of Marius, Cosette and Éponine, and the big choral moments will appeal to any Phantom fan. Our Les Misérables songs explained guide is a good companion.
3. Sunset Boulevard
Another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Sunset Boulevard has book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. It’s based on Billy Wilder’s 1950 film and opened in London in 1993.
The story of Norma Desmond, a faded silent-film star living in a decaying mansion, and the young writer drawn into her world, has the same mix of glamour, obsession and darkness as Phantom. Its title song, “With One Look” and “As If We Never Said Goodbye” are classic Lloyd Webber ballads.
4. Jekyll & Hyde
Jekyll & Hyde, with music by Frank Wildhorn and book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, is based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella. It reached Broadway in 1997.
It shares Phantom’s gothic Victorian setting and its theme of a man divided between light and darkness. Big power ballads, including “This Is the Moment,” have made it a cult favorite among musical fans.
5. Sweeney Todd
Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with a book by Hugh Wheeler, opened on Broadway in 1979. Set in Victorian London, it follows a barber seeking revenge after years of unjust exile.
It’s darker and much bloodier than Phantom, but it shares the operatic scale, a tragic antihero and a haunting score. If the Phantom’s darker side fascinates you, Sweeney is a natural next step.
6. Beauty and the Beast
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which opened on Broadway in 1994, has a surprisingly similar heart: a lonely, isolated figure hiding from the world, a young woman who sees past appearances, and a rival suitor. The music is by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.
It’s lighter and more family-friendly than Phantom, but fans of the Phantom and Christine’s story often find something familiar in Belle and the Beast.
7. Evita
Evita, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, tells the story of Eva Perón. It began as a concept album before opening in London in 1978.
It’s not gothic, but it shares the sung-through Lloyd Webber style and the grand, operatic feel. “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” is one of his most famous songs.
8. Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon, by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil with Richard Maltby Jr., opened in London in 1989. It’s inspired by Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly, which gives it an operatic tragedy at its core.
The doomed love story of Kim and Chris, the sweeping score and the spectacular staging make it a strong pick for Phantom fans who love romance and heartbreak.
9. Wicked
Wicked, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, opened on Broadway in 2003. It’s set in Oz, not Paris, but it shares Phantom’s interest in outsiders, characters judged by their appearance and a soaring score.
“Defying Gravity” is the kind of big, emotional showstopper that Phantom fans tend to love. See our Wicked complete fan guide.
10. Jesus Christ Superstar
An early Lloyd Webber and Rice collaboration, Jesus Christ Superstar began as a concept album and is fully sung. It’s a rock opera, so the sound is different from Phantom, but it shares Lloyd Webber’s dramatic style and big vocal moments.
It’s a great pick for anyone curious about how Lloyd Webber’s music developed over the years.
Honorable Mention: The Opera Behind the Musical
If what you love about Phantom is the opera house itself, try exploring real opera. Phantom includes pastiche operas within the story, and its world is inspired by the grand opera tradition. Puccini’s operas, including La Bohème and Madama Butterfly, also inspired the musicals Rent and Miss Saigon, so they make a fun bridge between the two art forms.
How to Choose
- Want the same story continued? Love Never Dies.
- Want the same composer? Sunset Boulevard, Evita or Jesus Christ Superstar.
- Want gothic darkness? Jekyll & Hyde or Sweeney Todd.
- Want a sweeping epic? Les Misérables or Miss Saigon.
- Want romance with a lighter touch? Beauty and the Beast or Wicked.
Keep exploring: see our musicals like Les Misérables list and Phantom of the Opera complete fan guide.
Want to play these songs on piano? Gothic romances and sweeping Lloyd Webber scores invite you to the keyboard. Learning those soaring melodies by ear is a natural next step. Try Pianoforall, a beginner-friendly course.
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Where to Listen Legally
Each of these musicals has official cast recordings on Spotify, Apple Music and other major platforms. Phantom’s 25th anniversary performance at the Royal Albert Hall and its 2004 film are widely available, and a filmed Australian production of Love Never Dies has also been released. Many shows also have official YouTube channels with clips. Listening to a cast album is the easiest way to decide which show to see next.
FAQ
Is there a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera?
Yes. Love Never Dies, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is set about ten years later and continues the story.
What musical is most like Phantom of the Opera?
Sunset Boulevard and Jekyll & Hyde share its dark, gothic romance and power ballads, while Les Misérables shares its sweeping 1980s megamusical style.
Are there other Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals like Phantom?
Sunset Boulevard, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar are good choices, each with a big, dramatic score.
Which of these is family-friendly?
Beauty and the Beast and Wicked are the most family-friendly options on this list.
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