100 years ago today, Rupert Julian’s The Phantom of the Opera premiered in U.S. theaters. It is a silent horror classic starring Lon Chaney as The Phantom. Even today, Lon Chaney’s legacy as one of the first scream kings (even before such distinctions were bestowed) resonates across cinema and the wider culture. Produced by Carl Laemmle, who was the cofounder of Universal Pictures and made hundreds of films between 1909 and 1934, The Phantom of the Opera would help set the standard for horror films for generations to come.

Because the copyright for the film was not renewed in the 28th year after its publication, it entered the public domain in 1953. It is available to view on multiple steaming platforms as well as DVD and Blu-ray.

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