By. Far.

Who? I know Michael Crawford was great but to me Gerard Butler being so much younger out classed him

Frankly, I hated Gerard Butler as the Phantom. He isn't a bad actor, but the character of the Phantom is almost entirely dependant on two things: being so ugly that not even the bravest people can easily look at him and having such a beautiful voice that the listener falls into a near-trance. Gerard Butler, on the other hand, has very little musical background and looks like a lot like an air-brushed movie star.
I recently saw Hugh Panaro as the Phantom on Broadway and I can't appreciate the movie soundtrack in the same way since then!

I've seen the movie with Gerard Butler, I've also seen Michael Crawford, as well as Frank D'Ambrogio, and one other person play the Phantom, and I have to say that I prefer Michael or Frank over Gerard. The makeup looks so much better on stage than it does in the movie on Gerard. I don't think that Gerard makes all that good of a Phantom.

He is amazing. I actually prefer Raoul, but I love Gerry's voice!

Gerard Butler... really??
I'm sorry, what drugs was ALW on when he agreed to this... He can't sing.. He can't act.. and really.. I got a sun burnt face the other day and it looked worse than his did... I mean this is such a well loved musical, they had people lining up to do it, what on earth possessed them to hire someone who COULD NOT SING! and really there is a certain standard..

I was very lucky I saw Ramin Karimloo in London in 2006, that was my first time, and that guy he is amazing! I've been listening to the original recording since I was 6.. Michael Crawford's voice it does what it is meant to... for example listener falls into near trance.. and holds consistent long notes.... and also he sings it in the key it was written in...

i agree! i wish ramin played the phantom in the movie!

^ I'm with you and Amy. I do think Gerard is a good actor and an ok singer but he's not like 'OMG YOU'RE SO AMAZING' not even close. I won't blame him for the lack of ugliness portrayed in the film, that was totally up to the directors (I think). Take Ramin and Michel, naturally they aren't really any less appealing than Gerard. It's all make up. He was at best an ok Phantom, but now that I've seen more versions of the character and especially the original Erik he is sort of a disappointment. Again though, all he did was act, he didn't write the part, didn't do his makeup, and didn't make the decision to wussy-fy Erik.

personally, i love Gerard, but his version and love never dies i have seen the most, so yeah. i have watched the others, but i ,love gerry's voice because he is scottish and he is trying so hard to speak in the proper english accent. he is also really hot, if you don't mind me saying, coz i'm only 11. but don't judge my age on what i've heard/seen, coz my mum was an usher and she used to take me to see it when i was 4, and again when i was 9. she took me twice to see LND in 2011, the very first and very last shows, so now i also love Ben Lewis and Anna O'Byrne.<3

I should've asked the question Do you think that Gerard Butler was the best phantom ever or was there better before him seeing all the remarks about Ramin Karimloo I didn't mean for him to be referred to as the better one as I loved him in Love Never Dies too but I didn't mean him.

Gerry was good, especially considering he'd never done anything remotely like POTO when he was cast, but my favorites are Ramin Karimloo, Hugh Panaro & Gary Mauer.

YES!

I honestly can't stand Gerard Butler's singing