A 1993 little-known Batman movie that has been described as a “gritty noir mystery” and the “perfect film” is now streaming on Amazon prime.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Tim, is an animated picture based on Batman: The Animated Series.
It is the first film of the DC Animated Universe and features Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Bob Hastings, and Robert Costanzo in voiceover roles.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm follows the superhero as he faces Phantasm, a masked vigilante.
Batman finds himself implicated in a series of murders by this new assassin, and also reconciles with a former lover, Andrea Beaumont.
Originally, the film wasn’t going to be released theatrically, and when it hit theatres, it grossed just $5.8 million in the total domestic box office intake. Mark Hamill, who voiced The Joker, later told The Hollywood Reporter he went to watch the movie the day it was released at a New York cinema, and was disappointed to see that just a handful of people showed up and that “it wasn’t packed with lines around the block”.
However, the film received positive reviews, and has garnered an impressive 88% popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes after more than 5,000 audience reviews. It also has 7.8 out of 10 stars on IMDb.
One reviewer wrote: “Mask of the Phantasm is more than just an animated spin off; it’s one of the best Batman movies ever made. With a perfect mix of romance, action, and introspection, it dives deep into Bruce Wayne’s struggle between love and duty while introducing the Phantasm, a villain who feels like they’ve always belonged in Gotham.”
Another said: “Put simply, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a perfect film. This is the quintessential for all Batman fans. This is the origin story for the Batman that we knew in the 90’s animated TV show and wow did it deliver on all fronts.”
A third posted: “Simply put, the best Batman film ever. Loud and triumphant score, gritty noir mystery, grief driven protagonist…so much more could be said about this epic animated feature film. The origin of Batman has never been so good or so heartbreaking.”
The rave reviews continued to roll in, with one viewer calling it the “single greatest Batman movie of all time”, adding: “This is a must for those who are already a fan of Batman and for those being introduced to the franchise.”