Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
The Dark Knight fights to save Gotham city from its deadliest enemy.
Overview
Andrea Beaumont leaves her father to return to Gotham, rekindling an old romance with Bruce Wayne. At the same time, a mysterious figure begins to hunt down Gotham's criminals, wrongly implicating Batman in the murders. Now on the run from the law, Batman must find and stop the culprit, while also navigating his relationship with Andrea.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Released theatrically as a result of its perceived quality, Mask of the Phantasm stands apart as a dark, mature Batman story intended for a wider audience than the contemporary animated series. It's considered a cornerstone of Batman adaptations, often placed among the best interpretations of the character and his complex motivations, and explores themes that continue to resonate with fans today.
- The sophisticated and tragic plot delves into Bruce Wayne's past, exploring his lost love and the potential for a life beyond Batman.
- The animation is stunning, featuring a darker and more mature visual style than the animated series while remaining true to its aesthetic.
- Mark Hamill's Joker performance is considered by many to be his definitive portrayal, showcasing his chaotic energy and unsettling humor.
- The film explores mature themes of grief, revenge, and the nature of justice, raising compelling questions about Batman's crusade.
Fun Facts
- The Phantasm's design was intentionally ambiguous, meant to evoke a sense of dread and uncertainty about their true identity.
- The film was originally intended to be a direct-to-video release.
- The gravestone Bruce visits, that of his parents, has the date of their murder listed as 1979 instead of 1981 as stated in other Batman media.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"The Dark Knight fights to save Gotham city from its deadliest enemy."
Português
PT
Title: Batman - A Máscara do Fantasma
"O Cavaleiro das Trevas luta para salvar Gotham de seu mais mortal inimigo."
Deutsch
DE
Title: Batman und das Phantom
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Français
FR
Title: Batman contre le Fantôme masqué
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Español
ES
Title: Batman: La máscara del fantasma
"The Dark Knight lucha para salvar la ciudad de Gotham de su enemigo más letal."
Italiano
IT
Title: Batman - La maschera del fantasma
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Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
Really good and well-made animation movie and one of the best Batman feature films. Kevin Conroy was of course amazing, and Dana Delaney leant some wonderful emotion while Mark Hamill was gleefully maniacal as always as The Joker. Kind of wish some elements of this would be implemented into a live action movie, maybe even Matt Reeves' sequel. In any case, I've seen this one several times and still is entertaining as ever. **4.25/5**
This animation is very much in the vein of the comics I remember having as a kid. The angular faces with big eyes and broad shoulders atop entirely disproportionately small bodies. This is an embryonic story for the "Caped Crusader" - he hasn't quite finessed his costume as he finds himself embroiled in an identity crisis. It seems he's been out in "Gotham" terrorising and terminating senior figures from the mob. Of course this can't be tolerated, but they don't know his true identity anymore than the cops do. Meantime, his alter ego "Bruce Wayne" has taken a bit of a shine to "Andrea" who just happens to be the daughter of a wealthy man who is also caught up in the gangster shenanigans. Indeed, when he owes them a small fortune that he can't repay, he and his daughter have to flee to Europe. Can they stay safe, though? The two themes knit quite neatly together here as the alternative "Batman" character is quite easy for us to identify as the film progresses. There's some pith in the script, a tiny bit of quite clunky romance and plenty of comic-book menace as the story comes perilously close to an edition of "Scooby Do" at times. Car chases, gadgets, darkly lit streets and a bit of double dealing from "Artie Reeves" all helps this to move along quickly and quite entertainingly and though jeopardy isn't really on the cards, it's a solid story told basically, but well.
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
Haven't Nominated for Oscar
Media
Behind the Scenes
Kevin Conroy: I am the Knight | Full Documentary
Clip
The Chase
Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes: Kevin Conroy: I am The Knight