The Best Batman Movie Ever Was Actually a Box Office Bomb

If you have experienced Batman: The Animated Series, you likely recall what a brilliant take it is on The Dark Knight. Although the program is geared toward children and even aired as part of the Saturday morning cartoon block on Fox in the ‘90s, the series is so well-rendered that it pulled in fans of all ages and even nabbed several Emmy Awards. Not to mention, the beloved property also spun off what has long been hailed as one of the best Batman films to date. Of course, we’re talking about the 1993 feature film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

Would you believe that despite the efficacy of this now-celebrated effort, the picture bombed at the box office, ensuring that subsequent animated efforts in the Batman canon have gone straight to video?

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Was Critically Acclaimed, But Took Awhile to Find An Audience

Mask of the Phantasm bowed theatrically on Christmas Day in 1993, playing on a total of 1,506 screens. The picture was originally conceived as a direct-to-video release; however, thanks to the success of Batman: The Animated Series, Warner Bros. made the last-minute decision to give the picture a theatrical exhibition.

Some have speculated that the film would have yielded far better returns with a more strategic marketing campaign and a longer ramp-up period before release. Since the decision to exhibit the picture theatrically came at the eleventh hour, many believe that there wasn’t enough time to build awareness or interest prior to release. With a more deliberate approach and a longer promotional period, the Mask of the Phantasm may well have been a bigger hit.

As it stands, the Batman animated feature returned just under $6 million at the global box office. Since the picture’s estimated budget comes in at $6 million, that isn’t a resounding success by any stretch of the imagination. With that said, Mask of the Phantasm‘s eventual release on home video pushed the picture past the profitability threshold. Even still, the less-than-satisfactory box office returns are almost certainly the primary reason we haven’t seen another animated Batman film released theatrically since, with the exception of The LEGO Batman Movie. Although the film didn’t make a huge dent at the box office, it was still a resounding success with critics. Mask of the Phantasm is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive critical approval rating of 83%.

The vast majority of fans who have experienced this undoubtedly effective cinematic effort have fond memories of the picture and it’s not particularly hard to see why. The action sequences in Mask of the Phantasm are beautifully rendered; the animation is top-notch; the voice acting is exceptional; and the way the film handles Batman’s inner conflict is about as on-brand as it gets.

We get a profound view into the core character’s internal conflict when Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) visits his parents at the cemetery, beating himself up for considering prioritizing his own happiness over protecting Gotham City. That entire sequence is profound and poignant; it remains a standout screen rendering of the type of inner turmoil for which the character is so well known.

For anyone who hasn’t experienced this unforgettable effort recently, the picture follows the titular character as he finds himself wrongfully accused of a series of murders targeting Gotham City’s most notorious crime bosses. In reality, a masked maniac called the Phantasm is responsible for the violent sendoffs, but few believe Batman when he proclaims his innocence. Amidst all of the chaos, a former love interest, Andrea Beaumont (Dana Delany), re-enters the picture, complicating matters even further.

While it may not have translated to box office gold, Mask of the Phantasm is an iconic entry in the series canon and easily one of the best Batman films ever made. The picture features strong writing and nuanced characters, and it captures the essence of The Dark Knight like few screen renderings have. What are your thoughts, and where does it land in your personal ranking of the various feature film adaptations? Let us know in the comments section below.

If all this talk of Mask of the Phantasm has you in the mood to experience the picture, we’ve got good news. You can presently find the film streaming on Max.

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