One of the greatest Batman movies ever made is now streaming on Netflix. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, the 1993 animated feature, is now available for subscribers. Kevin Conroy, who voiced the Caped Crusader in the film, took to Twitter to share the news with his followers.
‘Mask of the Phantasm’ is on Netflix. Great movie. If you’ve never seen it, you should check it out. https://t.co/goX7Gd98Bk
— Kevin Conroy (@RealKevinConroy) July 1, 2020
“‘Mask of the Phantasm’ is on Netflix. Great movie. If you’ve never seen it, you should check it out,” Conroy said.
The movie takes place in the same universe as Batman: The Animated Series. For many, that remains one of the greatest representations of the iconic DC hero of all time. To that point, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is widely considered to be one of the best Batman movies ever, and not just in the world of animation. In the eyes of many fans, it stands alongside The Dark Knight as a shining example of storytelling utilizing the character.
Directed by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, it was a pioneering effort as a feature-length animated entry in the DC universe. The film also features voices from BTAS, most notably Mark Hamill as The Joker.
Here is the synopsis for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
“When the city’s most feared gangsters are systematically eliminated, the Caped Crusader is blamed. But prowling the Gotham night is a shadowy new villain, the Phantasm, a sinister figure with some link to Batman’s past. Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his own name? Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in this dazzling animated feature. Discover revelations about Batman’s past, his archrival the Joker and Batman’s most grueling battle ever — the choice between his love for a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right.”
Warner Bros. has, in the years since, made a habit of producing animated movies based on DC Comics characters. Many of those movies have gone on to find critical acclaim. What sets this apart is that it was released theatrically. As Hamill revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the whole thing came together quite fast.
“I don’t know how many months into production Warner Bros. decided to make this a theatrical release, but the entire film had to be altered, switching the aspect ratio from television to that of a movie screen,” Hamill said. “Apparently from start to finish, it only took eight months, which is crazy to me. Most animated films take at least two years.”
Mask of the Phantasm only grossed $5.8 million at the box office, but it has enjoyed a long life on home video in the years since.
So what do you think? Will you be revisiting the iconic film on Netflix? Where does this fall in your personal Batman rankings? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
