One of the best Batman movies of all time is coming to 4K later this year. Warner Bros. is bringing Batman: Mask of the Phantasm to 4K Ultra HD in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary. With the release coming up, we now have a trailer showcasing the update. This beloved film in the Dark Knight’s canon has never looked better. Check it out.
While it’s tough to tell just from a trailer, particularly if you’re watching on a phone, this is a movie that sorely deserves an upgrade. The new version was sourced from the 1993 original camera negative. A digital restoration was applied to the 4K. Dirt, scratches and additional blemishes were removed. But special care was given to leave the film grain intact, as well as the animation cel dirt that was part of the original artwork.
Here is the synopsis for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
“Mask of the Phantasm opens with the city’s most feared gangsters being systematically eliminated, and assumed blame falling on the Caped Crusader. 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, which provides new 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.”
The film was directly connected to Batman: The Animated Series and featured the late Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne. Though it wasn’t a big hit at the time, it has since been regarded as one of the best films in the franchise. This new release also comes with some special features, including a brand-new featurette.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Special Features and Technical Specs:
- Newly remastered in 4K from the original camera negative
- HDR presentation of the film
- Remastered in 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks
- New Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight – For 30 years, Kevin Conroy defined Batman for multiple generations using only his voice, best exemplified in the landmark film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. Conroy passed away in November 2022, but his legacy lives on in 15 films, nearly 400 episodes of animated television series, a dozen video games, and as a live-action Bruce Wayne in the Arrowverse’s 2019-2020 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. Several of Conroy’s contemporaries – including animation legend Bruce Timm, Batman producer Michael Uslan and revered voice actress Tara Strong – pay tribute to the star who remains the Dark Knight for millions of Batfans.
- Bonus episode of Justice League: Unlimited featuring a cameo from Phantasm
- Opitonal English, Spanish, and French subtitles
The cast also includes Dana Delany (Desperate Housewives) as Andrea Beaumont, Mark Hamill (Star Wars) as the Joker, Stacy Keach (Nebraska) as Phantasm/Carl Beaumont, Abe Vigoda (The Godfather) as Salvatore Valestra, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (The F.B.I.) as Alfred, Hart Bochner (Die Hard) as Arthur Reeves, Bob Hastings (The Poseidon Adventure) as Commissioner Gordon, Robert Costanzo (City Slickers) as Detective Bullock, Dick Miller (The Terminator) as Chuckie Sol, and John P. Ryan (The Right Stuff) as Buzz Bronski.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm arrives on 4K Ultra HD on September 12.
What do you think? Where do you rank this among Batman films? Are you planning on picking up a 4K copy? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
