| Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by | Alan Burnett |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Edited by | Al Breitenbach |
| Music by | Shirley Walker |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros.[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States[1] |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6 million |
| Box office | $5.6 million[2] |
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (also known as Batman: The Animated Movie – Mask of the Phantasm) is a 1993 American animated romantic superhero film featuring the DC Comics character Batman. It was directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm, and written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reaves. The film is based on Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), and is the first film of the DC Animated Universe and the only one to receive a theatrical release. Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings and Robert Costanzo reprise their voice roles from Batman: The Animated Series, joined by Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach Jr., Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller and John P. Ryan.
Produced between the first and second seasons of the series, the film follows Batman as he reconciles with a former lover, Andrea Beaumont, and faces a mysterious vigilante, the titular Phantasm, who is murdering Gotham City's crime bosses. The plot partly mirrors Mike W. Barr's Batman: Year Two comic book story arc, with the Reaper from it loosely inspiring the Phantasm character made for the film, while also borrowing elements from the Batman: Year One arc, recounting how Bruce Wayne became Batman and his first attempts to fight crime.
Originally planned for a direct-to-video release, Warner Bros. ultimately gave Mask of the Phantasm a theatrical release, condensing its production into a strenuous eight-month schedule. The film was the first theatrical feature film produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and was released through the studio's Family Entertainment[1] division on December 25, 1993, to generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the stylized animation, voice performances, story, and music.
Due to the decision to release it in theaters on short notice, Mask of the Phantasm failed at the box office. After its release on home media, it became financially successful. Until the limited release of Batman: The Killing Joke in 2016, Mask of the Phantasm was the only animated Batman film to be given a theatrical release, as well as the only one to receive a full theatrical release until The Lego Batman Movie in 2017.
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- ^ a b c "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2021.