When it comes to comic book movies and television shows, Marvel and DC have been duking it out for years now. Sure, other franchises like Star Wars have found success in both, but when strictly looking at the big comic companies, these two titans have been throwing it down for a long, long time. As such, we have seen each company drop some absolute gems.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is one of the most celebrated animated films of all time, but its story is unlike any other. This cult classic truly rose from the ashes to reach the amazing heights that it has seen.
Let’s look at how Mask of The Phantasm became a cult classic!
The Film Was Based On 'Batman: The Animated Series'
They say that if something ain't broke, then don’t fix it. This was precisely the route the Warner Bros. chose when they were making Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. Everything from the story to the animation style was right in line with Batman: The Animated Series, which was a massive success on the small screen.
During the 90s, Batman: The Animated Series was nothing short of spectacular, and it gave way to iconic moments and stories, even introducing the world to one of the biggest modern comic books characters: Harley Quinn. That’s right, Harley got her start on this beloved series, further proving how impactful it was when it was on the air.
As time went on, the series itself would continue to forge its legacy, and these days, the argument can be made that this is perhaps the greatest animated series of all time. It had style, substance, and it has been able to stand the test of time.
For Mask of the Phantasm, the creators tapped into the style and tone of the show, which has led many to feel that the film seems almost like an extended episode of the series. The fans loved the show, and the creators made sure to give the fans exactly what they were looking for during the 90s.
As we will see, the movie was eventually released into theaters, though it did not do the type of business that one would expect.
It Flopped At The Box Office
With Batman: The Animated Series serving as the driving force behind the interest in this film, the studio believed that it could do well at the box office. However, their promotion for the project was virtually nonexistent, and this would directly impact the film’s box office performance.
Once it was released into theaters, Mask of the Phantasm would only generate $5.6 million, meaning that it was a flop. As stated earlier, the studio hardly promoted the film at all, leaving it to fend for itself at a crowded box office. Despite the financial failures of the movie, critics and fans still loved what it brought to the table.
Normally, when a film turns into a flop, it keeps that stigma for the rest of its days. No one likes to watch a movie flop, but it happens on a regular basis. The key difference here is that Mask of the Phantasm was able to break away from the stigma and forge a legacy with fans.
As time would go on, the legend of this film would grow, and eventually it would reach cult classic status.
VHS And DVD Sales Kept The Legacy Alive
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was a failure at the box office, and despite this, audiences at home would still make sure to get their hands on a copy of it to see what all the buzz was about from people who actually saw it in theaters.
Word of mouth is an incredible way for projects to find an audience, and this is precisely what happened with this project. People could not stop buzzing about it, and eventually, VHS sales would start to pile up for the studio. This led to the film actually turning a profit! More importantly, this was instrumental in the film developing a legacy with the fans.
The years have been kind to this film, and it is regularly discussed as one of the better animated movies of its era. Sure, superhero animated films don’t usually get the same shine as something from Pixar, but this film was just different than the ones before or even after it.
Whether it is on VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, or being released into theaters again, people still cannot get enough of Mask of the Phantasm. It is a cult classic in every sense, and it’s one flick that all superhero fans should watch at least once.
