BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM
Special Features: 30th Anniversary. Tickets $8
When Gotham City's worst criminals are murdered, all fingers point to none other than the Caped Crusader himself. Seeking to clear his name, Batman prowls the night for the true killer: a mysterious figure known as the "Phantasm." In flashbacks, alter ego Bruce Wayne struggles with his promise of vengeance to his dead parents and a doomed romance with Andrea Beaumont, who may be linked to the nefarious killings. Originally intended as a direct-to-video release, BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM was abruptly shifted to theatrical, contracting its production into an eight-month affair that stretched creatives Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm thin (they had to rejigger the storyboards to fit a theatrical aspect ratio). Though it was a box office dud, critics praised its stylish film noir aesthetic, mature storytelling and remarkable voice work from Kevin Conroy as Batman/Wayne and Mark Hamill as the Joker. A notable flashback features one of Conroy's most heartbreaking deliveries, channeling Wayne's grief and lovesickness at the site of his parents' grave, telling them he "didn't count on being happy." Thirty years later, the film stands as one of the Dark Knight's most memorable ventures and a testament to the animated series' cultural legacy. DIR Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm; SCR Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, Michael Reaves; PROD Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan. U.S., 1993, color, 76 min. RATED PG
In Memoriam: Kevin Conroy (1955–2022)
AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 76 Minutes
Opening Date: Saturday, January 21, 2023
Genre: Animation, action
