Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Mark Hamill has been synonymous with the voice of the Joker ever since he performed the role inBatman: The Animated Series. The actor was nominated for two Annie Awards while he performed the role and he was even tapped to voice the Clown Prince of Crime in other DCAU projects such asBatman Beyond: Return of the JokerandSuperman: The Animated Series.
One of Hamill’s best performances as the Joker was in the iconic DCAU filmBatman: Mask of the Phantasm. Though he was a secondary villain in the film, Hamill’s performance has been widely regarded as one of his best and the film too has gained a cult following over the years. However, the film was a huge flop upon release and WB is the reason why.
Mark Hamill Knows WhyBatman: Mask of the PhantasmFailed At The Box Office
When the animated filmBatman: Mask of the Phantasmwas released on Christmas Day in 1993, actorMark Hamill, who played the Joker, was reportedly so excited about the project that he took his family to the cinemas. However, when Hamill entered the cinemas, it was reportedly filled with only 12 fans(viaTHR).
The lack of audiences in the theaters was not a one-off affair as the film was a huge box office failure. Made on a budget of $6 million, the film earned a meager box office collection of $5.6 million. Despite the disaster at the box office, the film was a commercial success after its release on home media and has been regarded as a cult classic.
5 Reasons Why DC Should Leave the Arkhamverse Alone and Move on to Another Chapter in the Batman Mythos
Though many films have formed a new lease of life despite a bad performance at the box office,Batman: Mask of the Phantasmwas unique as both fans and critics loved the film. It holds an 83% rating onRotten Tomatoesand many critics such as Siskel and Ebert have given positive reviews of the film (viaAt The Movies).
According to Mark Hamill, the reason for this was the condensed production schedule given to the creators after the film was upgraded from a direct-to-video release to a theatrical release. Hamill told The Hollywood Reporter that the team had to crunch their time to make the release date and it left no time for marketing the film. He said,
“There weren’t any ads on Saturday Night Live or any of the normal places you’d see a film advertised.”
“I would consider that too”: Why Alan Burnett Took Drastic Measures to “Get out of the Batcave” after Batman Beyond
Though the film was given a tighter production schedule than a typical animated feature, the makers were reportedly given free rein on the project and were also allocated a budget of $6 million.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm’sNew Release Method Messed With The Production Of The Film
Many fans and critics have expressed their regret at not catching the theatrical release ofBatman: Mask of the Phantasm. Actor Mark Hamill mentioned to THR that the actor was sad that the film did not have lines around the block outside the theaters as the film was just so good. Voice actor Kevin Conroy has cited the film as his favorite performance.
After the success ofBatman: The Animated Series, the team was given the opportunity to make a full-length animated film, originally slated for a direct-to-video release by Warner Bros. However, the studio reportedly changed its release plans and upgraded it to a theatrical release, giving only eight months for the production to finish the film.
“It just seemed natural”: One Scene Proves The Batman Animated Series Was Way Superior to the Legendary Batman: TAS in at Least 1 Major Area
Mark Hamill mentioned to THR that the team had to change the aspect ratio for the entire film to make it compatible with the cinemas as well as finish the film in a small amount of time. He said,
“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. Apparently, from start to finish, it only took eight months, which is crazy to me. Most animated films take at least two years.”
Moreover, the film was not released at times that were suitable for an adult audience, despite dealing with mature themes. According toThe Omni Plex, the film was released as a matinee showing, making it more suitable for a kid audience. The website also mentioned that the film’s trailer did not do a good job of building up the bigger action set pieces in the film.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasmis available for rent on Apple TV.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2416
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
