'Forgotten' Batman film hailed 'best ever' by fans now streaming on Amazon Prime
The film has been compared to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and David Fincher movies
A lesser-known Batman film from 1993, described as a "gritty noir mystery" and the "perfect film", is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, an animated feature directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Tim, is based on Batman: The Animated Series.
This film marks the first in the DC Animated Universe and boasts voiceover performances from Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Bob Hastings, and Robert Costanzo.
The plot follows Batman as he confronts Phantasm, a masked vigilante, finding himself implicated in a series of murders committed by this new foe while also rekindling a relationship with former flame, Andrea Beaumont.
Originally, the film wasn't intended for theatrical release, and when it did hit cinemas, it only managed to rake in $5.8 million at the domestic box office. Mark Hamill, who lent his voice to The Joker, shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he was disheartened to see only a few people turn up to watch the film on its opening day in a New York cinema, noting that "it wasn't packed with lines around the block", reports the Express.
Despite this, the film received favourable reviews and has earned an impressive 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after more than 5,000 audience reviews. It also holds a solid score of 7.8 out of 10 stars on IMDb.
One critic wrote: "Mask of the Phantasm is more than just an animated spin off; it's one of the best Batman movies ever made. With a perfect mix of romance, action, and introspection, it dives deep into Bruce Wayne's struggle between love and duty while introducing the Phantasm, a villain who feels like they've always belonged in Gotham."
Another added: "Put simply, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a perfect film. This is the quintessential for all Batman fans. This is the origin story for the Batman that we knew in the 90's animated TV show and wow did it deliver on all fronts."
A third said: "Simply put, the best Batman film ever. Loud and triumphant score, gritty noir mystery, grief driven protagonist...so much more could be said about this epic animated feature film. The origin of Batman has never been so good or so heartbreaking."
The glowing reviews kept coming, with one viewer dubbing it the "single greatest Batman movie of all time", adding: "This is a must for those who are already a fan of Batman and for those being introduced to the franchise."