Kevin Conroy declares 'Batman: Mask of the Phantasm' the "best Batman movie ever"

The animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm had a short theatrical run in 1993, and yesterday it was announced that it's coming back to theaters in honor of its 25th anniversary.

Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman and star of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, promoted that event today on Twitter, while declaring it the "best Batman movie ever".

Mask Of The Phantasm screenings Nov. 12th! Best Batman movie ever https://t.co/iuHI4uCTi6
— Kevin Conroy (@RealKevinConroy) October 3, 2018

I know that many fans also share Conroy's love for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and consider it to be the best Batman movie ever, even over movies like The Dark Knight. So where do you stand? Is Batman: Mask of the Phantasm #1, or do you think there's another Batman movie that's better? Let me know in the comments below.

37 comments

Anthony Soprano

October 3, 2018

Well...In terms of animated movie theres no doubt it is the best animated movie of all animated movies of all time! But we have a non-animated The Dark Knight 2008, one of the bests!

dugzino

October 3, 2018

There are so many Batman movies that are better than the Dark Knight. I mean, even Batman Begins is easily better.

Hunter Zolomon
October 3, 2018
Batman Begins is a better Batman film sure but The Dark Knight is a far better film.
1. NinjaGamer13
  October 3, 2018
  What makes you say that?
  1. Hunter Zolomon
    October 3, 2018
    Batman Begins is more like a comic book film, TDK though is more a crime film starring Batman so that's why i think Begins is better at being a Batman film. TDK though is just a far better made film and does most if not all the film making aspects better plus Joker and Dent are better villains then Ra's and Scarecrow (who are good) and challenge Batman in so many ways what makes the film far more compelling.
    There's a reason why TDK is in top 20 lists of various the best films ever made polls and stuff and its not because its a fantastic Batman film but because its an incredible film. It has so much going for it what can be lost on the viewers and even now we still see frequent videos and articles talking about various aspects on the film.
    1. Clay Castille
      October 4, 2018
      Hear hear. TDK is a Batman film. It best exemplifies thus far the opportunities filmmakers have when crafting a Batman story with serious money, but that hardly changes its identity. All this trying to separate it into another genre is foolishness.
    2. NinjaGamer13
      October 4, 2018
      But crime is what Batman does, though, lol. I thought TDK captured the same sort of vibe as The Long Halloween and such, and actually one of the things I really like about it is how much Batman-y stuff we get, what with the sonar vision and detective stuff and everything. And yes, of course, it is an amazing film. But yeah, I don’t know why bringing a comic book character into a realistic atmosphere the way TDK does should merit looking down on it as a comic book film at all...
    3. Hunter Zolomon
      October 4, 2018
      What i mean is TDK transcends the comic book genre bit like how Logan is more Western then comic book. TDK has more in common with stuff like Heat then a typical comic book stories.
    4. Myopinion.
      October 4, 2018
      The dark knight is a crime thriller. Straight up. so good.
    5. dugzino
      October 4, 2018
      PIN-freaking-POINT. But the subject is "Batman movies" and I actually mistook TDK for TDKR for some reason. But my thoughts remains the same. TDK ain't a that good Batman film. People are overestimating it. Just because we had a great "Joker". I personally take that "Joker" as a great villain but not as The Joker.
NinjaGamer13
October 3, 2018
Ummm...
Rust
October 3, 2018
Great reference. :)
Nahuel Benvenuto
October 3, 2018
Not that many, in fact it would be The Mask of the the Phantasm and that is all, Begins is not a better movie, maybe a better Batman movie at best

mr nobody

October 3, 2018

It's so hard to pick an overall best Batman movie ever.
Live action, for me, it's Batman Begins hands down.
Animated is way harder to pick. I'd say it's between Mask of the Phantasm, Lego Batman and Under the red hood.
There's many other great animated movies but I'm only counting solo Batman movies, not Superman/Batman movies or JL

NinjaGamer13

October 3, 2018

Nah. It pales in comparison to UtRH.

Hunter Zolomon

October 3, 2018

While The Dark Knight is my favorite Batman film and my favorite film i do agree as a Batman film MotP is the best Batman film, it does everything a great Batman story should have and it has Conroy and Hamill at their best. Also Andrea Beaumont is the best love interest for Bruce in any media and maybe ever so slightly surpasses Selina.

Hunter Zolomon

October 3, 2018

Heartbraking scene and Conroy nails it perfectly.

Drake Grayson

October 3, 2018

Kevin is 100% correct. It really is.... Still a cartoon though. Hope Reeves can take the number 1 spot for live action.

Winterventions

October 3, 2018

I've lost a lot of reverence for Conroy over the past few years. He frequently contradicts himself in soundbites/interviews, chiming in on things where his input really doesn't help the situation. Plus his opinions are pretty negative.

Example: When BvS came out, he said he was "deeply uncomfortable" with the Batman of that film. Yet, in 2017, he goes on to say that Ben Affleck had the best Batman.

In 2008, at a panel of some kind (it's on youtube), he talked about the Bale voice and said "it's not Bale's fault, someone on the director's team should have stepped in and had it changed". Yet earlier this year he threw shade by saying "I don't know what Bale was going for".

He willingly supported the Batman/Batgirl sex scene in The Killing Joke film. He should know that Bruce would *never* do that with Barbara. Yet when you take his costar Mark Hamill, Mark was very vocal about his dislike for how Luke was represented in The Last Jedi.

So, Conroy isn't the perfect god of Batman. Yes, he has the most recognizable name when people think of 'Batman'. But he's really gone off the rails.

Guest54

October 3, 2018

He thinks his own Batman movie is the best ever? Surprise, surprise lol. Seriously though, it’s a great animated film and probably the best superhero animated film but it is definitely NOT the best animated and it is NOT the best Batman film of all time. I believe we haven’t seen that. Just my opinion anyway.

Ned Ryerson
October 3, 2018
We can only judge it against what actually exists, not what we haven't seen yet. For me, it's in the top 3-4 Batman films of all time with the Dark Knight, Batman begins, and under the red hood. As a Batman story the first half or so is as good as anything I've seen, but of course it's all subjective.

Thanasis

October 3, 2018

As a Batman movie it definitely is. It's the best version of the Batman. Dark Knight is still the best film though.

Flower & Monster & Golden Calf

October 3, 2018

Harley Quinn cartoon trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Hunter Zolomon
October 3, 2018
Actually looks pretty good and i love the dig at Deadpool haha. I assuming Kaley Cuoco is Harley? If so she actually sounds pretty good.her.

ZaQueerdo

October 3, 2018

The best Batman has spoken.

Queef Police

October 3, 2018

slow news day eh?

Fréaláf Hildeson

October 3, 2018

#1. Batman Returns #2. Batman Begins

Rust

October 3, 2018

I'm happy to see the love for all these Batman films. While I don't have much interest in battling great things against other great things to prove one is better, it's nice to hear why everyone loves their favorites. :)

D_Roc187

October 3, 2018

I would strongly agree! It’s such a shame the animated feature films are better than the live actions movies smfh!!! This movie was a dark and had some scary weird moments but a classic.
I had it on VHS and it was my go to movie if I wasn’t feeling X-Men episodes.

OGDickGrayson

October 3, 2018

I'm more of a fan of Year One and UtRH as far as animated films go.

Martin Naranjo

October 3, 2018

1) The Dark Knight Returns
2) Mask of the Phantasm
3) The Dark Knight

Either Begins or animated Year One, there isn't difference in quality tbh although i tend to lean more towards Year One

Nahuel Benvenuto

October 3, 2018

Well, he is not wrong

Kryptonian Knight

October 4, 2018

From an animated perspective, I'll take Under The Red Hood any day over Phantasm. The action sequences alone are sooooo much better and seeing Nightwing and Bats working together as friends is also great. Animated movies should never be compared to live action films, they are not the same.

Clay Castille

October 4, 2018

Dick move. Might be right.

Jordan Valdes

October 4, 2018

I can’t wait for the 25th anniversary screening of it (and the 40th anniversary screening of Superman: The Movie)! I wasn’t alive when Mask of the Phantasm was released, so I’m so psyched to be getting the opportunity to see it in theaters for the first time (same goes for Superman: The Movie)! As for it being the best Batman movie, I love it, but it isn’t #1 in my opinion. I don’t really think it’s fair to compare live-action vs. animated films against each other. They’re two different mediums. So, with that said, in my opinion, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is the best animated Batman movie, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the best live-action Batman movie!

Bruce Wayne

October 4, 2018

Kevin Conroy is getting crazy in his old age.

Best Batman movie ever? Someone needs to tell Kevin Conroy that cartoons are not really "movies." The story was good, but the acting isn't exactly "real." It's all animated!

However, The Dark Knight, is a real movie. Real artistic creation. I don't want to downplay Mask of the Phantasm, but it's only a cartoon.

Plus, Conroy is ONLY a voice actor. You only hear the voice. The artist or the animator is the one who creates the Bruce/Bats' facial expressions and his actions. I love watching Conroy voice-perform Batman, but you know what? I also enjoy hearing Jason O'Mara play (New 52) Batman and even Roger Craig Smith voice play the part as well.

If you put the cartoon, Mask of the Phantasm up against The Dark Knight, the latter will win every single time.

LOL...I love Mask of the Phantasm, but no way is it or can be considered a "real movie."

Mike P.

October 6, 2018

This is the best Batman movie and Kevin Conroy IS Batman.

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Kevin Conroy declares 'Batman: Mask of the Phantasm' the "best Batman movie ever"

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