The Phantom

PG

Released Jun 7, 1996

1h 40m

Action

List

44%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

31%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A purple-costumed superhero (Billy Zane) tries to thwart a master criminal's (Treat Williams) acquisition of mystical skulls with legendary powers.

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Critics Consensus

The script gives Billy Zane little to work with, and thus he plays the Phantom as a friendly but completely one-dimensional hero.

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Jim222001 W

An under-rated little superhero film. For people who enjoyed films like the Shadow. The under-rated Billy Zane does a fine job and even pulls off that all purple outfit. You also have the late Treat Williams having fun hamming it up as the villain. The Phantom isn't the best movie you'll see. I did always find it to be fun though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/28/24

Full Review

Lance U

Idc what anyone says about it, I absolutely love ‘The Phantom'! It's a fantastic adventure/superhero movie, released at a time (1996) before there were more than a handful of superhero movies, and a only a couple of these were worth a damn. Simon Wincer's direction is solid, the script written by Jeffery Boam (who also wrote the screenplay for ‘Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade', among many others!) is sound, the action sequences are rousing, the scenery is beautiful (in both the jungle & 1930's New York City)! Billy Zane is perfectly cast as our protagonist Kit Walker/The Phantom, and Kristy Swanson & Catherine Zeta-Jones (her 1st film appearance!) make vivid impressions, as well! Highly recommended! B+

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Maxiquick F

I watch the phantom 1996 since 5 years ago, and it was alright, And i like the other parts besides the truck chase by quills and kidnaps the boy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Over 25 years and it’s not all terrible tbh I remember my dad got the vhs I didn't know it was based on a 1930s comic strip for the longest time Yes it got mixed reception from critics; In my opinion it’s an above average comic book film A young boy named Kit watched his father die at a young age by pirates of The Sengh Brotherhood, he jumped ship and was washed ashore on the island of Bengalla The natives took him in and raised him to be a warrior called The Phantom embued with a powerful skull ring seemingly 400 years later Years later during the 1930s a team of thugs are hunting down the magic skulls of Touganda to track down a great power All of it is financed by Xander Drax residing in New York City to gain that power and use it for their own ends A young woman Diana Palmer is also onto the mystery of the skulls and her childhood friend Kit is also undercover in New York City but she gets kidnapped by Xander’s goons and now as the Phantom he has to save her and stop Drax I love all the actors; Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson (I didn't recognize her), Catherine Zeta-Jones, James Remar, and Treat Williams even if he is a goofy cartoon come to life Zane does come off as one-dimensional though with a less than stellar script The costume is very silly even if it's comics accurate It's got that swashbuckler feel to it still matching the time period of the serials and old school stunts Disappointed at the box office but gained much popularity on home video

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/10/23

Full Review

Jonathan B

This is my favourite movie of all time. This film perfectly captured the spirit of Lee Falk's Ghost who walks. Especially from the original newspaper comic strip. It stays extremely close to the source material something most critics usually praise. The film is an appropriate length for the story it is telling. In an age of increasingly bloat run times you will appreciate. The action is well done with mostly physical sets and stunts again a blessing in an age of overused CGI. The film contains strong female characters on both the side of good and evil. However both women have flaws and personality which keeps them from being Mary Sues. Billy Zane is perfect in the role and was in great physical shape for the part. Something far ahead of its time as before this you either got an athlete who couldn't act or an actor in a muscle suit. Again showing this film is way ahead of its time. Please ignore the score and sit and watch some old fashioned pulpish good vs evil fun. In a world of dark and grey heros the true hero wears purple 💜

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

Full Review

Michael D

Don't listen to these bad reviews on here this is a very entertaining movie, This superhero movie has it all great storyline, good action, Great on track and a little romance :) this movie truly deserve the sequel

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/23

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Simon Wincer

Director

Billy Zane

The Phantom

Kristy Swanson

Diana Palmer

Treat Williams

Xander Drax

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Sala

James Remar

Quill

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The Phantom: Official Clip - The Fourth Skull

2:11

The Phantom: Official Clip - Take Off Your Mask

2:13

The Phantom: Official Clip - The Brotherhood

2:11

The Phantom: Official Clip - Opportunity In Chaos

2:12

The Phantom: Official Clip - Show Me The Power

2:00

The Phantom: Official Clip - Find Them, Stop Them

1:45

The Phantom: Official Clip - The Microscope

1:48

The Phantom: Official Clip - The Skull

2:03

The Phantom: Official Clip - Good Samaritan

1:50

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

As the Phantom, Billy Zane, buff to the max, has a likable insouciance, but there's not much he can do to flesh out this relic.

Rated: C

Jul 7, 2010

Full Review

Godfrey Cheshire

Variety

While it hardly stands to vanquish the celluloid incarnations of Superman and Batman, this version of an older cartoon crusader's exploits does have a pleasingly astute sense of its place in the great scheme of things pulp.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Time Out

This belated, albeit decorative adaptation looks tamely second-hand.

Jun 24, 2006

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

A glamorous cocktail of lost kingdoms, supernatural excitement and flashy special effects, Wincer's gently self-mocking tone makes this pulp-fiction treasure a slice of exotic escapism.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 2, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…a plush film, even if the tone, central performance and script all badly need revisions…

Rated: 3/5

Jul 3, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

No one seems to be taking any of it seriously, especially as the dialogue reflects dumbed-down conversations and repetition for viewers who may not be paying attention.

Rated: 2/10

Sep 24, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A purple-costumed superhero (Billy Zane) tries to thwart a master criminal's (Treat Williams) acquisition of mystical skulls with legendary powers.

Director: Simon Wincer
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Boam
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, The Ladd Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 7, 1996, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.3M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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