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Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, Treat Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones, James Remar ... see more see more... , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa , John Capodice , Jared Chandler , Robert Coleby , Samantha Eggar , Bernard Kates , John Prosky , David Proval , Joe Ragno , Al Ruscio , Leon Russom , Casey Siemaszko , Bill Smitrovich , William Zappa , Patrick McGoohan , William Jones

The first superhero ever, created by Lee Falk in 1936, gets another shot at movie stardom 60 years after achieving fame in comics and serials. Billy Zane stars as Kit Walker, who discovers that he's t... read more read more...he 21st in a line of purple-clad African superheroes known as "The Phantom" or, to superstitious Bengalla Island natives, "the Ghost Who Walks." When he's not fighting the evil Singh Brotherhood with his faithful wolf Devil and white horse Hero, the Phantom lives in the hidden Skull Cave. Kit discovers that Xander Drax (Treat Williams), a slimy industrialist, is plotting to take over the world by uniting the three long lost magical Skulls of Touganda. So he travels to New York, where he finds allies in crusading newspaper publisher Dave (Bill Smitrovich) and his niece, Diana (Kristy Swanson), who's also Kit's ex-girlfriend. Kit and Diana tackle Drax's forces, including the conflicted Sala (Catherine Zeta-Jones), in a quest for the Skulls that brings both sides back to Bengalla for a showdown. The Phantom's mixture of elaborate stunts with liberal doses of tongue-in-cheek humor was characteristic of screenwriter Jeffrey Boam, whose previous films included Innerspace (1987) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

30% liked it

42,792 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

42 critics

PG, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Simon Wincer

Release Date: June 7, 1996

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DVD Release Date: May 25, 1999

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Stats: 1,415 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,415)

  • phubbs1
    August 16, 2011
    phubbs1
    If you cross Indiana Jones with Tarzan and mix in some 'Goonies' type pirate tomfoolery then you pretty much have this fun cheesy boys own adventure. Actually if I think about it some more you could also throw in some camp Batman and Robin from the classic 60's series in certain ... read moresequences, it does get alittle bit too hammy in places I must say hehe.

    Of course it is suppose to be almost a pantomine type flick with lots of silly lines and caddish villains but it is a touch too childish for me were as other pulp comicbook character adaptations like 'The Shadow' are abit more serious. The Phantom world is a pretty looking universe I must say, the jungle lair, 30's New York and the museum set where one of the skulls is kept are all really well created and have that lovely wooden stylish structured feel with that nice dark noirish colour range (much like The Shadow).

    Effects are dated now of course and the fights do look rather gentle haha I almost expected 'Kapow!' to flash across the screen when Zane punched a baddie henchman. Its a good fun film which kids will enjoy and is totally set in the period comicbook action genre of oldschool superheroes. The Phantom isn't really a great character to put on film really as he's abit too dated and soft with his natty purple tights, simple black face mask which only covers his eyes and the fact he has a wolf and horse as his sidekicks hehe its so 'awwww'. Didn't really think much of the pirates that make up the bad guys, especially at the end which really turns into Schumacher type affair but it is all taken from the original stories so that's good I suppose, its just the original stories and ideas are very out of time now.

    Doesn't beat around the bush and gives you exactly what it says on the tin which is a very light hearted period superhero flick with lots of charm, dames, cads and a dashing hero in a tight purple catsuit.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    February 11, 2011
    MidnightMadwoman
    Heeheehee, this movie is foolishness. This might be the simplest superhero movie I've ever seen. The only thing about The Phantom that's not lilac-scented and squeaky clean is the fact that he's got a skull on his ring. I'm still not clear exactly why it's the source of his power... read more. Actually, there's not a heck of a lot about this story that makes sense. It could have been called Purple vs. Bad Guys and it would have made as much sense. In fact, I can't really remember much about this movie, except that Billy Zane kicks a bunch of people's asses, and he comes from a long line of purple ass-kickers, and it's set in the 30s, and at one poine he needs to defeat the Yakuza. Or the Triads. Or the Black Hand. Or something. It doesn't really matter. This movie is not without its charm, but it is DEFINITELY without its substance.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    January 10, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Phantom is one of those films that you either love or hate. In my case, I loved it. Billy Zane plays Kit Walker/The Phantom aka The ghost who walks. Zane is perfectly cast in the role, and he gives a great performance. Treat Williams stars as the films antagonist Xander Drax,... read more a powerful business man who is bent on destroying the world. The Phantom must do everything to stop Drax from achieving his goal.The Phantom is a seriously underrated action film. Sure the film is cheesy and has flaws, the dialogue is cheesy as well but. But for what it's worth, The Phantom is a thrilling, underrated film that really doesn't get the attention it deserves. A decent cast adorns this action period piece, and the film looks great, the sets, costumes, are awesome. The score is great too. The Phantom will definitely not appeal to many, but to the few who like these types of superheros, then The Phantom will definitely make for a good viewing experience. This is also Billy Zane's best role. The Phantom is a film that is meant to entertain, yes, it has a low budget feel to it, but who cares? I really don't understand why why people hate this film so much, I personally thought it was much better than most superhero films such as X Men: The Last Stand. Action packed, cheesy and fun, The Phantom is an superhero film that like many reviewers have pointed out has an Indiana Jones feel to it, and it's terrific, flawed, but well done nonetheless.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 21, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Not a total stinker.
  • ythelastman89
    December 9, 2009
    ythelastman89
    A character that should have never gotten a movie adaption, there is just no way that you can make a superhero in a purple jumpsuit believable. Add an extremely low budget and it makes for one mess. It's just a hard movie to watch, there are almost no redeeming qualities.
  • DrZeek
    September 29, 2009
    DrZeek
    Quill: I've killed the Phantom.
    The Great Kabai Sengh: Join the club. We've all killed him over the years. He keeps coming back.

    The original costumed superhero, the Phantom, has no powers and is based mostly around myth. In this film, Billy Zane stars as said character, and... read more does exactly what is needed to make it work. The film works as a great B-movie, with fun action, good production values. The film is basically a superhero movie set in the world of Indiana Jones, and I like it.

    The Great Kabai Sengh: I know your secret, Phantom.
    The Phantom: Take it to your grave, Kabai Sengh.
  • SirPant
    September 28, 2009
    SirPant
    Rubbish. I thought Billy Zane would make a really good superhero, I was wrong!
  • stormyweather980
    September 11, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Only saw it once and loved it a lot. I REALLY want to see it again to see how it holds up, seeing as how everyone else hates it.
  • skactopus
    February 21, 2009
    skactopus
    The Phantom isn't a big budget blockbuster super hero movie. Does that make it bad? Of course not. In fact, this is more than a decent watch.

    The story is as thin as paper and that isn't surprising. It is extremely easy to follow and at only 90 minutes, it blows by r

    ... read moreather quickly. There isn't a lot of character development and there are no huge explanations behind the plans of the villains. This is a film to just sit back and kill some time with.

    The color purple is all over the marketing for this picture. It does seem like an odd color for a costume, but the characters are a creation of comic creator Lee Falk and the colors and settings successfully provide a comic book feel without the usage of CG unlike, oh say, Ultraviolet.

    The effects are cheap looking, which is a little disappointing, however it is only seen in small quantities throughout this picture. The stunt work on the other hand is pretty good.

    Billy Zane, who may not seem like the person for a super hero lead, actually does a decent job at pulling this off. Kristy Swanson fills the shoes of the female love interest with no problem. Treat Williams, James Remar, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and the lovely Catherine Zeta Jones show up as the villains. They all overact, and believe it or not, that doesn't hurt this movie in anyway. Watching Kristy and Catherine argue throughout this picture is also a nice treat.

    Sure, The Phantom may not seem like anything special and it really isn't. Still, this is a movie to sit down and watch if there is time to spare.
  • Chiefilms
    July 14, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Hell Yea I like Purple spandex wearing white-horse mounting superheros that in reality looks like a sadomasochistic pornstar.

View All The Phantom Reviews

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman
July 7, 2010
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. Full Review

Godfrey Cheshire
March 26, 2009
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... Full Review

Peter Travers
June 6, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Expect this ghost of bad movies past to walk quickly to the back bins of Blockbuster, where it should be filed under a helpful heading, monotonous and juvenile.

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

It's nice to see some things done the old way. Full Review

Lawrence Van Gelder
January 1, 2000
Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times

The pleasures are familiar, but not the least bit inspired. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

If Treat Williams were the Phantom and Billy Zane the capitalist villain would any significant nuances be lost? Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Phantom is one of the best-looking movies in any genre Ihave ever seen. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

This is the kind of movie that offers modest entertainment while you're in the theater, but is forgotten by the time you get home. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A lightweight action adventure, derivative in its look and approach. It's strictly for kids, but it's possible to appreciate the picture for what it is. Full Review

July 19, 2010
Film4

The result is oddly ineffectual and sometimes just plain dull. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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