The Phantom

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The Phantom

PG

1996

1h 40m

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

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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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Jul 7, 2010

C

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.

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Godfrey Cheshire

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

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.

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

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

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Mike Pearson

Denver Rocky Mountain News

Jul 6, 2026

"The Phantom" strives to be several things, none successfully.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

May 3, 2026

1.5/4

Extra demerits for employing one of the dumbest taglines of the past 50 —- make that 100 —- years: "Slam Evil!"

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Apr 18, 2026

3.5/5

A fun, old-school superhero adventure that still holds up as a cult favorite.

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Ron S.

@RT12345102 Sep 16, 2026

A fun classic story of a fighting hero.

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Johnathon W

@Hoppynsc Aug 24, 2026

Fun but flawed adaptation of the original masked superhero thanks to a game cast but direction that is lacking. The cast is solid, with Billy Zane clearly relishing the chance to play a hero for a change while Treat Williams hams it up brilliantly as the main villain. Behind the camera, director Simon Wincer captures the style of the classic comic strip but suffers from some subpar action sequences and an overly complicated plot, especially the first half where characters keep going back and forth from Africa to New York City. Overall, still a fun watch but not perfect.

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Kyal B

@ky4lB Mar 31, 2026

Loved this movie as a kid and it's a perfect mix of what I love. It's basically Batman meets Indiana Jones. Time period and the action are fantastic. The actors are all really game, with Treat Williams being a real standout. Loved this movie since I saw in theaters when I was 7 and now I get to rewatch it with my son. Still holds up as a swashbuckling adventure flick. Can't wait for the 4k to come out this year

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Thomas W

@Enigma0999 Dec 4, 2025

One of the worst superheroes i have ever seen. The overall story and characters just doesn't work well and the phantom should of been shot and killed dozen times over but no one can aim.

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Shae M

@Excelsior Sep 27, 2025

Been reading the comics on and off for year. This was better than people branded it. 1940s the Ghost who walks Horses, car chasers and ancient Skulls. A classic

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Sebastian L

@RT53077800 Sep 9, 2025

There's something about The Phantom that is deeply unsatisfying. Characters are lazily introduced, important elements are poorly established and key moments flash by. Zane is fine but has a tendency to rush his lines. At times it feels like Wincer forgot to direct his actors and to shoot half of the shots for every scene. You're never invested because there's almost no depth anywhere.

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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

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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
Producer: Robert Evans, Alan Ladd Jr.
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Boam
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, The Ladd Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
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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