Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is still widely regarded as the high point of the character's history on screen, a status cemented above all by The Dark Knight. With its harsh tone and Heath Ledger's now-iconic performance as the Joker, the 2008 film has kept people talking ever since its release, and almost any comparison to it has been treated as an uphill battle.
Even so, one Batman film is capable of rivaling it. Nolan's movie remains a genuine masterpiece that showed an unseen side of the superhero genre on the big screen, and nobody disputes its importance to Batman's cinematic legacy. But that does not mean it has aged the same way as its rival, which has held up better over time.
An animated film that showed Batman's human side
Released in 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is an animated film told across two timelines, past and present. In the present, Batman investigates a mysterious vigilante known as the Phantasm, who is killing off Gotham City's crime bosses. The flashbacks explore Bruce Wayne's past, focusing chiefly on his romantic relationship with Andrea Beaumont.
What makes the film so distinctive is that it best represents Bruce Wayne's internal conflict. Many consider it the best film built around the Gotham hero, which should come as little surprise given how well DC has always worked within animation, a format that allows for so many creative possibilities.
Why animation gave Batman more freedom
Live-action Batman films are limited by many factors that animated films do not share, and animation is usually backed by far greater creative freedom. That said, Mask of the Phantasm is not the only Batman film with a dark tone or one that shows Bruce Wayne's inner struggle, but it is the one that portrays his humanity most exceptionally.
Although Nolan's film remains, without question, the most venerated entry in Batman's filmography, Mask of the Phantasm managed to capture the essence of the Caped Crusader with even greater success. Part of the reason it isn't ranked at the same level is likely that it is far less well known. Even so, it's clear that shouldn't be the case. The film is available to stream for subscribers of Prime Video.
