First Knight (1995)
48%RT Audience Score: 31%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Phantom, a film that has been described as “monotonous and juvenile,” “dumbed-down,” and “mostly blasé,” is a relic of the past that fails to capture the foundational spirit of comic book adventure. While Billy Zane’s likable insouciance as the titular character is a bright spot, the film’s tone, central performance, and script all badly need revisions. Perhaps the film would have been better served by embracing its old-school aesthetic with supertitles, narrators, melodramatic music, and cheesy bravado, making it a bold outlier rather than a forgettable casualty. In the end, The Phantom is a film that should be filed away in the back bins of Blockbuster, where it belongs.
If you’re in the mood for a superhero movie that’s so bad it’s good, then The Phantom is the perfect pick. With dialogue that sounds like it was written by a middle schooler and a plot that’s as predictable as the sunrise, this movie is a hilarious throwback to the days when superhero movies were more about cheesy one-liners than gritty realism. Plus, Billy Zane’s abs are a sight to behold. So grab some popcorn, turn off your brain, and enjoy the ride.
Production Company(ies)
Spinal Tap Prod. Goldcrest Films, International,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Llanfair Slate Mine, Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some brutal medieval battles
Year of Release
1995
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:SDDS Dolby SR Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 9, 2010
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, Treat Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones, James Remar, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, directed by Simon Wincer, written by Jeffrey Boam, action, PG, Robert Evans, Alan Ladd Jr., $17.3M box office, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, Godfrey Cheshire, Trevor Johnston, Peter Travers, Kenneth Turan, Lawrence Van Gelder, Eddie Harrison, Mike Massie, Drew Dietsch, Felix Vasquez Jr., Nick Rogers, Barbara Shulgasser, superhero, mystical skulls, pulp, insouciance, likable, one-dimensional, relic, celluloid, astute, old way, foundational spirit, sleek, breezy, Indiana Jones, action violence, profanity
Worldwide gross: $127,600,435
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $250,908,372
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 581
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 27,361,873
US/Canada gross: $37,600,435
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $73,935,986
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 897
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,856,442
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,347,672
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 623
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $55,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $108,149,792
Production budget ranking: 361
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $58,238,663
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $84,519,918
ROI to date (est.): 51%
ROI ranking: 1,146
Kristy Swanson – Diana Palmer
Treat Williams – Xander Drax
Catherine Zeta-Jones – Sala
James Remar – Quill
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa – The Great Kabai Sengh
Director(s)
Simon Wincer
Writer(s)
Jeffrey Boam
Producer(s)
Robert Evans, Alan Ladd Jr.
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (27)
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.
July 7, 2010 | Rating: C
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
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.
March 26, 2009
Godfrey Cheshire
Variety
TOP CRITIC
This belated, albeit decorative adaptation looks tamely second-hand.
June 24, 2006
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
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.
June 6, 2001
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
It’s nice to see some things done the old way.
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The pleasures are familiar, but not the least bit inspired.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2.5/5
Lawrence Van Gelder
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
…a plush film, even if the tone, central performance and script all badly need revisions…
July 3, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
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.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 2/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
If you’re looking for a movie that captures the foundational spirit of comic book adventure, The Phantom is for you.
May 8, 2020
Drew Dietsch
Giant Freakin Robot
A sleek and breezy action film in the vein of “Indiana Jones”…
April 10, 2017
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Maybe “The Phantom” would have been better served betting the house on its old-school aesthetic. Supertitles. Narrators. Melodramatic music. Cheesy? Sure, but bravely so, in a way that would make it a bold outlier rather than a mostly blas casualty.
June 27, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
’90s superhero adventure has action violence, profanity.
April 19, 2016 | Rating: 2/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media…
Plot
After King Arthur of Camelot has fought several wars which has led to peace and justice for his land, he is turning his attention to thoughts of marriage, his chosen one being Lady Guinevere, who has become head of neighboring Leonesse following the death of her father. Peace and justice for Arthur and Guinevere are short lived as Prince Malagant, one of the knights of the round table, wants Camelot for himself and King Arthur deposed. Many in the land follow Malagant, whose quest also involves marauding Leonesse. As the King’s betrothed, Guinevere becomes Malagant’s target in achieving both of his goals. Meanwhile, Lancelot is a free-living peasant who often makes his way through life by demonstrations of his sword fighting prowess. His skill is largely due to his ability to assess his opponents, and not fear dying. On Malagant’s first attempt at abducting Guinevere, Lancelot, by happenstance, is there to save her. He falls in love with her at first sight. Although attracted to the man who saved her, Guinevere cannot think of any other man in the lead up to her marriage to Arthur. Because of his attraction to Guinevere, Lancelot becomes involved in the battles between Malagant and Arthur in Lancelot doing whatever needed to keep Guinevere safe. As these battles brew and as Arthur becomes indebted to Lancelot for saving Guinevere at the possible expense of his own life, Guinevere cannot help but fall for Lancelot, resulting in a romantic triangle comprised of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot, a triangle of which Arthur is unaware.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Billy Zane’s performance as the Phantom is described as “friendly but completely one-dimensional” by critics.
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