To many, the boom of comic book movies began when Wesley Snipes first played Blade. To others, it was when the X-Men trilogy was released, and some even date it as late as Iron Man creating the MCU. But, before all of those flagship comic book movie moments, one absolutely bonkers and unhinged comic book movie took the box office by storm and became a cult classic in the years that passed. There are countless action movies that you might not know are based on comic books. But this film wears its comic book influence on its sleeve, even if it made some major changes from the source material. We’re talking about none other than The Mask, starring Jim Carrey, and it’s currently a hit on Netflix.
The Mask was recently added to Netflix, and it’s shooting up the streamer’s weekly chart. At the time of writing, it is the sixth most popular movie on the streamer this week, with K-Pop Demon Hunters continuing to dominate in the top spot. The Mask is one of the best comic book movies that you probably didn’t know was based on a comic book. The comic was created by Mike Richardson and published by Dark Horse, and it’s (somehow) even more bonkers than the movie.
There’s only one person who could convincingly play such a maniacal superhero, and that’s Jim Carrey. The Dumb & Dumber star appeared alongside Cameron Diaz, Peter Greene, Richard Riegert, and Amy Yasbeck, with Chuck Russell directing. There is a deep mythological lore behind the eponymous mask and its origins… but nobody cares about that. The reason people love The Mask is Jim Carrey’s unforgettable performance as Stanley Ipkiss, who gains the loosely defined powers of The Mask, as the official synopsis suggests:
“When timid bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) discovers a magical mask containing the spirit of the Norse god Loki, his entire life changes. While wearing the mask, Ipkiss becomes a supernatural playboy exuding charm and confidence which allows him to catch the eye of local nightclub singer Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz). Unfortunately, under the mask’s influence, Ipkiss also robs a bank, which angers junior crime lord Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene), whose goons get blamed for the heist.”
‘The Mask’ Comic Book Was Far More Violent
Even if you’d read The Mask comic before watching the movie, you’d be forgiven for not connecting the dots between the two. The film made some gigantic deviations from the source material, including its choice of protagonist and the level of violence enacted by The Mask. In the film, Ipkiss’s godlike powers are depicted through a whimsical, PG-13 level of violence. But, in the comics, he’s far more sinister and brutal. Although the major differences between the two means you can watch the film and read the comic and enjoy two wildly different versions of the same story.
The Mask is also one of those movies that people have come to appreciate over time. It was slated by critics upon its release. However, more contemporary reviews have netted it an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Release Date
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July 29, 1994
- Runtime
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101 minutes
- Director
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Chuck Russell
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Stanley Ipkiss / The Mask
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Peter Riegert
Mitch Kellaway
