History YMMV / Fantomas

!!''Film/{{Fantomas}}'' movies:

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The '60s movie trilogy was bizarrely popular in Latin America (especially Cuba) and the former Soviet Union. And, just like most of the films with Creator/LouisDeFunes in the place, were very popular in West Germany (and still fondly looked at in Germany nowadays).

!!''Literature/{{Fantomas}}'' novels:

* CompleteMonster: [[VillainProtagonist Fantômas himself]] is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he could be anyone in the city and one would never know it before he slit their throat. Through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe, as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and kills his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting [[HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve]]. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways, from strangling, stabbing, and poisoning; to more elaborate {{death trap}}s such as chambers filling with sand; to even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner.

* CompleteMonster: [[VillainProtagonist Fantômas himself]] is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he could be anyone in the city and one would never know it before he slit their throat. Through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe, as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and kills his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting [[HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve]]. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways, from strangling, stabbing and poisoning; to more elaborate {{death trap}}s such as chambers filling with sand; to even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner.

* CompleteMonster: [[VillainProtagonist Fantômas himself]] is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat]]. Through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe, as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and kills his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting [[HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve]]. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways, from strangling, stabbing and poisoning, to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, to even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner.

* CompleteMonster: [[VillainProtagonist Fantômas himself]] is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat]]. Through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and kills his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting [[HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve]]. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner.

* CompleteMonster: [[VillainProtagonist Fantômas himself]] is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat]]. Through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third, novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and kills his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting [[HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve]]. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner.

* CompleteMonster: Fantômas, the VillainProtagonist, is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat.]] Through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third novel, it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and even murders his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting the HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner. Creator/AlanMoore once summed up Fantômas well in ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'': "[[{{Dracula}} The Count had once been human.]] Fantômas was a ''thing.'' He had always been a thing."

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The '60s movie trilogy was bizarrely popular in Latin America (especially Cuba) and the former Soviet Union.

* {{Camp}}: The '60s movies have not aged well: De Funès is over the top, Fantômas looks silly in his greenish blue mask and the fight scenes are quite bad. To be fair the film is intentionally lighter than the books. Also, it's part of De Funès' over-the-top acting that makes him so great. It actually works quite well in comedic scenes.

* CriticProof: While the films were not critically praised ([[{{Sequelitis}} the sequels especially]]) [[CriticProof they achieved popular success]] in France.

* CriticalDissonance: While the films were not critically praised ([[{{Sequelitis}} the sequels especially]]) [[CriticProof they achieved popular success]] in France.

* CriticProof: While the films were not critically praised ([[{{Sequelitis}} the sequels especially]]) they achieved popular success]] in France, [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff and also enjoyed success in Latin America and the Soviet Union]].

* OlderThanTheyThink: In terms of over-the-top SpyFiction, ''Fantômas Unleashed'' predated ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'''s tobacco-gun and VolcanoLair by two years.

* CompleteMonster: Fantômas, the VillainProtagonist, is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat.]] Through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third, novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and even murders his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting the HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner. Creator/AlanMoore once summed up Fantômas well in ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'': "[[{{Dracula}} The Count had once been human.]] Fantômas was a ''thing.'' He had always been a thing."

* CompleteMonster: Fantômas, the VillainProtagonist, is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat.]] through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third, novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror," Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and even murders his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting the HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner. Creator/AlanMoore once summed up Fantômas well in ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'': "[[{{Dracula}} The Count had once been human.]] Fantômas was a ''thing.'' He had always been a thing."

* CompleteMonster: Fantômas, the VillainProtagonist is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat.]] through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third, novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror", Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and even murders his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting the HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner. Creator/AlanMoore once summed up Fantômas well in ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'': "[[{{Dracula}} The Count had once been human.]] Fantômas was a ''thing.'' He had always been a thing."

* CompleteMonster: Fantômas, the VillainProtagonist is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat.]] through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if "Fantômas" refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third, novel it is clear there is only one Fantômas. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the "Lord of Terror", Fantômas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantômas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and even murders his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantômas's purpose. Fantômas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting the HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve. Fantômas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague infested rats on an ocean liner. Creator/AlanMoore once summed up Fantômas well in ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'': "[[{{Dracula}} The Count had once been human.]] Fantômas was a ''thing.'' He had always been a thing."

* CompleteMonster: Fantomas, the VillainProtagonist is a terrifying sociopath and MasterOfDisguise who holds all of Paris in terror as he [[ParanoiaFuel could be anyone in the city and you'd never know it before he slit your throat.]] through the first novel, his activities are so extensive it is unclear if 'Fantomas' refers to a criminal network acting together, but by the end of the third, novel it is clear there is only one Fantomas. Known as the 'Man Of A Thousand Faces' and the 'Lord of Terror,' Fantomas commits murder after murder, for personal power, wealth or simply [[ForTheEvulz his own amusement]]. Not even his own children are safe as Fantomas uses his son and daughter as pawns in his schemes and even murders his own son's girlfriend to twist him to Fantomas's purpose. Fantomas routinely frames the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes, and puts special emphasis in mentally tormenting the HeroAntagonist Inspector Juve. Fantomas also loves committing murder in elaborate ways: from strangling, stabbing and poisoning to more elaborate death traps such as chambers filling with sand, or even unleashing plague infested rats on an ocean liner. AlanMoore once summed up Fantomas well in ''TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' [[{{Dracula}} "The Count had once been human."]] Fantomas was a ''thing.'' He had always been a thing."

* CompleteMonster: The original French version of Fantômas is without qualms, and seemingly has no boundaries or limits he won't cross. From simple murder to releasing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner, exposing 500 people to a rather cruel death. And he does it all seemingly for the sheer hell of it. Not even his own children are safe from his bloodthirsty ways.

* {{Camp}}: The '60s movies have not aged well: De Funès is over the top, Fantômas looks silly in his greenish blue mask and the fight scenes are quite bad. To be fair the film is noted for being intentionally much lighter than the books. Also, it's part of De Funès' over-the-top acting that makes him so great. It actually works quite well in comedic scenes.

* {{Camp}}: The 60's movies have not aged well: De Funès is over the top, Fantômas looks silly in his greenish blue mask and the fight scenes are quite bad. To be fair the film is noted for being intentionally much lighter than the books.
** Also, it's part of De Funès' over the top acting that makes him so great. It actually works quite well in comedic scenes.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The 60's movie trilogy was bizarrely popular in Latin America (especially Cuba) and the former Soviet Union.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The movie trilogy was bizarrely popular in Latin America (especially Cuba) and the former Soviet Union.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The movie trilogy was particularly liked in Latin America (especially Cuba) and the former Soviet Union.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The movie trilogy was particularly liked in Latin America and Soviet Union.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The movie trilogy was particularly liked in the Soviet Union.

!!Tropes (from either version):
* CompleteMonster: The original French version of Fantomas is without qualms, and seemingly has no boundaries or limits he won't cross. From simple murder to releasing plague-infested rats on an ocean liner, exposing 500 people to a rather cruel death. And he does it all seemingly for the sheer hell of it. Not even his own children are safe from his bloodthirsty ways.