History Trivia / ThePhantom1996

* BoxOfficeBomb: Budget, $45 million. Box office, $17,323,326. One of three period superhero films in the early-mid 90s to FadeOut at the box office, with the other two being ''Film/TheRocketeer'' and ''Film/TheShadow''. Its failure has been blamed on its LostInMediasRes script but it developed a cult following once it hit home video.

* BoxOfficeBomb: Budget, $45 million. Box office, $17,323,326. One of three [[Film/TheShadow period]] [[Film/TheRocketeer superhero]] films in the early-mid 90s to FadeOut at the box office. Its failure has been blamed on its LostInMediasRes script but it developed a cult following once it hit home video.

* BoxOfficeBomb: Budget, $45 million. Box office, $17,323,326. One of three [[Film/TheShadow period]] [[Film/TheRocketeer superhero]] films in the early-mid 90s to fade out at the box office. Its failure has been blamed on its LostInMediasRes script but it developed a cult following once it hit home video.

** When the film was in development in the Eighties, Creator/SergioLeone expressed in directing the film adaptation (in addition to directing a film adaptation of ''ComicBook/MandrakeTheMagician''). During this stage, Creator/DolphLundgren was considered to star.

** Creator/BillyZane is also a big fan, having been introduced to the comics while filming ''Film/DeadCalm''.
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: When the film was in development in the Eighties, Creator/SergioLeone expressed in directing the film adaptation (in addition to directing a film adaptation of ''ComicBook/MandrakeTheMagician''). During this stage, Creator/DolphLundgren was considered to star.

* StillbornFranchise: This was planned to be the first of a trilogy. After the film bombed, the sequels were cancelled.
** Around 2008, due to the strong performance of the movie on video sales, a sequel was planned to be produced with Creator/BillyZane, Creator/CatherineZetaJones and Creator/KristySwanson reprising their roles. A reboot instead was planned with Sam Worthington in the lead role, but plans for this fell through as well.

** Creator/MinnieDriver was originally cast as Sala but dropped out just before filming began. Creator/JenniferLopez and Creator/JennyMcCarthy auditioned for the role.

** Production of the film was based at Warner Bros Movie World in Australia, with parts of Queensland including its capital city Brisbane doubling for various US locations.

* StarDerailingRole: After the Box Office failure of this, Creator/KristySwanson found herself getting less work in films and turned to television instead.

* DyeingForYourArt: Billy Zane trained for over a year to be fit enough to play the Phantom. A Batman-like costume with fake muscles was reportedly made, but he had bulked up so much by the time filming began that he didn't need it. He also shaved his head to allow the cowl to fit as close as possible - meaning that all scenes of him out of costume had to be filmed first.

* PromotedFanboy: Simon Wincer was a fan of ''The Phantom'' since childhood before directing the film.
* StarDerailingRole: After the Box Office failure of this, Kristy Swanson found herself getting less work in films and turned to television instead.

** When the film was in development in the Eighties, Creator/SergioLeone expressed in directing the film adaptation (in addition to directing a film adaptation of ''ComicBook/MandrakeTheMagician'').
** Creator/JoelSchumacher and Creator/JoeDante were offered to direct the film.

** More scenes were shot developing Kit's relationship with Diana, but cut to maintain a faster pace.
** Minnie Driver was originally cast as Sala but dropped out just before filming began.
** Around 2008, due to the strong performance of the movie on video sales, a sequel was planned to be produced with Billy Zane, Catherine Zeta Jones and Kristy Swanson reprising their roles. A reboot instead was planned with Sam Worthington in the lead role, but plans for this fell through as well.

* FollowTheLeader: This movie came out in a wave of noir-esque pulpy superhero films following the success of Tim Burton's ''Film/{{Batman}}''.

* CaliforniaDoubling: Production of the film was based at Warner Bros Movie World in Australia, with parts of Queensland including its capital city Brisbane doubling for various US locations.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: When the film was in development in the Eighties, Creator/SergioLeone expressed in directing the film adaptation (in addition to directing a film adaptation of ''ComicBook/MandrakeTheMagician'').

* CultClassic

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: When the film was in development in the Eighties, Creator/SergioLeone expressed in directing the film adaptation (in addition to directing a film adaptation of ''ComicBook/MandrakTheMagician'').

* WhatCouldHaveBeen:

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/BruceCampbell was the one originally sought for the role, but studio execs felt he wasn't a big enough box office draw, so they chose Creator/BillyZane instead.