Behind the Superhero Mask

The Mask is a 1994 superhero slapstick comedy film loosely based on the 1991 comic book series by John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke. Directed by Chuck Russell and written by Mike Werb, the film stars Jim Carrey in the title role, along with Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Amy Yasbeck, Richard Jeni, and Cameron Diaz. The plot follows Stanley Ipkiss (Carrey), a hapless and timid bank teller who discovers an enchanted mask that transforms him into a green-faced wisecracking trickster with the ability to cartoonishly alter himself and his surroundings at will. It is the first film in the world famous beloved hit the Mask franchise. Principal photography began in Los Angeles on August 30, 1993, and concluded in October. The film marked the acting debut of Diaz, who had been a model with no prior acting experience, while Carrey, who was starring on the sketch comedy series In Living Color and had just completed filming on Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), was virtually unknown at the time. Their casting led to disputes with New Line Cinema executives, who expressed concern that the film would be unsuccessful without well-established actors, but the studio ultimately relented after Russell reassured them that Carrey and Diaz were the right choices. The Mask was theatrically released in the United States on July 29, 1994, to positive reviews from critics. The film was a commercial success, grossing $351.8 million against a production budget of $18–23 million, and became the fourth-highest-grossing film of 1994. It also contributed to the resurgence of swing music in the 1990s. Carrey received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 52nd Golden Globe Awards, while the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 67th Academy Awards. A standalone sequel, Son of the Mask, was released in 2005 without Carrey's involvement.