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15. The dog is a creation of the filmmakers
Stanley’s dog, Milo, wasn’t in the original comics and was entirely created by the filmmakers for the movie. This lovable sidekick quickly became an iconic part of The Mask's charm. | © New Line Cinema
14. The movie was Jim Carrey's biggest success
Out of Jim Carrey’s three starring roles in 1994, The Mask was his biggest success, grossing $351.6 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. It outperformed his other hits that year, including Dumb and Dumber, making it his highest-grossing film of the year. | © New Line Cinema
13. The Mask holds an Oscar nomination
The Mask earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, though it lost to Forrest Gump. Jim Carrey also received a Golden Globe nomination, while the film ironically earned a Razzie nomination for Worst New Star. | © New Line Cinema
12. There is an animated series based on the movie
Given that The Mask is practically a living cartoon, it inspired an animated series that aired 54 episodes on CBS from 1995 to 1997. Voiced by Rob Paulsen, Stanley Ipkiss made his animated debut, and in the final episode, Ace Ventura made a cameo. | © New Line Cinema
11. A sequel was planned for The Mask
After The Mask’s success, a sequel was planned, even offering a cameo contest through Nintendo Power. But when Jim Carrey dropped out, the project fell apart, and Son of the Mask flopped, earning a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and becoming a notorious sequel failure. | © New Line Cinema
10. Big names were considered for Stanley Ipkiss
Big names like Nicolas Cage, Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Matthew Broderick were all considered for The Mask. While each actor could have brought their unique touch, Carrey’s perfect blend of vulnerability and manic energy ultimately made him the ideal choice. | © New Line Cinema
9. The movie has references to Alka-Seltzer
When the Mask swallows a bomb and exclaims, “That’s a spicy meatball!”, which is actually a playful nod to an old Alka-Seltzer heartburn relief commercial. This quirky reference adds an extra layer of humor for those who recognize the classic ad. | © New Line Cinema
8. Jim Carrey’s improvisation significantly contributed to the success of the movie
Improvisation from Jim Carrey played a major role in The Mask's success, as the most iconic moments came straight from his creativity. One of the most famous, his catchphrase "Ssssssssmokin'!!!", wasn’t in the script but was improvised on set. | © New Line Cinema
7. The Mask is connected to Ghostbusters
The Mask shares an interesting connection with Ghostbusters through its use of the iconic firehouse. The garage where Stanley Ipkiss fixes his car was filmed in the same location as the Ghostbusters' headquarters, proving how Hollywood cleverly repurposes locations across different movies. | © New Line Cinema
6. Carrey practiced speaking with the cumbersome prosthetics
Jim Carrey went the extra mile to perfect The Mask by practising how to speak with the cumbersome prosthetics. His dedication significantly paid off, allowing him to speak clearly while maintaining the exaggerated look, even though the entire makeup process took about four hours each day. | © New Line Cinema
5. The Mask was Cameron Diaz' debut
Cameron Diaz made her big-screen debut in The Mask, landing the female lead role after a costume director suggested her to director Chuck Russell. This was her first-ever movie role, and she quickly became a star after her audition. | © New Line Cinema
4. Jim Carrey had fans working on the film
Although Jim Carrey wasn’t a Hollywood star when The Mask was being cast, he had some key supporters, such as New Line executive Mike DeLuca and director Chuck Russell. They helped Carrey secure the role over other contenders like Nicolas Cage and Matthew Broderick. | © New Line Cinema
3. The movie is based on a comic
The Mask originally started as a comic by Doug Mahnke and John Arcudi for Dark Horse Comics, but the tone of this movie is significantly different. While the comic is dark, violent, and aimed at mature audiences, the movie took a lighthearted, more comedic turn. | © New Line Cinema
2. The screenwriter came from an unexpected place
The screenwriter of The Mask, Mike Werb, came from an unexpected place. Russell chose him after liking his script for a Curious George movie. Werb quickly transformed the script into the wild comedy we know, writing his first draft in just six weeks and securing the green light in less than two months. | © New Line Cinema
1. The Mask was planned to be a horror franchise
Originally, The Mask was intended to be a horror franchise, with one of the early concepts featuring a mask-maker who used faces from corpses to turn teenagers into zombies. It’s hard to imagine this chilling idea turning into the comedy movie we know today. | © New Line Cinema
