Fantômas (pronounced [fɑ̃toˈmas]) is a French silent crime film serial directed by Louis Feuillade, based on the novel of the same name.

[1] The five episodes, initially released throughout 1913–14, were restored under the direction of Jacques Champreaux and re-released in 2006.

[2] In a rave review from a 1914 issue of the French journal Chronique cinématographique, critic Maurice Raynal wrote that "there is nothing in this involved, compact, and concentrated film but explosive genius".

[citation needed] In his contemporary critical review of the Fantômas serial, Peter Schofer observed that contrary to some modern understandings of the series, Fantômas was not interpreted by its audience as a suspense film.

Based on a previously published and widely read newspaper serial, audiences of the time were already extensively familiar with the plot, characters, and outcome of the story, making the film much more about how the story might develop as opposed to what might happen next.