Claim: Jim Carrey has worked with people.

The Mask is a 1994 American superhero fantasy comedy film directed by Charles Russell , produced by Bob Engelman , and written by Mike Werb , loosely based on the comic series of the same name distributed by Dark Horse Comics . The film stars Jim Carrey , Peter Greene , Amy Yasbeck , Peter Riegert , Richard Jeni , Ben Stein , Joely Fisher , and Cameron Diaz in her film debut . It revolves around an unlucky bank clerk finding the Mask of Loki that grants him extraordinary cartoon-like superpowers , and causing havoc around an industrial city .   The film was released on July 29 , 1994 by New Line Cinema , becoming a critical and commercial blockbuster , grossing over $ 351.6 million over a $ 23 million budget and receiving positive reviews . It cemented Carrey 's reputation as a dominant actor of the 1990s , and established Diaz long-term as a leading lady . Carrey was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role , and the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects but lost to Forrest Gump .