Joel Schumacher, director of two Batman movies and Lost Boys, dies at 80
"A director who was willing to take risks." The veteran filmmaker stepped into the Batman franchise after Tim Burton.
- Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Joel Schumacher
Filmmaker Joel Schumacher, who directed Batman Forever, St. Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys, among other films, has died of cancer at age 80, his representatives confirmed on Monday.
Schumacher stepped in to the Batman franchise after Tim Burton left. While his Batman films were not critically acclaimed, they were box office successes.
Schumacher's two Batman films, 1995's Batman Forever and 1997's Batman & Robin, starred different actors as the hero. Val Kilmer played Batman in Batman Forever, and George Clooney took on the role in Batman & Robin.
Schumacher started in film as a costume designer, and his 1997 Batman & Robin film became infamous for the addition of nipples to George Clooney's Batsuit.
But well before stepping into Gotham City, Schumacher made a name for himself as a director. He had hits with 1985's St. Elmo's Fire, 1987's The Lost Boys and 1990's Flatliners. He also worked as a screenwriter, writing St. Elmo's Fire and other films including Car Wash and The Wiz.
His other films include Phone Booth, Falling Down, the film version of The Phantom of the Opera and two adaptations of John Grisham novels: The Client and A Time to Kill.
Fans and followers remembered Schumacher on social media. "I look over his filmography and I see a director who was willing to take risks," wrote critic Matt Singer. "They didn't always pay off! But we could use more Joel Schumachers these days."
Tweeted writer Amanda Rosenberg, "You cannot deny Joel Schumacher films were a lot of fun and I defy anyone to watch one without saying, "Damn they don't make 'em like they used to!"
RIP Joel Schumacher. I look over his filmography and I see a director who was willing to take risks. They didn’t always pay off! But we could use more Joel Schumachers these days. https://t.co/PQ4DR7j8aH
— Matt Singer (@mattsinger) June 22, 2020
RIP, Joel Schumacher. The Lost Boys will be welcoming you now. Enjoy the other side.https://t.co/2mvmG0e4mH
— John Scalzi (@scalzi) June 22, 2020
Joel Schumacher has died and I know everyone's going to talk about his Batman movies, but I cannot overstate how much I loved St. Elmo's Fire and, even more, The Lost Boys back in the day. RIP, sir.
— Jen Chaney (@chaneyj) June 22, 2020
Joel Schumacher is *so* much more than a ‘Batman director’
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) June 22, 2020
Really sad news about Joel Schumacher, I got to know him well — he was a genuinely lovely man (and a delightful gossip), and regardless of what you think of his Batmans, The Lost Boys, Falling Down, The Client and Tigerland stand as testament to a very fine talent. pic.twitter.com/fSlaaVkDSP
— Ian Nathan (@IanNathan2) June 22, 2020
you cannot deny joel schumacher films were a lot of fun and i defy anyone to watch one without saying "damn they don't make 'em like they used to!"
— Amanda Rosenberg (@AmandaRosenberg) June 22, 2020
John Hughes is the filmmaker most people think of when they think of the quintessential 80s-90s coming-of-age movies. But for my money, it was always Joel Schumacher. THE LOST BOYS, ST. ELMO'S FIRE and FLATLINERS were all classics of my childhood.
— Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) June 22, 2020
In a 2019 interview with New York magazine, Schumacher addressed what it's like to have a critically panned movie become a box-office success, as happened to him numerous times.
"It is the greatest thing that can happen to you," he said. "Because it reminds you who you made the movie for."
