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IMDbPro

Joel Schumacher(1939-2020)

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Joel Schumacher at an event for Tigerland (2000)
Can a Batman movie be directed by anybody? Not necessarily. Let's travel through the lens to break down what it takes to make a Caped Crusader film, what chops director Matt Reeves will need for his upcoming take on 'The Batman,' and how he measures up to past Batman directors Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, and Joel Schumacher.
Play clip5:10
'The Batman': How Will Director Matt Reeves Reboot the Caped Crusader?
3 Videos
89 Photos
Joel Schumacher was an American film director, film producer, screenwriter and fashion designer from New York City. He rose to fame in the 1980s for directing the coming-of-age drama "St. Elmo's Fire" (1985), and the vampire-themed horror film "The Lost Boys" (1987). In the 1990s, he worked on two controversial superhero films "Batman Forever" (1995) and "Batman & Robin" (1997). His final high-profile film was "The Phantom of the Opera" (2004). It was an adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical, rather than the original novel. Towards the end of his career, Schumacher primarily worked on low-profile films with small budgets.
BornAugust 29, 1939
DiedJune 22, 2020(80)
BornAugust 29, 1939
DiedJune 22, 2020(80)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 9 wins & 10 nominations

Photos89

Sidney Lumet and Joel Schumacher in The Wiz (1978)
Sidney Lumet, Joel Schumacher, and Rob Cohen in The Wiz (1978)
Joel Schumacher and Rob Cohen
Joel Schumacher in The Wiz (1978)
Joel Schumacher in Charlie Rose (1991)
Joel Schumacher and Eigil Bryld in House of Cards (2013)
Kevin Spacey, Joel Schumacher, and Nathan Darrow in House of Cards (2013)
Joel Schumacher in House of Cards (2013)
Keanu Reeves and Joel Schumacher in Side by Side (2012)
Joel Schumacher and Colin Farrell in Tigerland (2000)
Joel Schumacher in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Joel Schumacher in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Known for

Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The Phantom of the Opera
7.2
  • Director
  • 2004
George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone, Uma Thurman, and Chris O'Donnell in Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman & Robin
3.7
  • Director
  • 1997
Forest Whitaker, Katie Holmes, Colin Farrell, and Radha Mitchell in Phone Booth (2002)
Phone Booth
7.1
  • Director
  • 2002
Michael Douglas in Falling Down (1993)
Falling Down
7.6
  • Director
  • 1993

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Director

  • Kevin Spacey in House of Cards (2013)
    House of Cards
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • The Killing Floor: Star Baby
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2012
  • Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman in Trespass (2011)
    Trespass
    • Director
    • 2011
  • Man in the Mirror (2011)
    Man in the Mirror
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2011
  • 50 Cent and Chace Crawford in Twelve (2010)
    Twelve
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Blood Creek (2009)
    Blood Creek
    • Director
    • 2009
  • Choose or Lose
    • Director
    • TV Special
    • 2008
  • The Number 23 (2007)
    The Number 23
    • Director
    • 2007
  • Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
    The Phantom of the Opera
    • Director
    • 2004
  • I'm Only Looking: The Best of INXS (2004)
    I'm Only Looking: The Best of INXS
    • Director (video Devil Inside)
    • Video
    • 2004
  • Cate Blanchett in Veronica Guerin (2003)
    Veronica Guerin
    • Director
    • 2003
  • Forest Whitaker, Katie Holmes, Colin Farrell, and Radha Mitchell in Phone Booth (2002)
    Phone Booth
    • Director
    • 2002
  • Promotional Poster
    Bad Company
    • Director
    • 2002
  • Colin Farrell in Tigerland (2000)
    Tigerland
    • Director
    • 2000
  • Bush: Letting the Cables Sleep (1999)
    Bush: Letting the Cables Sleep
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 1999

Writer

  • Whitney Houston, CeeLo Green, Carmen Ejogo, Mike Epps, Derek Luke, Tika Sumpter, and Jordin Sparks in Sparkle (2012)
    Sparkle
    • story
    • 2012
  • Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
    The Phantom of the Opera
    • screenplay
    • 2004
  • Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Flawless (1999)
    Flawless
    • written by
    • 1999
  • St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
    St. Elmo's Fire
    • written by
    • 1985
  • Code Name: Foxfire (1985)
    Code Name: Foxfire
    • created by
    • story
    • creator
    • TV Series
    • 1985
  • D.C. Cab (1983)
    D.C. Cab
    • screenplay by
    • story by
    • 1983
  • Now We're Cookin'
    • written by
    • TV Movie
    • 1983
  • Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill (1979)
    Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill
    • written by
    • TV Movie
    • 1979
  • The Wiz (1978)
    The Wiz
    • screenplay
    • 1978
  • Car Wash (1976)
    Car Wash
    • written by
    • 1976
  • Sparkle (1976)
    Sparkle
    • screenplay by
    • story by
    • 1976
  • Virginia Hill (1974)
    Virginia Hill
    • teleplay by
    • TV Movie
    • 1974

Producer

  • Joel Schumacher, Mark Marabella, Lori Siegel, Taso Mikroulis, Jenilyn Rodriguez, Leila Jean Davis, Zach P. Golden, and Randi Sloane in Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors (2015)
    Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors
    • executive producer
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2015
  • Kate Hudson, Joshua Jackson, James Marsden, Norman Reedus, and Lena Headey in Gossip (2000)
    Gossip
    • executive producer
    • 2000
  • Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Flawless (1999)
    Flawless
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Nicolas Cage and Jenny Powell in 8MM (1999)
    8MM
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Alicia Silverstone in The Babysitter (1995)
    The Babysitter
    • executive producer
    • 1995
  • Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Beals, and Lisa Hartman in 2000 Malibu Road (1992)
    2000 Malibu Road
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1992
  • Johnny Depp, Beverly D'Angelo, and Eric Roberts in Slow Burn (1986)
    Slow Burn
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1986
  • Code Name: Foxfire (1985)
    Code Name: Foxfire
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1985
  • Now We're Cookin'
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1983

Videos3

'The Batman': How Will Director Matt Reeves Reboot the Caped Crusader?
Clip 5:10
'The Batman': How Will Director Matt Reeves Reboot the Caped Crusader?
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:03
Official Trailer
30 A-Listers Who Passed on 'A Star Is Born'
Video 2:51
30 A-Listers Who Passed on 'A Star Is Born'

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
  • Born
    • August 29, 1939
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • June 22, 2020
    • New York City, New York, USA(cancer)
  • Parents
      Marian Schumacher (Kantor)
  • Other works
    Directed INXS music video "Devil Inside" (1988).
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Portrayals
    • 13 Interviews
    • 5 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He is a lifelong Batman fan and wanted to adapt Frank Miller's famous ''Batman: Year One'' comic but was forced by producers to make a lighter, more family friendly film.
  • Quotes
    [1997] I felt I disappointed a lot of older fans by being too conscious of the family aspect.... Now, I owe the hardcore fans the Batman movie they would love me to give them.
  • Trademarks
      Scenes in a seedy grocery store (Flatliners (1990), Falling Down (1993), A Time to Kill (1996))

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