You might remember him as the director of some of the most visually-striking films between the late 1980s and early 2000s, or remember him as the guy who installed nipples in Batman’s costumes. Regardless, one of the most influential filmmakers in modern cinema, Joel Schumacher, has passed away earlier this week.
The veteran director, 80, succumbed to a year-long struggle with cancer in New York City on Monday morning.
Schumacher, who initially began his film career as a costume designer, broke into the scene as a director with The Incredible Shrinking Woman in 1981. Since then, he became somewhat of an influencer in the visual realms of film. Having enjoyed success with the likes of St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), The Lost Boys (1987), and Flatliners (1990), he quickly rose to prominence.
The 1990s were more defining of Schumacher’s achievements, having taken on four John Grisham adaptations, and, more famously, taking over the Batman film franchise from Tim Burton. Starring Val Kilmer, Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997) were what many deemed his zaniest works, with highly-stylised renditions of Batman and his Rogues’ Gallery. Love it or hate it, Schumacher’s Batman run was nothing short of interesting, to say the least.
St. Elmo’s Fire (1985) 
The Lost Boys (1987) 
Batman Forever (1995)
Schumacher’s involvement in feature films waned in the 2010s, with Trespass as his final film in 2011. He still did some directorial work, though, having done two episodes of House of Cards in 2013.
In any case, the entertainment industry was all the richer for Joel Schumacher’s creative lens as a filmmaker. Rest in peace.
Marion has a serious RPG addiction. Sometimes it bleeds into real life; he forgets to sleep because he thinks he has a Witcher’s body clock. Forgive him in advance if he suddenly blurts out terms such as “Mind Flayer” and “Magic Missile”, because never once does he stop thinking about his next Dungeons & Dragons game.
Natalie
