August 29, 1939 – June 22, 2020 New York City, New York 80 years old
“I think I’m one of the luckiest people that ever lived. I got my dream. I got it so much bigger than even I could have dreamed it.”
— Joel Schumacher
Even if you somehow made it through your life without seeing a single Joel Schumacher film, you knew his name. The prolific director would easily make a list of the top 20 film directors of all the time. Yes, we would be panned for his directing of “Batman & Robin,” even being nominated for Worst Director at that year’s Razzie Awards. But before that, he made “Batman Forever,” which is always remembered as a positive installment in the series. He could deliver career-making films like “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Falling Down,” and turn heads with lesser known films like “The Number 23,” which was my personal favorite, and “8MM,” with Nicolas Cage and Joaquin Phoenix. He worked with Keifer Sutherland throughout his career, with “The Lost Boys,” “Flatliners,” and even “Phone Booth.” Joel Schumacher is gone, but never forgotten.
FAVORITE FILM
“The Number 23” (2007)
LAST FILM SEEN
“Flatliners” (1990)
BEST SUPERHERO FILM
“Batman Forever” (1995)
BIGGEST AWARD WIN
Distinguished Collaborator Award at 2011 Costume Designers Guild Awards
JOEL SCHUMACHER’S FILMOGRAPHY
DIRECTOR
1981
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
1983
D.C. Cab
1985
St. Elmo’s Fire
1987
The Lost Boys
1989
Cousins
1990
Flatliners
1991
Dying Young
1993
Falling Down
1994
The Client
1995
Batman Forever
1996
A Time to Kill
1997
Batman & Robin
1999
8MM
1999
Flawless
2000
Tigerland
2002
Bad Company
2002
Phone Booth
2003
Veronica Guerin
2004
The Phantom of the Opera
2007
The Number 23
2009
Blood Creek
2010
Twelve
2011
Trespass
PRODUCER
1995
The Babysitter
Executive Producer
1999
8MM
Producer
1999
Flawless
Producer
2000
Gossip
Executive Producer
WRITER
1976
Sparkle
—
1976
Car Wash
Written by
1978
The Wiz
Screenplay by
1983
D.C. Cab
Story | Written by
1985
St. Elmo’s Fire
Written by
1999
Flawless
Written by
2004
The Phantom of the Opera
Screenplay by
2012
Sparkle
Story by
JOEL SCHUMACHER‘S TELEVISION
DIRECTOR
1974
Virginia Hill
Television movie
1979
Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill
Television movie
1988
INXS: Kick: The Video Flick – “Devil Inside”
Video short documentary
1992
2000 Malibu Road
5 Episodes
1993
Lenny Kravitz: Heaven Help – European Version
Video short
1994
Seal: Kiss from a Rose, Version 1
Video short
2004
I’m Only Looking: The Best of INXS – “Devil Inside”