Matt Reeves’ The Batman has successfully rebooted the franchise again, with Robert Pattinson’s take on the Caped Crusader a hit with audiences and critics. It’s incredible how far the series has come and how versatile it’s been, but let’s take a step back to a time that was less kind to the Batman saga. In 1997, Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin came close to cratering the series, earning terrible reviews and underwhelming box office. So what happened?
In this episode of DC Revisited, we examine how Batman & Robin initially seemed like a sure-fire smash. 1995’s Batman Forever was a huge hit, and a follow-up was quickly put into production. However, the cracks started to show right away, with star Val Kilmer opting out of a follow-up due to poor relations with Schumacher and his wish to focus on his passion project, The Saint. George Clooney was signed as a replacement, while Chris O’Donnell returned as Robin. To play Mr. Freeze, they chose the great Arnold Schwarzenegger, while Uma Thurman would play the movie’s other big bad, Poison Ivy. Alicia Silverstone, then red-hot after starring in Clueless, was signed on to play Batgirl.
Initially, things seemed to be going well, so much so that for a while, it looked like Schumacher and company would jump right into another sequel, Batman Triumphant. But then came the test screenings and early reviews, all of which were toxic. There’s a lot to unpack in this episode of DC Revisited, so strap yourselves in for a deep dive into perhaps the most widely reviled superhero movie ever.
This episode of DC Revisited is written, narrated and edited by Tyler Nichols. Adam Walton produces, while Berge Garabedian is the executive producer. Check out other episodes below and let us know in the comments what you think of Batman & Robin. Is it as bad as they say?