George Clooney admits he was ‘terrible’ in Batman and Robin

George Clooney takes responsibility for how Batman & Robin turned out and explains why he can poke fun at his performance as the Dark Knight.

As surprising as it may sound, Batman & Robin has its fans, some in the “so bad it’s good” camp and others who like the movie unironically. Still, Joel Schumacher’s campy neon follow-up to 1995’s Batman Forever is considered the lowest point in the franchise’s history.

One man who’s not a fan of it is the star who put the work in as the Caped Crusader, George Clooney. The former ER actor has gone on record saying the sequel ruined Batman at the movies, which it did for a time.

What does George Clooney really think of Batman & Robin?

Clooney went further in a recent GQ interview, including himself and his shortcomings in the myriad of criticisms because otherwise, he thinks he’s not being frank or honest when addressing the censure.

The way the publication puts it, his singular misstep as Batman is something Clooney “cheerfully owns”:

"“The only way you can honestly talk about things is to include yourself and your shortcomings in those things. Like, when I say Batman & Robin’s a terrible film, I always go, ‘I was terrible in it’.”"

Clooney would add “Because I was, number one,” referring to his place atop the call sheet as much as giving an appraisal of his contribution under the cowl. Nothing came together the way it all could have, he says:

"“But also because then it allows you the ability to say, ‘Having said I sucked in it, I can also say that none of these other elements worked, either.’ You know? Lines like ‘Freeze, Freeze!’”"

The cold puns in Batman & Robin are chillingly infamous – from “Let’s kick some ice” to “You’re not sending me to the cooler” – but it’s no joke that the movie’s failure put Batman on ice cinematically for eight years until Warner Bros. and Christopher Nolan rebooted the character in 2005.

Sequels were planned and pitched with the plug inevitably getting pulled every time. Among them were proposed darker fifth installments Batman Triumphant (to be directed by Schumacher) and the twisted Batman: Darknight. 

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Pitches continued to come and go for years. Darren Aronofsky came along with a rejected idea at one point that would have been gritty, grounded, and seen Joker’s Joaquin Phoenix wearing the cape.

The cancellation of Superman Lives starring Nicolas Cage can be blamed too on the lukewarm reception of Batman & Robin. Warner got cold feet and didn’t want to front the money.

All that and two decades hence, writer Akiva Goldsman tried to clear the air this year — perhaps too late — by saying they didn’t set out to make a bad movie.

DC properties have fortunately rebounded theatrically and the Dark Knight undergoes his next reimagining in the Matt Reeves-directed The Batman starring Robert Pattinson, out in 2022.

What do you think of Batman & Robin? Do you share in George Clooney’s opinion? Leave a comment.