Batman & Robin is considered the worst Batman movie ever made, but Alicia Silverstone and Chris O'Donnell, who played Batgirl and Robin respectively, are philosophical about the film nearly 30 years later.
In 1997, the late Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin pitted George Clooney's Batman against Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze, joined by Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy. The film was panned by critics for its actors' performances and overly campy tone, and underperformed at the box office.
Now, 28 years after the film's release, Alicia Silverstone and Chris O'Donnell talk about their experiences making the film and having to promote it even though they knew it was being panned by critics. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the pair described their difficulty in filming scenes without knowing how special effects would affect them, and then having to go on a press tour with sizzling reporters.
“All of a sudden, you start getting feedback and you realize things are going off the rails,” O'Donnell said. “When this movie came out, there was so much hate for it. It was like, 'Oh my God.'” You want to do your job and promote the movie… I remember one time Joel Schumacher just raised the flag. He was like, 'I'm out. I can't do this anymore. He was heartbroken and a little depressed about it. “
O'Donnell went on to say that “it was a hard thing for all of us to digest,” but now feels that “we were lucky to be in this movie and it was fun to be a part of it. That's the way it is. Some people work out, some people don't.”
Silverstone won a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actress for her performance in “Batgirl,” but now she says her mood has changed.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone, Joel Schumacher, Chris O'Donnell and George Clooney attend the premiere of “Batman & Robin” in Westwood, California on June 12, 1997. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images.
“Batgirl is alive!” she said. “When it came out, I don't think people liked it that much. But then people told me it was their favorite movie. [At least] All my gay friends. It's very campy. “
Last year, Uma Thurman described the lighter Batman & Robin as “one really made for kids.” This is a slightly odd comment given Batman and Robin's notorious obsession with rubber pacifiers.
“I'm not excited about the nipples on the Batsuit,” George Clooney told Rolling Stone in 2014. “You know, you don't really think about it when you put it on… I guess Batman is just cold all the time.”
Batman movies in chronological order
After the failure of Batman & Robin, films based on the Caped Crusader went on hiatus for nearly a decade until Christopher Nolan revived the character with his beloved The Dark Knight Trilogy, in which Christian Bale played Batman. Zack Snyder then rebooted the DC Universe with 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in which Ben Affleck played Batman.
Most recently, Robert Pattinson played Batman in Matt Reeves' epic crime saga, The Batman 2, which will be released on October 1, 2027. Meanwhile, James Gunn is rebooting the DCU again, although he has yet to announce who will play Batman in the upcoming film Brave and the Bold.
Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images.
Wesley is IGN News Director. Find him on Twitter: @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at [email protected] or privately at [email protected].