# Batman & Robin (film)
**Batman & Robin** is a 1997 American superhero film directed by [Joel Schumacher](https://www.edgepedia.org/joel-schumacher), the fourth and final installment of the Warner Bros. Batman film series that began in 1989. It stars [George Clooney](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-clooney) as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Arnold Schwarzenegger as [Mr. Freeze](https://www.edgepedia.org/mr-freeze), Chris O'Donnell as Robin, Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy, and Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, and follows the three heroes as they defend Gotham City from Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy.[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/) • [2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60655) Released on June 20, 1997, it was a critical failure and a box-office disappointment that led Warner Bros. to cancel a planned sequel and leave the franchise dormant for eight years.[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | June 20, 1997 (wide, Warner Bros.); Los Angeles premiere June 12, 1997[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-and-Robin) • [4](https://movie.guru/batman-and-robin-movie-review) |
| Director / writer | Joel Schumacher; screenplay and story by Akiva Goldsman[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/) |
| Principal cast | George Clooney (Batman/Bruce Wayne), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Mr. Freeze/Dr. Victor Fries), Chris O'Donnell (Robin/Dick Grayson), Uma Thurman (Poison Ivy/Dr. Pamela Isley), Alicia Silverstone (Batgirl/Barbara Wilson)[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60655) |
| Box office | $238,317,814 worldwide; $107,325,195 domestic; opening weekend $42,872,605 against a $125,000,000 production budget[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-and-Robin) |
| Critical reception | 11% on Rotten Tomatoes (96 reviews); Metascore 29 on Metacritic; CinemaScore C+ from opening-night audiences[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1077027-batman_and_robin) • [6](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/batman-robin/critic-reviews/) • [4](https://movie.guru/batman-and-robin-movie-review) |
| Razzie Awards | 11 nominations, including Worst Picture; Alicia Silverstone won Worst Supporting Actress[7](https://as.com/meristation/cine/arnold-schwarzenegger-y-uma-thurman-reunidos-casi-tres-decadas-despues-del-estreno-de-batman-y-robin-n/) |
| Aftermath | Planned sequel *Batman Unchained* canceled; no Batman film followed until *Batman Begins* in 2005[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and characters
The cryogenic scientist Mr. Freeze wants to turn [Gotham City](https://www.edgepedia.org/gotham-city) into a frozen wasteland. Poison Ivy, a botanist seeking revenge after a toxic run-in with a [Wayne Enterprises](https://www.edgepedia.org/wayne-enterprises) scientist, has designs on Mr. Freeze, while his attention is fixed on his own schemes. With the addition of Batgirl, the dynamic duo becomes a trio.[8](https://www.dc.com/movies/batman-and-robin-1997) The film also features [Michael Gough](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-gough) as Alfred Pennyworth and Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, both reprising their roles from earlier entries in the series.[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60655)
## Production and casting
After the commercial success of *Batman Forever* (1995), Warner Bros. moved quickly toward a sequel. [Val Kilmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/val-kilmer), who had clashed with director Joel Schumacher during the filming of *Batman Forever*, was let out of his contract and replaced by the television actor George Clooney.[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/) Chris O'Donnell, who returned as Robin, later attributed the film's problems to the studio's haste: Warner Bros. had previously waited three years between sequels, but after *Batman Forever* became a hit it commissioned another one immediately, and in O'Donnell's account the production "just was not" working and "got very campy."[9](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/chris-odonnell-explained-where-batman-and-robin-went-wrong-i-still-love-it-schumacher-dc)
The film was planned as an updated take on the campy 1960s *Batman* television series starring [Adam West](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-west).[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/) Schumacher's two Batman films are widely described as playing up a camp, homoerotic sensibility through the infamous nipple suits, codpieces, and camera emphasis on the heroes' bodies, a choice that angered many fans and commentators.[10](https://mediarep.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/19cb2fad-c0ab-44e1-9769-95b2da4bc2d0/content) Schumacher himself later joked about the film's reputation in gay culture, saying he had never thought of it as an important moment in gay cinema but would take the label.[11](https://www.gq.com/story/joel-schumacher-batman-and-robin)
## Reception
Critics reviewed the film harshly. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds an 11% approval rating, with the site's critics consensus calling it a "frantic and mindless movie that's too jokey to care much for."[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1077027-batman_and_robin) Its Metacritic score of 29 falls in the "generally unfavorable" range, with 52% of the 21 collected reviews negative.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/batman-robin/critic-reviews/) Opening-night audiences gave it a C+ CinemaScore.[4](https://movie.guru/batman-and-robin-movie-review) At the Razzie Awards the film received 11 nominations, including Worst Picture, and [Alicia Silverstone](https://www.edgepedia.org/alicia-silverstone) won Worst Supporting Actress for her role as Batgirl.[7](https://as.com/meristation/cine/arnold-schwarzenegger-y-uma-thurman-reunidos-casi-tres-decadas-despues-del-estreno-de-batman-y-robin-n/)
Some reviewers found partial virtues. Janet Maslin of *The New York Times* wrote that Schumacher "piles on the flashy showmanship and keeps the film as big, bold, noisy and mindlessly overwhelming as possible."[6](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/batman-robin/critic-reviews/) Roger Ebert granted that the film, like the first three in the series, was "wonderful to look at," while judging that it had "nothing authentic at its core."[6](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/batman-robin/critic-reviews/)
## Box office
The film opened to $42,872,605 in its first weekend, 39.9% of its eventual domestic total, in 2,934 theaters.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-and-Robin) Its legs were weak: the second weekend fell 63%, and the domestic total settled at $107,325,195, with $130,992,619 international, for a worldwide gross of $238,317,814 against a production budget of $125,000,000, about 1.9 times the budget.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-and-Robin) It ranked as the number 12 film at the 1997 box office.[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/) The steep drop after the opening was attributed to the critical panning and poor word of mouth.[12](https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send%3Faccession%3Dmiami1249507295%26disposition%3Dinline)
## Aftermath and legacy
The film's failure ended the run of the Burton/Schumacher series. A sequel already in development, titled *Batman Unchained* (long misreported as *Batman Triumphant*), was canceled, and the Batman film franchise lay dormant for eight years until [Christopher Nolan](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-nolan)'s *Batman Begins* (2005) rebooted it.[1](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/) Commentators have credited the film's failure with pushing studios toward higher standards for franchise filmmaking, including the hiring of directors such as [Sam Raimi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-raimi) for *Spider-Man* and Nolan for *The Dark Knight*.[13](https://time.com/6151792/all-the-batman-movies-ranked/)
In later years the film developed a cult following. Its camp tone, color-coded production design, and quotable dialogue have made it a recurring object of ironic and affectionate reappraisal; a 2021 Guardian retrospective argued the film deserved reconsideration, and [Chris O'Donnell](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-odonnell) has noted that its camp factor is part of why it has many fans today.[14](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/aug/18/batman-robin-time-to-revisit-joel-schumachers-maligned-silly-and-endlessly-quotable-film) • [9](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/chris-odonnell-explained-where-batman-and-robin-went-wrong-i-still-love-it-schumacher-dc) George Clooney has repeatedly apologized for the film in the years since its release.[15](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-batman-movies/) The film was reissued theatrically as a 4K restoration in the United Kingdom in 2019 and again in 2024 as part of a "Batman 85" series.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-and-Robin)
## References
1. [Batman & Robin (1997), Batman-On-Film](https://batman-on-film.com/batman-films/batman-robin-1997/)
2. [Batman & Robin (1997), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60655)
3. [Batman & Robin (1997), The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-and-Robin)
4. [Batman & Robin (1997), movie.guru](https://movie.guru/batman-and-robin-movie-review)
5. [Batman & Robin, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1077027-batman_and_robin)
6. [Batman & Robin critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/batman-robin/critic-reviews/)
7. [Arnold Schwarzenegger y Uma Thurman reunidos casi tres décadas después del estreno de 'Batman y Robin', AS Meristation](https://as.com/meristation/cine/arnold-schwarzenegger-y-uma-thurman-reunidos-casi-tres-decadas-despues-del-estreno-de-batman-y-robin-n/)
8. [Batman & Robin (1997), DC.com](https://www.dc.com/movies/batman-and-robin-1997)
9. [Chris O'Donnell Explained Where Batman & Robin Went Wrong, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/chris-odonnell-explained-where-batman-and-robin-went-wrong-i-still-love-it-schumacher-dc)
10. [Queer(ing) popular culture, mediarep](https://mediarep.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/19cb2fad-c0ab-44e1-9769-95b2da4bc2d0/content)
11. [Joel Schumacher on Batman & Robin, GQ](https://www.gq.com/story/joel-schumacher-batman-and-robin)
12. [Why So Serious (OhioLINK ETD)](https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send%3Faccession%3Dmiami1249507295%26disposition%3Dinline)
13. [All the Batman Movies, Ranked, Time](https://time.com/6151792/all-the-batman-movies-ranked/)
14. [Batman & Robin: time to revisit Joel Schumacher's maligned film, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/aug/18/batman-robin-time-to-revisit-joel-schumachers-maligned-silly-and-endlessly-quotable-film)
15. [The best Batman movies, ranked, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-batman-movies/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Superhero and comic-franchise film entries › Comic films before 2000*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license