Schumacher, Joel (1939– )

US film director and screenwriter. He wrote and directed the ‘Brat Pack’ film St Elmo's Fire (1985), a commercial success but a critical failure. He is most famous for directing the Batman sequels (1995 and 1997) as well as film adaptations of John Grisham novels.

He began his film career as a costume designer and then wrote scripts for films such as Car Wash(1976) and The Wiz (1978). He made his directorial debut with the film The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1980). His other films include The Lost Boys (1987), Flatliners (1990), Dying Young (1991), Falling Down (1993), The Client (1994), Batman Forever (1995), A Time to Kill (1996), Batman & Robin (1997), and Tigerland (2000).