The Best Movies Directed by Joel Schumacher

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Updated August 11, 2023 841 votes 144 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies Directed by Joel Schumacher

List of all movies directed by Joel Schumacher ranked from best to worst with photos. Films directed by Joel Schumacher are listed here and include movie posters and Joel Schumacher movie trailers whenever possible. This is a collection of the best movies directed by Joel Schumacher as voted on by film buffs. If you think the greatest Joel Schumacher movie isn't as high as it should be on this list, then make sure to vote so that your opinion of what the top Joel Schumacher film is can be factored into this list. Schumacher was born August 29, 1939 in New York City and died of complications relating to cancer on June 22, 2020. 

From Joel Schumacher's studio films to Joel Schumacher's independent films, this Joel Schumacher filmography keeps tabs on all Joel Schumacher movies, and lets the cream of the crop rise to the top.

This list below has everything from The Lost Boys to Batman & Robin.

All Joel Schumacher director credits are included. This list of every movie that Joel Schumacher has directed can be sorted for specific information such as what genre the Joel Schumacher movie is and which actors starred in the Joel Schumacher film.

Joel Schumacher has been fortunate enough to work with talented actors, including George Clooney and Michael Fassbender.

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  • The Lost Boys
    1

    The Lost Boys

    Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest
    44 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    In The Lost Boys, the Emerson family, comprising of recently divorced Lucy (Dianne Wiest) and her two sons, Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), relocate to the seemingly tranquil town of Santa Carla. They soon find themselves caught in a sinister undercurrent when Michael is lured into a gang led by the charismatic David (Kiefer Sutherland), who are more than they appear: vampires. As Michael begins transforming, it's up to Sam and two quirky vampire hunters, the Frog brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander), to save him and their town from these night-time predators. A cult classic, this horror-comedy redefined the vampire genre with its unique blend of thrills and laughs.

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  • Falling Down
    2

    Falling Down

    Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey
    46 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    In the gripping drama, Falling Down, we follow William Foster (Michael Douglas), a down-on-his-luck defense worker navigating the gritty streets of Los Angeles. Struggling with unemployment and divorce, Foster's pent-up frustration boils over into a reckless odyssey, confronting society's ills head-on. Robert Duvall plays Sergeant Prendergast, an about-to-retire police officer hot on Foster's trail. The film, directed by Joel Schumacher, offers a raw portrayal of urban decay and societal pressure. It was nominated for the coveted Palme d'Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

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  • A Time to Kill
    3

    A Time to Kill

    Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey
    36 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    In the heart of Mississippi, A Time to Kill unfolds, a legal drama with a backdrop of racial tension. Young attorney Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) takes on a daunting case defending Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson), a black man accused of taking law into his own hands after an unspeakable crime against his daughter. With Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock) offering her help, they navigate the deeply divided town. The movie, directed by Joel Schumacher, is an adaptation of John Grisham's first novel and won Samuel L. Jackson the Best Actor award at the NAACP Image Awards.

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  • Flatliners
    4

    Flatliners

    Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon
    27 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    Flatliners, a gripping thriller, explores the daring exploits of five medical students led by Nelson Wright (Kiefer Sutherland). Under his influence, they begin conducting clandestine experiments that produce near-death experiences. Among them, Rachel Mannus (Julia Roberts) and David Labraccio (Kevin Bacon) stand out as key players in this dangerous game. The group's curiosity about life after death spirals into chaos as they are each haunted by physical manifestations of their childhood sins. These eerie consequences force them to confront the line between life and death, testing their sanity and scientific ethics.

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  • The Client
    5

    The Client

    Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, Mary-Louise Parker
    25 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    In The Client, an 11-year-old Mark Sway (Brad Renfro) becomes the sole witness to a mob lawyer's suicide - a death that reveals the whereabouts of a murdered senator's body. Mark finds himself under the protection of Reggie Love (Susan Sarandon), a dedicated attorney with a soft spot for lost causes. As they navigate through treacherous legal waters, the duo must outwit both Barry Muldano (Anthony LaPaglia), a dangerous mafia hitman, and Roy Foltrigg (Tommy Lee Jones), an ambitious federal prosecutor. This riveting legal thriller, based on John Grisham's best-selling novel, won Susan Sarandon an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The film weaves together elements of crime, drama, and suspense in a tightly knit narrative that keeps viewers on edge from start to finish.

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  • 8mm
    6

    8mm

    Nicolas Cage, Joaquin Phoenix, James Gandolfini
    32 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    Private detective Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage) lives a normal life with his wife (Catherine Keener) and young daughter, until he receives a startling new case. A widow named Mrs. Christian (Myra Carter) has found what appears to be a snuff film among her late husband's belongings, and she wants Welles to determine if the movie is real or fake. Welles heads to California, where a video store employee (Joaquin Phoenix) helps him infiltrate the dangerous and depraved world of illegal porn movies.

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