Joel Schumacher Has Passed Away

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that filmmaker Joel Schumacher has passed away at the age of 80.

Multiple sources, including Variety, confirm the news that Schumacher has passed away from cancer, which he battled over the past year.

Schumacher began his career in filmmaking as a costume designer and production designer before stepping behind the camera as a director. Over the course of five decades, Schumacher brought his unique visual eye to a truly eclectic set of films, including St. Elmo's Fire, The Lost Boys, Flatliners, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, 8MM, Phone Booth, The Phantom of the Opera (2004), The Number 23, Blood Creek, and Trespass, to name just a few.

Although his films spanned diverse genres, they all shared the common denominator of being visual showcases that linger long in the memory after their end credits roll.

For horror fans in particular, The Lost Boys remains a cherished time capsule of a movie that perfectly encapsulates how fun, endearing, and lovingly over-the-top ’80s horror could be, all while maintaining a beating, bloody heart at its core.

Schumacher's contributions to cinema will no doubt live on to inspire future generations of fans and filmmakers, and I encourage readers to honor Schumacher's legacy by watching one (or more) of his movies this week. There's quite a catalogue to choose from. Our thoughts are with Joel's family and friends during this difficult time.

[Image credit: Above image from Scream Factory video.]