10 Most Embarrassing DVD Commentaries Ever

With the popularity of streaming video now far surpassing physical media, it's fair to say that DVD commentaries sadly aren't quite as in vogue as they once were.

But as we all know, commentaries from directors, writers, and cast members can be a valuable resource to learn more about film production, and also to glean some entertaining anecdotes at the same time.

Yet not all commentaries are created equal, because not all subjects come to the recording booth suitably prepared, and of course, not all movies are really worth learning about.

And so, for every brilliantly informative and truly useful DVD commentary, there's at least one that'll simply leave viewers biting their own fist in embarrassment.

These 10 commentaries, whether for light-hearted blockbusters or more serious-minded dramas, all activated the cringe reflex for a multitude of reasons: perhaps those recording the commentary were clearly ashamed of their work, or maybe they weren't ashamed enough.

Then there's the case of a certain tree-sized action hero who clearly never learned what a DVD commentary is actually supposed to be.

Though some of these commentaries are at least amusing to listen to, they're all tinged with a sure undercurrent of shame...

By most accounts, Joel Schumacher is a lovely man and a nice guy to work with, and you certainly get a sense of that while listening to his commentary for the widely maligned Batman & Robin.

However, it's also a frequently cringe-worthy commentary track given that Joel is incredibly matter-of-fact about discussing the film's failures, causing him to spend much of the commentary apologising to viewers for screwing things up.

Schumacher talks broadly about the pressure put upon him by the studio to make the film lighter and more mechandisable, and even throws his own godson under the bus by admitting that many of the film's eyebrow-raising ideas came from him.

Yet ultimately, he takes full responsibility himself for the end result, refusing to blame screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, resolving that if you don't like a movie you should blame the director.

Anyone who's seen one of the many quality movies Schumacher has made over his career knows that he has talent, but there's an unmistakable air of fatigue in his voice and tone during this commentary.

He acknowledges that Batman & Robin made him realise why sequels are so tough to make and why they disappoint so often, while adding that he actually wanted to adapt Frank Miller's Batman: Year One after Batman Forever, but Warner Bros. shot him down because the material was too dark.

Schumacher evidently has a sense of humour about the movie - joking about Uma Thurman's overacting, above all else - but listening to the commentary, it's still painfully clear that he's ashamed of how it all turned out.

He even ends the commentary early before the film's actually over. Oof.