9 Movie Sequels That Made You Hate Characters You Once Loved

In 1989, Tim Burton helmed the film that would bring Batman back from the realms of ridiculousness and make him a mainstream figure of the cool kind. Then, in 1997, just eight years after Burton's film, Joel Schumacher did the seemingly impossible - he made Batman officially uncool again, and it took a huge budget and a career-worst performance from George Clooney to make it happen.

Batman & Robin took a dark, broody and complex character and turned him into a one-note buffoon - to the point where it legitimately made you question what you liked about Batman in the first place. Here was a film that made Bruce Wayne and Batman the same guy; flashy, idiotic, and obsessed with girls and money.

Batman's reputation, and his popularity as a superhero, took a nosedive in the wake of Batman & Robin's failings. For years afterwards, the superhero was considered to be a washed-up relic of the genre - an embarrassment. It wasn't until Christopher Nolan took matters into his own hands in 2005 with Batman Begins that The Dark Knight's reputation was restored and he became the most popular superhero ever.

Given how badly Schumacher and Clooney screwed up the character here, it's a genuine wonder that he managed to pull off such a feat.