Michael Keaton reveals the one blockbuster film he thought ‘sucked’ in: ‘It bugs me to this day’

Academy Award-nominated actor Michael Keaton has delivered numerous acclaimed and box office hits, but he admits there’s one film where he thinks he fell short.

As he reunites with director Tim Burton for the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel, Keaton revealed he believes he ‘sucked in Dumbo,’ their 2019 collaboration. 

Reflecting on his past work with Burton, including Beetlejuice and the Batman films, Keaton expressed regret over his performance in the Disney remake.

‘I love working with Tim so much, but I don’t think we ever really analyzed why we work pretty well together; we just do,’ Keaton told The New York Times on Tuesday. ‘I think I let him down on one movie, but that’s just me, and it bugs me to this day.’

He continued: ‘I was clueless on Dumbo. I sucked in Dumbo.’

Academy Award-nominated actor Michael Keaton has delivered numerous acclaimed and box office hits, but he admits there’s one film where he thinks he fell short; (pictured Wednesday)

As he reunites with director Tim Burton for the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel, Keaton revealed he let believes he ‘sucked in Dumbo,’ their 2019 collaboration

Naturally, Burton didn’t share Keaton’s opinion, chiming in, ‘I don’t even know what you’re talking about, but whatever.’

In the movie, Keaton portrayed V. A. Vandevere, the villainous character who acquires Dumbo for his entertainment empire but ends up exploiting and mistreating the elephant. 

Keaton starred alongside Danny DeVito as Max Medici and Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier.

The remake of the 1941 animated classic received mixed reviews from critics and performed moderately at the box office.

The movie has a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 51 on Metacritic, reflecting the mixed reception.

It grossed around $353 million worldwide against a production budget of approximately $170 million. 

While not a box office flop, the film’s earnings were below expectations for a Disney live-action remake, especially compared to other recent Disney reboots like The Lion King or Aladdin. 

Keaton’s reflections on his performance came on the heels of Burton disclosing that he had thought about stepping away from filmmaking after completing Dumbo.

‘Honestly, after Dumbo I really didn’t know. I thought that could have been it, really,’ he told Variety on August 22. 

‘I could have retired, or become … well, I wouldn’t have become an animator again, that’s over,’ he added. 

Keaton said: ‘I think I let [Burton] down on one movie, but that’s just me, and it bugs me to this day. I was clueless on Dumbo. I sucked in Dumbo’

Keaton starred alongside Danny DeVito as Max Medici and Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier; (Farrell and Burton on Dumbo set)

Keaton’s reflections on his performance came on the heels of Burton disclosing that he had thought about stepping away from filmmaking after completing Dumbo, however, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (pictured) ‘reenergized’ him

Keaton starred in Burton’s Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)

 However, he revealed that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice did ‘reenergize’ him. 

‘Oftentimes, when you get into Hollywood, you try to be responsible to what you’re doing with the budget and everything else but sometimes you might lose yourself a little bit,’ he added. 

‘This reinforced the feeling for me that it’s important that I do what I want to do, because then everybody will benefit.’

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice debuts in theaters Sept. 6.