The 9 Most Uncomfortable Superhero Suits That Actors Had To Wear

When we immerse ourselves in comic book stories, we often overlook the practicality of superhero costumes. Sure, Superman and Batman wear tight suits simply because that is the nature of their iconic characters. They’re iconic! There’s no doubt about it. If given the choice, any comic book fan would prioritize style over substance, but this choice crumbles when applying real-world logic. Sadly, that’s what Hollywood has to work with when turning drawings into live-action.

Costume designers have always faced the challenge of balancing comic-accurate and functional superhero suits. On the one hand, you give the fans what they want to see, but on the other hand, you’re dooming the actor to sweaty latex hell for weeks or even months. Thankfully, there usually is a middle point, but for now, let’s focus on the suffering.

1. Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman

Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns is honestly one of the wildest performances ever in superhero movies. That suit was basically made from stitched-together latex patches, which totally matched Pfeiffer’s over-the-top character. She mentioned that it was the most uncomfortable costume she’d ever worn. They had to powder her down, help her get in, and then vacuum-seal the whole thing, which sounds like an S&M kink. Pfeiffer also had to go around with those sharp claws, and she kept knicking stuff with them. The face mask was squishing her face and making it hard to breathe. They had a lot of issues to fix!

2. Anne Hathaway as Catwoman

While the Catwoman costume looked cool, it also looked impossible to get in or out of. After appearing in The Dark Knight Rises, Anne Hathaway described the experience as a mental and physical ordeal. To wear that wonderful suit, Hathaway had to be thin and strong, which was almost impossible to achieve. But she still made it work by locking herself in the gym for almost a year.

3. Robert Downey Jr. as The Iron Man

The Iron Man suit looks super cool, but let’s be real, it’s just a bunch of metal and plastic bits, which makes it a total pain to wear all day. Robert Downey Jr. mentioned that it’s not only uncomfortable but also messes with your head. It’s all about staying sane and not losing it by the end of the day, feeling like you’ve been through a wild ordeal with all that stuff on you. But hey, at least Downey was the first to tinkle in a superhero suit!

4. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn costume in Suicide Squad was basically god-sent for the fans. It didn’t seem as uncomfortable as some other costumes, but Robbie had a different perspective on it. She mentioned that after munching burgers at lunchtime, she’d have to jump into a scene where she was getting hosed down in a tight T-shirt, which really made her self-conscious about her body. Don’t worry, Robbie, you looked fantastic in every scene!

5. Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther

Chadwick Boseman has been pretty open about how tough it is to put on the Panther suit for filming. After his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War, he talked about how “blazing hot” it is and mentioned he’s never felt that hot in his life. It’s so uncomfortable that his co-stars have started feeling sympathy and pain for him! Elizabeth Olsen once joked that Chadwick has the worst costume in the bunch, and Jeremy Renner chimed in, saying that while Cap might complain about his cowl, Chadwick has to deal with three of them!

6. Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier

The Winter Soldier’s costume isn’t exactly the most complicated out there. It’s mostly a bunch of plastic elements with a shiny metal arm and a face mask. However, the mask can be extremely uncomfortable for those who experience claustrophobia. There were times when Stan was out fighting in the summer sun and had to literally rip it off to catch his breath. Plus, just putting the whole thing on took about half an hour, and getting it off was just as long.

7. Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre

In Zack Snyder’s adaptation of The Watchmen, Silk Spectre’s costume presented a seductive visual challenge. Malin Akerman, who played Laurie Jupiter, said the suit was super uncomfortable, to the point where she jokingly said developing a latex fetish was a no-go for the foreseeable future. The suit looked amazing, and the design was top-notch, but if given the choice, she’d rather wear sweats and a T-shirt. To make things worse, Akerman had to get a full-body cast just to create that skintight look. It was a weird experience for her, having straws up her nose to breathe while also trying to manage her heels.

8. Alicia Silverstone as The Batgirl

Batman & Robin is arguably the worst Batman movie, despite all the fun BTS stories that came with it. In addition to the script, dialogues, and action, the costumes were among the four key elements of the Batpocalypse. Alicia Silverstone, who played Batgirl, once said in an interview that she didn’t want to be in the suit because it was wildly uncomfortable. When asked if she would make another appearance as the character, she’d do it only if they could reduce the boobs a little and tone down the plastic nipples.

9. Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool

The Deadpool suit is a simple one: just some red and black leather sewn together. But it was also a nightmare to wear it all day. Reynolds said that getting into the suit took up to 45 minutes at first. However, by the time the shoot wrapped, he had that thing down to 10 minutes. But how does it feel to be inside Deadpool? According to Reynolds, it’s not great. It’s like wearing a unitard. Nothing too romantic. But it’s also scorching and stuffy. That pertains specifically to the suit.