Public-Domain Popeye Is Now ‘An Unstoppable Killing Machine’
The Copyright Gods didn’t quite know what was coming when their laws returned beloved childhood characters into the public domain. How could they have guessed, for example, that when the first Winnie the Pooh book entered the public domain in 2022, enterprising filmmakers would warp the property into Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey?
Turns out the denizens of 100-Acre Wood weren’t so thrilled to be abandoned by Christopher Robin, with ravenous versions of Pooh and Piglet taking it out on the young man’s college pals. As one might imagine, the reviews weren’t great (3 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), but the money was, inspiring a Blood and Honey 2 that made even more cash.
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Those successes inspired the same filmmakers to create horror films based on available Disney favorites like Bambi and Peter Pan. And why stop there — enterprising Canadians went after the Mouse himself, creating a horror-comedy version of Steamboat Willie this year after the first Mickey short entered the public domain. The Mouse Trap at least had to change its name from Mickey’s Mouse Trap — Uncle Walt still controls at least that much of his character.
Now comes the latest horror-comedy based on a childhood favorite whose copyright protection has lapsed. Shiver Me Timbers is another Canadian production, this time featuring a slasher version of that spinach-chugging sailor, Popeye.
Here’s the film’s synopsis, per JoBlo: “Olive Oyl, her brother Castor and friends, go on a camping trip to see the meteor shower with Halley’s Comet. But the night turns into horror as a meteor transforms Popeye into an unstoppable killing machine. With thrilling ‘80s slasher references and comedic twists, the film combines elements of horror and comedy in a fresh take on both genres. Shiver Me Timbers pays tribute to classic slasher films while delivering hilarious moments, shocking scares and nostalgic nods that will delight both horror and Popeye fans alike.”
Not sure where that Venn diagram overlaps between horror fans and Popeye stans, but it’s a good bet that there’s a market for low-budget guts and yuks. And don’t expect the blood to stop flowing anytime soon. Several other kiddie favorites are set to hit the public domain in the next few years, including Mickey’s dog Pluto (2026), Goofy (2028), Donald Duck (2030), Porky Pig (2031) and Daffy Duck (2033).
Even characters starring in upcoming films are up for grabs — looking at you, James Gunn — Superman becomes anyone’s hero in 2034. It doesn’t take a Dick Tracy (2027) to forecast what comes next: An all-star cast of cherished childhood memories taken apart by power saws.
Sleep tight, kids.
