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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I can somewhat understand mixing up Hawk and Hawkeye if you’re not a big comics reader; both are Silver Age heroes who went through gritty 90s reboots, with brothers playing key roles in their crime fighting and… Wait, I’m just hearing this is about sports. Nevermind, no excuse there.

Clint Barton as Hawkeye, rocking a blue and purple ensemble with a gruff grimace from all the arrows in his mouth.

Hank Hall as Hawk, rocking a gray and black ensemble with weird streamers coming out the shoulders, and a gruff grin.

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare was a box office bomb in the spring of 2024, landing at $29.8 million worldwide against a $60 million budget. It opened in 4th place against Civil War and Abigail, and failed to improve from there. #MinistryOfUngentlemanlyWarfare #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 2024, #57-66

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Muggsy Bogues never dunked in an proper NBA game, though apparently was able to do so in practice (despite being 5'3"), which makes me question whether a 5'4" wolf boy could this consistently. #TeenWolf #HATM

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Teen Wolf was a hit in August 1985, landing in second place (and staying there) against some sitcom actors something with time travel. It landed at $80 million worldwide against a $4 million, good enough for a sequel, two spin-off TV series, and a streaming spin-off sequel. #TeenWolf #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 1985, #22-30

Box Office Mojo weekend chart, 23-25 August 1985, #1-10

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

James Horner's score did not win the Oscar that year, but did feature in many film trailers throughout the following decades, so who really won? #Aliens #HATM

Best Original Score category Oscars 1986

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

We should get Burke, Ellis, and Bob Morton in a room together... #Aliens #HATM

Bob Morton from Robocop, clapping ironically

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Aliens was an awards contender, with seven nominations at the 59th Oscars, earning nods for Score (went to Round Midnight), Sound (Platoon), Production Design (A Room With A View), Editing (Platoon), and Actress (Marlee Matlin)...and wins for Sound Effects Editing and Visual Effects. #Aliens #HATM

Academy Award nominations and wins for Aliens

Best Sound Effects Editing Oscar category, 1986

Best Visual Effects Editing Oscar category, 1986

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Aliens was a huge hit in the summer of 1986, holding the top spot for four weeks before finally being dethroned by The Fly. It did better still globally, landing at roughly $183 million worldwide against a $18.5 million budget, not to mention the toy line that followed. #Aliens #HATM

Box Office Mojo Annual chart 1986, #1-10

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Even Ducktales (both versions!) lands at "Scrooge is probably wrong most of the time" and needs his family to constantly pull him back from the moral abyss (the Barks comics are even more wary of Scrooge) - there is not a lot of moral grayness, just an ethically-poor old man.

"The Life and Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!"

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Post something random or you’ll have an awful September

His mythic deeds decreased markedly after obtaining the legendary helmet of procrastination

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The stage musical on which the film is based was a serious contender at the 1978 Tonys, winning two (for its respective leads). #BestLittleWhorehouseInTexas #HATM

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Ironically, one of the extras (Kay Parker) appeared both here and in the porn parody. #BestLittleWhorehousInTexas #HATM

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas was a minor awards contender, with an Oscar nomination for Charles During as the Governor (lost to Louis Gossett Jr.), and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Comedy/Musical and Actress (Parton). #BestLittleWhorehousInTexas #HATM

Oscar category for Best Supporting Actor 1982

Best Golden Globe 1982 for Comedy or Musical

Best Golden Globe 1982 for Actress in a Comedy or Musical

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas was a hit in July 1982, dethroning the dominant ET from the top of the box office and staying in the top ten through mid-October, raking in $69 (nice) million against a roughly $30 million budget. #BestLittleWhorehousInTexas #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 1982, #1-10

Box Office Mojo weekend chart 23-25 July 1982, #1-10

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I think these are both great, but give a slight edge to "Once Upon A Dream" for personal aesthetic choice (it is just a lovely dreamlike experience), but "Bear Necessities" is probably the objectively superior tune. Still...

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Counterpoint: it was Alexander III who unleashed the Cossacks on Feivel and family (and looks like a proper villain), though Nicholas II probably would have done so giving the chance (and would be historically responsible for the events of Fiddler on the Roof).

Russian Czar Alexander III: a heavyset, balding man with a big beard and fancy dress uniform.

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Probably too busy dealing with the school shooting across the county. #JennifersBody #HATM

‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Jennifer's Body was a modest financial failure, opening in 5th place in mid-September against Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, The Informant! (with Paranormal Activity the next week), leaving theaters well before Halloween. It earned $31.6 million against a $16 million budget. #JennifersBody #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 2009, #114-122

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Technically based on a novel, but really closer to the comic version of Dylan Dog (Tiziano Sclavi wrote both, but was not involved with the film).

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

It is such a wonderful, strange film - it is a little too dreamlike for some folks, but it is one that stuck with me for a very long time. Great practical effects, wonderful production design, weaving together folklore and feminism and horror. Plus, you have Angela Lansbury in top form.

Angela Lansbury explains "Well, you can't trust anyone, least of all a priest."

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Favorite film for each year of 1980s 1980: Kagemusha 1981: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior 1982: Blade Runner 1983: Project A 1984: The Company of Wolves 1985: Brazil 1986: Labyrinth 1987: Robocop 1988: My Neighbor Totoro 1989: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

It’s something I don’t remember happening to the same degree with Bill Gates / Steve Jobs / etc. - there were references and parodies, but not nearly to the same degree of glorification.

How do you want to be remembered in history? Alongside the Wright Brothers, Elon Musk, Zephram Cochrane?

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The Colour Out of Space - literally just Superman ice cream (which, to be fair, is not a color that exists in nature)

Superman Ice Cream - it is yellow and pink and red and blue and green and teal and yellow again…it is madness

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

A year is feasible, as long as I don't get eaten.

The Long Dark - a rural church with a bonfire out front, a car buried in snow, and a sense of sublime unease.

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Weirdly, he keeps going back to that wine dark sea. #Crime101 #HATM

Jason Bourne is floating somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I know, from a physics point of view, that one cannot swim through the coins (and it is actually a plot point in multiple stories, but...who among us would not try, because maybe, just this once... #Crime101 #HATM

Only A Poor Old Man - The Beagle Boys find they cannot swim though Scrooge's coinage

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Crime 101 was a box office bomb in February 2026, opening in third place against Wuthering Heights and GOAT, lost in the shuffle in a muddled President's Day weekend. It did better globally ($72.9 million total), but could not touch its $90 million budget. #Crime101 #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 2026, #24 to 33 (as of August 2026)

Box Office Mojo weekend 20-22 February 2026, #1 to 10

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The Keyser Soze story is evocative of the "when villains want to scare each other, they tell Joker stories" - which, interestingly, was also written in 1995 (Villains Unleashed). #TheUsualSuspects #HATM

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The Usual Suspects was a minor awards contender, especially for Christopher McQuarrie's script (which won the BAFTA and Independent Spirit), but Kevin Spacey proved a dark horse over frontrunner Ed Harris...despite Spacey being in more of the movie than anyone else. #TheUsualSuspects #HATM

Best Supporting Actor Oscar category, 1995

Best Original Screenplay Oscar category, 1995

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The Usual Suspects was a surprise hit in limited release, landing at $67 million worldwide against a $6 million budget. Released in the late summer in the States, it never rose above 5th at the box office, but did steady business and launched like eight careers. #TheUsualSuspects #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 1995, #70-80

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Didn't we just do this like two years ago? Or is this the fourth one?

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Please note: this film was not approved by any museum ever and seriously please don’t pull this. #ThomasCrownAffair #HATM

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The Thomas Crown Affair had the misfortune of opening against megahit The Sixth Sense, surprise hit The Blair Witch Project, and regular hit Runaway Bride (and look at that list!). Still, it did well worldwide, for a total of $125 million against a $43 million budget. #ThomasCrownAffair #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 1999, #27-35

Box Office Mojo weekend chart, 6-8 August 1999

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

How it started / how it’s going (Complete chapter in: www.bloomsbury.com/us/portrayal...)

A meme from New Gender Who Dis, comparing Nick Wilde (the fox from Zootopia) to Disney's Robin Hood (also fox). They state "These foxes exist in ideological opposition to each other and represent Disney's shift towards fascism. In this essay I will..." at which point it cuts off.

This is a chapter entitled "Disney's Trickster Foces and Their Responses to Authority Structures" by Peter Cullen Bryan, Anatres Russell Leask, and Dori Koehler.

This is the essay threatened.

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Didn't we already do this like twenty years ago?

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Gladstone should have won it, but 30 Rock called it. #Hamnet #HATM

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Paul Mescal did not get a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars for this role (which he was in contention for) - who should he have replaced? Personally, I didn't care for Sean Penn's performance, and will fight anyone that comes for Delroy Lindo. #Hamnet #HATM

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Sean Penn – One Battle After Another as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw ‡
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein as The Creature
Delroy Lindo – Sinners as Delta Slim
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value as Gustav Borg

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Toshiro Mifune's performance at the end of Throne of Blood is one of the absolute greatest of all time, although I'm not sure how much is acting, considering that it is real archers shooting real arrows in his direction. #Hamnet #HATM

Toshiro Mifune terrified of a dozen arrows in Throne of Blood

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Orpheus and Eurydice, you say? A good reminder that Hadestown is in theaters this week, and you should REALLY go see it, even if ol' Bill here sort of spoils it (even if you know the ending, it is so much more). #Hamnet #HATM

THE LIVE RECORDING OF HADESTOWN HITS THEATERS IN ONE WEEK

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

1. Gambit and Rogue - Mystique (Rogue's mom or maybe dad?) does not approved, and continues to interfere into more or less present day. Quite liking that relationship in the current @gailsimone.bsky.social run. #Hamnet #HATM

Gail Simone: these are my precious babies now and I will punch you if you are mean to them,.

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Hamnet was a serious awards contender, recieving eight Oscar nominations: Best Score, Casting (both to Sinners), Production Design, Costumes (both to Frankenstein), Adapted Screenplay, Director, Picture (all to One Battle After Another), but won Best Actress for Jesse Buckley. #Hamnet #HATM

Oscar nominations and win for Hamnet at the 97th Academy Awards

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Hamnet did decent business domestically, managing a modest $24 million against a $34 million budget in a mostly limited release, but did serious business globally (especially in the UK and Ireland), legging out to $109 million worldwide. #Hamnet #HATM

Box Office Mojo Annual Chart 2025, #61-69

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Post a perfect album from the 90's that isn't Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, or Alice in Chains.

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Peter Cullen Bryan, PhD @pcbryan.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

High Fidelity under-performed on release, with a $47 million global total against a $30 million budget. It opened in 5th place domestically in a busy April Fools weekend, though had decent legs and found a wider audience on home release. #HighFidelity #HATM

Box Office Mojo annual chart 2000, #82-93

Box Office Mojo weekend chart, 31 March to 2 April 2000

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