Nathan Rabin's Avatar

Nathan Rabin

@nathanrabin

Longtime pop culture writer. Author of 9 books, most recently The Fractured Mirror: Nathan Rabin's Happy Place's Definitive Guide to American Movies About Filmmaking

860
Followers
88
Following
569
Posts
13.06.2025
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Nathan Rabin @nathanrabin

Post image Post image Post image

In the latest entry in Muppetational, my new column on all things Jim Henson-related, I explore a fascinating but little-discussed topic: The Muppets' disastrous stint on the first season of Saturday Night Live. substack.com/home/post/p-...

05.03.2026 17:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

The Daily Shard from the Fractured Mirror is 1964's The Carpetbaggers, a sleazy, compelling melodrama about Howard Hughes that pretends that it's not about the eccentric aviator. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

05.03.2026 20:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Why Won't He Just Die Already? โ€” Nathan Rabin's Happy Place Seriously, why?

At my blog, I ask the question that's on everybody's mind: Why Won't He Just Die Already? www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

04.03.2026 20:11 ๐Ÿ‘ 14 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Poor Kristi Noem. The president put her down like a dog!

05.03.2026 20:43 ๐Ÿ‘ 10 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

The Daily Shard from the Fractured Mirror is 1964's The Carpetbaggers, a sleazy, compelling melodrama about Howard Hughes that pretends that it's not about the eccentric aviator. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

05.03.2026 20:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Best of 2024: "Dancing" Donald Trump's Bizarre Musical Thingy I have a strong, intensely negative, visceral response to hearing Donald Trumpโ€™s voice.

In honor of Kristi Noem's firing, I'm rerunning this piece on the sad, weird Donald Trump dance party she awkwardly hosted. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/best-of-20...

05.03.2026 20:32 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Daily Shard from The Fractured Mirror: The Canyons (2013) โ€” Nathan Rabin's Happy Place Paul Schrader collaborated with Lindsay Lohan and Bret Easton Ellis for a pointless provocation about sexed-up movie world players playing sick mind games.

The Daily Shard from the Fractured Mirror of the Day is Paul Schrader's sleazy, sordid sleazefest The Canyons. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

05.03.2026 19:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day is the badass action sequel Sisu: Road to Revenge If you like movies that kick ass, this is a kick-ass action movie for you!

The Joy of Positivity pick of the day is Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is the badass action sequel Sisu: Road to Revenge.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...

05.03.2026 17:25 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

In the latest entry in Muppetational, my new column on all things Jim Henson-related, I explore a fascinating but little-discussed topic: The Muppets' disastrous stint on the first season of Saturday Night Live. substack.com/home/post/p-...

05.03.2026 17:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Why Won't He Just Die Already? โ€” Nathan Rabin's Happy Place Seriously, why?

The venerable @nathanrabin.bsky.social, spittin' fire:

www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...?

04.03.2026 21:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Why Won't He Just Die Already? โ€” Nathan Rabin's Happy Place Seriously, why?

At my blog, I ask the question that's on everybody's mind: Why Won't He Just Die Already? www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

04.03.2026 20:11 ๐Ÿ‘ 14 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

ICYMI: In the second entry in my new Jim Henson-themed column Muppetational, I look at the fascinating history and endless afterlife of beloved bit player Mahna Mahna.

28.02.2026 20:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

Muppetational, my journey through the world of Jim Henson continues with a look at the short-lived Little Muppet Monsters, which captured Muppets in that awkward in-between stage between baby and adulthood.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/muppetatio...

03.03.2026 15:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Worst American Movies About Filmmaking: 50 Through 59 โ€” Nathan Rabin's Happy Place Our The Fractured Mirror- derived look at the 100 worst American movies about filmmaking continues with a gander at some of the worst of the worst.

www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

03.03.2026 15:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

The Daily Shard from the Fractured Mirror is Buster Keaton's silent masterpiece, The Cameraman. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

03.03.2026 19:03 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

The paid subscriber's new movie of the week is the forgettable blaxploitation/superhero hybrid Lazarus: The Awakening. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/lazarus-th...

03.03.2026 18:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Worst American Movies About Filmmaking: 50 Through 59 โ€” Nathan Rabin's Happy Place Our The Fractured Mirror- derived look at the 100 worst American movies about filmmaking continues with a gander at some of the worst of the worst.

www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...

03.03.2026 15:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

ICYMI: My journey through Stephen King's filmography continues with an appreciation of Frank Darabont's kick-ass 2007 adaptation of The Mist.

28.02.2026 20:34 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day is Tony Scott's Stylish Vampire Drama The Hunger As John Blaylock, a centuries-old vampire staring down his imminent demise, Bowie spends most of 1983โ€™s The Hunger dying an agonizing death that robs him of his youth, beauty, and immortality in rapid...

The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is Tony Scott's stylish 1983 debut The Hunger. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...

02.03.2026 17:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

You've got to give Trump credit. Donald Jr., Eric, and Barron are three of the 6 Americans who have died in the Iran War. Trump would never send someone else's children to die without being willing to risk his own progeny.

03.03.2026 15:37 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

Muppetational, my journey through the world of Jim Henson continues with a look at the short-lived Little Muppet Monsters, which captured Muppets in that awkward in-between stage between baby and adulthood.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/muppetatio...

03.03.2026 15:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

The picture of Jeffrey Epstein and Howard Lutnick in the Epstein Files looks like the album cover for a vanity project Yacht Rock band made up entirely of moonlighting millionaires.

01.03.2026 18:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day is Tony Scott's Stylish Vampire Drama The Hunger As John Blaylock, a centuries-old vampire staring down his imminent demise, Bowie spends most of 1983โ€™s The Hunger dying an agonizing death that robs him of his youth, beauty, and immortality in rapid...

The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is Tony Scott's stylish 1983 debut The Hunger. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...

02.03.2026 17:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

Scream 7 is That Rarest of Pop Culture Anomalies: a Sub-Par Slasher Sequel
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/scream-7-i...

28.02.2026 15:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

The picture of Jeffrey Epstein and Howard Lutnick in the Epstein Files looks like the album cover for a vanity project Yacht Rock band made up entirely of moonlighting millionaires.

01.03.2026 18:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

ICYMI: My journey through Stephen King's filmography continues with an appreciation of Frank Darabont's kick-ass 2007 adaptation of The Mist.

28.02.2026 20:34 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

ICYMI: In the second entry in my new Jim Henson-themed column Muppetational, I look at the fascinating history and endless afterlife of beloved bit player Mahna Mahna.

28.02.2026 20:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day is the 1975 Blaxploitation classic Dolemite Among its many bewitching peculiarities, Dolemite is an action-movie vehicle for Rudy Ray Moore, a squat, pot-bellied middle-aged man happy to leave the actual fighting to stunt doubles.

nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...

27.02.2026 15:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

Scream 7 is That Rarest of Pop Culture Anomalies: a Sub-Par Slasher Sequel
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/scream-7-i...

28.02.2026 15:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day is the 1975 Blaxploitation classic Dolemite Among its many bewitching peculiarities, Dolemite is an action-movie vehicle for Rudy Ray Moore, a squat, pot-bellied middle-aged man happy to leave the actual fighting to stunt doubles.

nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...

27.02.2026 15:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0