Nathan Rabin
@nathanrabin.bsky.social
I've been writing about pop culture for 28 years, primarily as the head entertainment writer for The A.V. Club and staff writer for The Dissolve. My Substack is Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas, and my main site is Nathan Rabin's Happy Place. Author, autistic
The "Weird Al" Yankovic song of the day at Nathan Rabin's Happy Place is "Midnight Star."
www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The "Weird Al" Yankovic song of the day at Nathan Rabin's Happy Place is "Midnight Star."
www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
It took me twice as long as anticipated, but I finally finished The Fractured Mirror, a 548-page exploration of the complete history of American movies about filmmaking, with a foreword by the great Joe Dante and illustrations by the also great Felipe Sobreiro www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
November 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
It took me twice as long as anticipated, but I finally finished The Fractured Mirror, a 548-page exploration of the complete history of American movies about filmmaking, with a foreword by the great Joe Dante and illustrations by the also great Felipe Sobreiro www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
The "Weird Al" Yankovic song of the day at Nathan Rabin's Happy Place is "Eat It" www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
November 11, 2025 at 8:50 PM
The "Weird Al" Yankovic song of the day at Nathan Rabin's Happy Place is "Eat It" www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
In the latest entry in my column on pop star vanity projects, I cover 1985's Copacabana, a Dick Clark-produced, James Lipton-written TV movie that marked the beginning and end of Barry Manilow's career as a leading man. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/in-the-lat...
November 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
In the latest entry in my column on pop star vanity projects, I cover 1985's Copacabana, a Dick Clark-produced, James Lipton-written TV movie that marked the beginning and end of Barry Manilow's career as a leading man. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/in-the-lat...
My message to Democrats who voted to reopen the government:
November 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
My message to Democrats who voted to reopen the government:
ICYMI: My ten-part series on the 100 greatest songs of "Weird Al" Yankovic continues with entries 80 to 90. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
ICYMI: My ten-part series on the 100 greatest songs of "Weird Al" Yankovic continues with entries 80 to 90. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
I'm writing up Stephen King's movies for my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas. Today I get to 1996's Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, which answers the question, "How is it even possible for a movie to be stupider and cheesier than The Lawnmower Man?" nathanrabin.substack.com/p/lawnmower-...
November 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I'm writing up Stephen King's movies for my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas. Today I get to 1996's Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, which answers the question, "How is it even possible for a movie to be stupider and cheesier than The Lawnmower Man?" nathanrabin.substack.com/p/lawnmower-...
To promote the many books I have written about/with national treasure "Weird Al" Yankovic, I'm running a 10-part series on his 100 greatest songs. Today's entry covers the 80th through the 89th. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
November 4, 2025 at 3:54 PM
To promote the many books I have written about/with national treasure "Weird Al" Yankovic, I'm running a 10-part series on his 100 greatest songs. Today's entry covers the 80th through the 89th. www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is the nifty 2020 Frank Grillo vehicle Boss Level, the best non-video game video game movie since Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
October 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is the nifty 2020 Frank Grillo vehicle Boss Level, the best non-video game video game movie since Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is the new Naked Gun.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
October 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is the new Naked Gun.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
It's the 27th, the perfect time to launch the first part of a 10-part series on the 100 greatest "Weird Al" Yankovic songs of all time on my website.
Up first is 90 to 100! Follow along! This is gonna be fun! www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
Up first is 90 to 100! Follow along! This is gonna be fun! www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
October 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It's the 27th, the perfect time to launch the first part of a 10-part series on the 100 greatest "Weird Al" Yankovic songs of all time on my website.
Up first is 90 to 100! Follow along! This is gonna be fun! www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
Up first is 90 to 100! Follow along! This is gonna be fun! www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/...
I'll be doing my first event in many years. It's Dare to Be Stupid Day at the Thinking Man Tavern (537 W. Howard Avenue) in Decatur from 3 to 8 today. Come by! Say hi! Buy some of my many books about "Weird Al" Yankovic! It's the Thinking Man's way to be Stupid.
October 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I'll be doing my first event in many years. It's Dare to Be Stupid Day at the Thinking Man Tavern (537 W. Howard Avenue) in Decatur from 3 to 8 today. Come by! Say hi! Buy some of my many books about "Weird Al" Yankovic! It's the Thinking Man's way to be Stupid.
As the world's preeminent expert on "Weird Al" Yankovic, having written three books with/about the national treasure, I chose to commemorate his 66th birthday with a sneak peek at the 1st part of a 10-part series on his 100 greatest songs. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/in-honor-o...
October 23, 2025 at 8:39 PM
As the world's preeminent expert on "Weird Al" Yankovic, having written three books with/about the national treasure, I chose to commemorate his 66th birthday with a sneak peek at the 1st part of a 10-part series on his 100 greatest songs. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/in-honor-o...
Tron: Ares has terrific music from Trent Reznor and mesmerizing production design, yet tragically stars Jared Leto.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/tron-ares-...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/tron-ares-...
October 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Tron: Ares has terrific music from Trent Reznor and mesmerizing production design, yet tragically stars Jared Leto.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/tron-ares-...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/tron-ares-...
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is the overachieving B-movie Drop. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
October 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is the overachieving B-movie Drop. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
As a mild-mannered author, I thought The Dark Half was pretty stupid, but my switchblade-toting greaser alter ego/pseudonym, Stab Rock, thought it was terrific. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/an-author-...
October 22, 2025 at 2:57 PM
As a mild-mannered author, I thought The Dark Half was pretty stupid, but my switchblade-toting greaser alter ego/pseudonym, Stab Rock, thought it was terrific. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/an-author-...
Very excited to get this t-shirt celebrating Busta Rhymes' Dangertainment company from Halloween: Resurrection. Oh, and to finally be able to hold The Fractured Mirror, a 550 page book I spent a decade researching and writing, in my hands. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/tremendous...
October 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Very excited to get this t-shirt celebrating Busta Rhymes' Dangertainment company from Halloween: Resurrection. Oh, and to finally be able to hold The Fractured Mirror, a 550 page book I spent a decade researching and writing, in my hands. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/tremendous...
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is Joe Dante's 1989 cult classic social satire The 'Burbs. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
October 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is Joe Dante's 1989 cult classic social satire The 'Burbs. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
The spooky season Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is 2008's The Midnight Meat Train, a vehicle for 12-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-spooky...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-spooky...
October 17, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The spooky season Joy of Positivity pick of the day at Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas is 2008's The Midnight Meat Train, a vehicle for 12-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-spooky...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-spooky...
For the first time, I answered questions from subscribers at my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas. In an utterly uncharacteristic development, I actually wrote about things people actually care about! nathanrabin.substack.com/p/you-asked-...
October 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
For the first time, I answered questions from subscribers at my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas. In an utterly uncharacteristic development, I actually wrote about things people actually care about! nathanrabin.substack.com/p/you-asked-...
Every week, I give paid subscribers to my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas, the God-like power to choose what new movie I must review. This week, the choices are Good Fortune, After the Hunt, and Black Phone 2. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/its-that-t...
October 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Every week, I give paid subscribers to my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas, the God-like power to choose what new movie I must review. This week, the choices are Good Fortune, After the Hunt, and Black Phone 2. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/its-that-t...
Yesterday, I accidentally posted entries 90 to 100 from my list of the 100 worst American movies about filmmaking to my paid subscribers. It went surprisingly well, so now I'm publishing 80 to 90. Become a paid subscriber and get access a month early! nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-100-wo...
October 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Yesterday, I accidentally posted entries 90 to 100 from my list of the 100 worst American movies about filmmaking to my paid subscribers. It went surprisingly well, so now I'm publishing 80 to 90. Become a paid subscriber and get access a month early! nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-100-wo...
The spooky season Joy of Positivity pick of the day is the shockingly sensitive and nuanced Chucky, a wildly overachieving TV adaptation of the Child's Play movies. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
October 3, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The spooky season Joy of Positivity pick of the day is the shockingly sensitive and nuanced Chucky, a wildly overachieving TV adaptation of the Child's Play movies. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-joy-of...
Every week, I give the paid subscribers to my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas, the opportunity to choose what new movie(s) I write up each weekend. This weekend it's The Smashing Machine vs. the Taylor Swift Official Album Party. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/its-that-t...
September 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Every week, I give the paid subscribers to my Substack, Nathan Rabin's Bad Ideas, the opportunity to choose what new movie(s) I write up each weekend. This weekend it's The Smashing Machine vs. the Taylor Swift Official Album Party. nathanrabin.substack.com/p/its-that-t...
Paul Thomas Anderson's riveting Thomas Pynchon adaptation, One Battle After Another, is a movie for the moment and a movie for all time.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/paul-thoma...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/paul-thoma...
September 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Paul Thomas Anderson's riveting Thomas Pynchon adaptation, One Battle After Another, is a movie for the moment and a movie for all time.
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/paul-thoma...
nathanrabin.substack.com/p/paul-thoma...