The 57-Hour Pop-Culture Diet: 7 Franchise Feasts You Can Obliterate Before Labor Day
Ready to turn your brain into a finely-tuned pop-culture death-machine before Labor Day? Here’s your revised seven-course “Pop-Culture Diet Plan,” now fortified with extra Viltrumite violence and more adamantium cardio than a CrossFit gym.
1. Spider-Verse Double Feature
Runtime: ≈ 4 hrs 20 min (Into + Across)
Why it’s snackable: Two films, zero MCU baggage, more heart than a Hallmark Valentine marathon—plus you walk away humming “What’s Up Danger?” like it’s a life philosophy.
Easily one of the best comic book film adaptions to release in quite some time. And while we do have to wait just a little longer for the third chapter. Revisiting the first two films is always a fun adventure.
2. Deadpool Triple Feature
(Deadpool ‘16 + Deadpool 2 ‘18 + Deadpool & Wolverine ‘24)
Runtime: ≈ 5 hrs 55 min
Nerd nutrients: Fourth-wall vaporization, chimichangas the size of Rhode Island, and Hugh Jackman doing cardio with adamantium claws. Three movies, zero moral fiber, infinite dopamine.
In what is probably one of the most fun, raunchy and overly brutal superhero film franchises to date, Deadpool has proven to be just a good time. No they aren’t deep and thought provoking, but damn are they a good time.
3. The Cornetto Trilogy
Runtime: ≈ 5 hrs 30 min (Shaun, Hot Fuzz, World’s End)
Digestibility: Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright deliver genre riffs so tight you’ll burn calories laughing. Also: recurring ice-cream cameos for cheat-day vibes.
It has been quite some time since Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy came to an end. And while the final installment was the weakest of the three. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are easily two of the BEST comedies of the last 20 years.
4. John Wick Quadrilogy
Runtime: ≈ 8 hrs 50 min (4 Movies)
Calorie count: 387 headshots, one immortal puppy legacy. Treat it like four HIIT sessions—hydrate or perish.
Imagine telling someone 15 years ago that Keanu Reeves would star in one of the most successful action film franchises on the 21st century. Now tell them that the story all started because someone killed his dog in the movie. Yea, this franchise is balls to the walls and has so much rewatch ability. And sure, Its not added into the runtime up top, but throw in Ballerina while your at it. What’s another 2 hours?
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animated)
Runtime: ≈ 22 hrs (61 eps)
Hear me out: Three episodes a night and you’ll finish by mid-August, armed with every meme the internet still worships. Your chi will thank you.
Heavily inspired by Anime, Avatar is not actually anime but is one of the most beloved American animated shows of all time. Give it a watch if you haven’t yet. You may just enjoy yourself.
6. Invincible Binge-a-Thon (Prime Video)
Runtime: ≈ 20 hrs (Seasons 1–3 + Atom Eve special)
What’s in the lunchbox: Hopeful teen-hero vibes splattered by Omni-Man’s “family talk,” kaiju-level plot twists, and enough dismemberment to make Deadpool blush. Perfect for “just one more episode” binges that end at 3 a.m. with you whisper-yelling, “Think, Mark! THINK!”
Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead, also created this World where Superheroes exist in a more serious and controlled manner. Yes, it is animated, but it is very adult. It’s a solid cast of voice actors such as J.K. Simmons, Steven Yeun, Ross Marquand and more.
7. Scott Pilgrim Combo Meal
Runtime: ≈ 6 hrs total (Live-action film + Netflix anime)
Balanced breakfast: Edgar Wright’s kinetic cult classic pairs with the 2023 anime remix like mixing cereal with coffee because you’re an adult and nobody can stop you.
This is a mix of the Movie from 2010 starring Michael Cera and the 2023 animated series. It’s all just dumb fun that blends the heart and humor of the comic into live action and animated form.
Pro-Tip: Knock out one franchise per week, live-tweet the wildest moments for algorithm juice, yank your spiciest take for X, Threads, and YouTube polls, then wrap the whole adventure into a victory lap newsletter titled “How I Devoured 57 Hours of Pop Culture and Only Lost My Voice” all while still touching grass (or roasting Snyder cultists) every Sunday for cardio and Vitamin D…. Then Thank me later.
