Popeye, director Robert Altman called his Robin Williams-starring picture âAmericaâs babysitter.â The atypical musical about the beloved anvil-armed sailor of the seven seas was widely considered a box office bomb when it was released in 1980. However, when it made its way to videocassette, Altman added, âpeople took their children, shoved them into a room with a television set, and put Popeye on.â While my parents didnât shove me into a room, I recall Popeye being a monumental piece of my growing up. During the VHS-era, it certainly was Americaâs babysitter. And now, with Paramount bringing the film to Blu-ray for the very first time, in gorgeous HD, Popeye just may have a second go at accompanying children for a couple of hours.