The Amazing Bulk looked to me like an awful attempt at humor. Bet it all sounded funny in someone's head but with the Ed Wood levels of self-delusion and zero budget, fell completely flat on screen. Ala Kung Pow! (2002).
A few of them, like Avengers Grimm (2015) and Thor: End of Days (2020) had good enough production values that I wouldn't be disappointed if I picked up the DVDs from a dollar store. But I'm sure they were banking on tricking people into spending quite a bit more.
It's difficult to complain when big studios are relying on public domain characters/stories, so everyone else is free to do the same.
And even mainstream studio make Twin Films all the time... Deep Impact (1998) vs Armageddon (1998), Red Planet (2000) vs Mission to Mars (2000) vs. Ghosts of Mars (2001) [all 3 are terrible], The Prestige (2006) vs The Illusionist (2006), etc.

I like to hear the backstory. Was hoping for a local who lived abroad for a few years, or a US expat, but no. At least it is all legitimately sourced from Iowa:

"a partnership was born between Nick Jones, CEO of Iowa-based Berkwood Farms, and Mark Spencer, a British [...] restaurant owner in Tokyo."
https://www.iowafoodandfamily.com/blog/big-iowa-bbq-bringing-a-taste-of-iowa-to-tokyo

.

I give you: Madagascar man eating tree...

...one little hyphen can really make a huge difference, huh?

Story doesn't actually give any numbers on how many teens can't read clocks. Mostly the opposite:

students learn how to read clocks in first and second grade.

many students said they do know how to read wall clocks

Cheyenne Francis, 14: ”The only time I guess I would struggle is if the time is wrong on the clock. Because sometimes they don’t set the proper time.”

Several students said clocks in their school are often broken.

Farzona Yakuba, 15, said: "I feel like most students here, they just get lazy and they ask."

Is Daria sci-fi?

I agree that Hogfather and Gremlins deserve a spot near the top of any holiday watch-list (if very-small children aren't around). Both poignant and unhinged.

Also in the realm of spooky and almost- Sci-Fi, Haven S02 E13 "Silent Night" should earn a slot on the list... You don't need to be familiar with the series to follow along. Here's a good clip: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1988279577/
Full episode, free with ads:
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soCOVsPaSHw
* https://watch.plex.tv/show/haven/season/2/episode/13
* https://www.cwtv.com/shows/haven/silent-night/

The practical, safe, no-hands way to heat-up a can of beans on a bike would be either drop a 12v immersion heater in the can, or for a slower simmer, dump them into a 12/24/110v "trucker's lunch box". Powered with a SLA battery or 12V Li-Ion tool battery pack. Or tap into your e-bike's battery.

And to think, all the months I've wasted because of that sign, looking through the brush expecting to find a misplaced Olde English 800...

The road has been dubbed the deadliest highway in Arizona, averaging 35 fatal crashes every year.

There are only TWO highways that cross the entire state. As the two longest, one of them was bound to be the deadliest. And worse, they say later: the other one is "also a top contender nationwide."

Interesting... The Hors d'oeuvres really were horse d'oeuvres.
Maybe it's better if you just don't know whose d'oeuvres they are...