In Popeye Makes a Movie, Popeye and Olive Oyl prepare to make a movie, with Popeye's nephews watching behind the scenes. The majority of the short consists of a significant portion of Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves, which makes up over 80% of this release. The nephews occasionally interact with the production, adding a layer of meta-commentary to the film. The short is notable for its use of recycled animation and its self-referential humor.