Movies and television shows are our newest disposable commodity. You're supposed to watch them once, then move on to the next, consuming as much media as possible in the span of your life.
It feels a lot like a "quantity over quality" approach. Don't like that movie? That's OK, watch this one instead! Like that movie? Cool, here's a dozen more that are similar!
Mass consumption of media is so normal now that people get made fun of for rewatching things.
"You're watching that again?" "Don't you get tired of the same jokes over and over? Or did you just forget them?" "You know it doesn't change when you play it again, right?"
Yes, oh wise one. It is, in fact, the same movie every time. Same jokes, same story, same smart-aleck comments from you.
I love rewatching movies and television shows — it's a guaranteed good time. If I liked it enough the first time that I want to watch it again, of course I'm going to like it this time.
I think of it kind of like visiting family during the holidays. There's always that one relative that tells the same story about family exploits every year, and yet every year the family gives them the same rapt attention. The punchline is the same every year, but everyone laughs.
Rewatching movies and television shows also gives you the opportunity to appreciate them in a whole new way. Sure, you know how it ends, but that just means you can pay more attention to the show as a whole. During rewatches I've noticed incredible foreshadowing of later plot points. There's symbolism and imagery that you don't notice the first time around, because you're too caught up in the plot. There's jokes embedded in the script that aren't jokes unless you know key things about what happens in the future. Rewatching shows gives me a whole new depth of appreciation, and I notice new things every single time. Of course, some of those might have been noticed before and forgotten, but that just means they're new all over again. Plus, you save money by buying one movie once instead of buying 10 or more.
For me, rewatching shows is one of the most comfortable ways to watch a show. It's like settling down for a night and catching up with old friends, those friends you've known so long you don't even have to explain things to each other because you just get it. So please, give rewatching a chance. It'll save your wallet, and give you a chance to appreciate your favorite movies in a whole new way. What's not to love?
