Why Do We Watch the Same Movies Over and Over Again?

The most rewatchable stories ever: The psychology and spirituality behind the TV shows and films we return to over and over again

What are the most rewatchable films, TV, and stories shows ever? And what makes certain movies and TV episodes the ones we want to rewatch repeatedly? What’s the spirituality and psychology behind our need to see specific stories frequently? Above (left to right): Star Wars and the Wizard of Oz top the most rewatchable lists but Elvis Presley, who sold more records than anyone in history and starred in 31 films, is the latest example of this need to see certain stories over and over. Collage by Joseph Serwach using public domain Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, and Elvis Presley images from Wikimedia Commons.

Why do people watch certain movies and TV episodes over and over? The rewatchable are the stories we return to repeatedly, like Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, or Elvis.

Seven months after its debut, Elvis is back in theaters after receiving eight Academy Award nominations, so we saw it (for the fourth time). Sounds crazy? The lady beside us smiled and said, “This is my seventh time.”

Her daughter next to her was seeing it for the 14th time.

The need for something familiar is everywhere: Even if you’re looking for a new film, the previews are full of reboots, spin-offs, and movies turning familiar faces or even toys (like this summer’s Barbie film) into “new” (or recycled) movies based on familiar rewatchable stories.

A FiveThirtyEight poll ranked the 25 most rewatchable films. The top 10 included Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, The Lord of the Rings, Gone With the Wind, The Godfather, The Princess Bride, The Shawshank Redemption, Harry Potter, and It’s A Wonderful Life.