There is something kind of funny about how we always say we want to watch something new‚ but somehow end up rewatching the same movies over and over again․ You scroll for forever‚ pass a bunch of options‚ and then land on something you’ve already seen ten or 100 times․ And honestly‚ it’s not even that bad․
I think a big part of it is comfort․ When you rewatch a movie‚ you already know what’s going to happen․ There is no stress and no overthinking or wondering if it’s going to be bad or a waste of time․ You can just sit there and enjoy it․ It’s also familiar enough to be comfortable when everything else around you might be a little uncertain․
It’s also the association you have with that movie‚ like when you were living at home‚ watching it with your family‚ a simpler‚ clearer time‚ whatever it is․ It’s like you’re not just about to rewatch the movie. You’re also about to recreate a version of yourself who was watching that movie, too. You’re also about to re-create a version of yourself who was watching that movie‚ too․
Sometimes‚ a movie just depends on how you’re feeling․ If you’re feeling overwhelmed, the last thing you want to do is immerse yourself in something heavy and emotional. You want something that feels easy and familiar․ Something you don’t have to fully pay attention to‚ but still enjoy․ It’s almost like background comfort․ You will also be at ease with the fact that you don’t have to scroll for an hour or make a decision about what to watch; you just want to press play.
You watch a film you’re familiar with because when you’re watching a film for the first time, you might not like it; it might not fit your mood. But with a movie you’ve already seen‚ you know exactly what you’re getting․ It’s reliable․ It really is something you can put on without thinking too much about it․ You can be fully engaged with it or it can be in the background․ It’s more about creating a feeling․ It feels calming‚ comfortable‚ and it feels like something you can come back to when you need it․
There is something nice about knowing what is going to happen next․ You already have favourite bits and moments you look forward to․ You don’t have to wonder if you’re going to like it․ It takes that risk of it being disappointing away‚ which is kind of underrated․
And honestly‚ especially in college‚ life is a bit of a mess‚ and your schedule changes‚ and your plans change․ So going back to the same movie can feel like one small thing that stays the same․ It’s consistent in a way that nothing else really is․
At the end of the day‚ you’re rewatching the same movies because it’s not boring‚ and you don’t realize why you’re doing it․ It’s because you’re picking something that makes you feel good․ It shouldn’t be that hard, but sometimes that is exactly what you need.