How many times would you watch the same movie?

SpitfireIV

Was just thinking about this lately and it was a topic that I brought up a little while back with some mates, but, how many times would you watch the same movie?

Say for instance you watched a movie that you found really enjoyable (I mean really enjoyable!). Would you be satisfied after the first viewing or would you have to watch it again........and again?

Personally if I've watched a very good movie I like to view it a number of times to take in all the details, flesh out the characters, and look for other interesting things going on in the movie that I wouldnt have noticed in the first viewing.

For instance, after I got 'There Will be Blood' I must have watched it about 3 times in two weeks! :cool: and I've lost track of the amount of times I've watched 'The Lives of Others', amongst others. I love looking for hidden messages in the movies or those little details that give extra meaning and such. Perhaps I just dont have the mental capacity to take all these details the first time

Is this normal? :P

I generally give most films at least two viewings, no matter how bad I find a film I will give it a second viewing a few months later just to see if it really was that bad or was I just not in the mood for it on the day.

For the films that I love well I can watch them over and over again. Take Serenity as an example, I watch it at least once a month and will often watch it once a week for months on end. My personnal best has to be the Dark Knight, 37 viewings in the cinema alone and I was warned that if I did'nt slow down I'd wear my Blu Ray out in a matter of weeks.

Vic Vinegar

Deleted User wrote: »

My personnal best has to be the Dark Knight, 37 viewings in the cinema alone

WTF!?! 37 times? in the cinema alone...that's insane...:)


I've seen Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas probably about 50 times. I love that film.

Running Bing

Deleted User wrote: »

I generally give most films at least two viewings, no matter how bad I find a film I will give it a second viewing a few months later just to see if it really was that bad or was I just not in the mood for it on the day.

For the films that I love well I can watch them over and over again. Take Serenity as an example, I watch it at least once a month and will often watch it once a week for months on end. My personnal best has to be the Dark Knight, 37 viewings in the cinema alone and I was warned that if I did'nt slow down I'd wear my Blu Ray out in a matter of weeks.

You have too much time on your hands.











Im Jealous;)

Tbh I find it hard enough to get the first viewing in for most films I want to see never mind multiple viewings. There are certain films that I could watch an infinite number of times though. Citizen Kane and the Godfather spring to mind. I have seen Pulp Fiction dozens of times too. Thats one film that if I see a glimpse of it I end up saying "Oh this is a good scene Ill just watch this" then the next scene will come on "oh this is a good scene Ill just watch this" and in the end I always end up watching the full movie. It literally consumes you:D

EL_Loco

If I'm giving a film my full attention and I don't like it I won't re-watch it. If I feel I haven't given it a chance I'll re-watch it. If I enjoy a film I'll rewatch it probably a few months later.

My latest re-watch was "colour of money" When you know the story you can concentrate a bit more on the characters. I really like Newman's performance and character in it.

EDIT: if I happen to catch the blues brothers on the telly I always sit down and watch it to the end. Dunno why. Just one of those things.

Voodu Child

It depends on the timeframe. In a five-year timeframe, twice tops, for a really good movie.

Stretch it out a bit longer (5+ years) and I may happen to catch something a third time on on TV or whatever.

Once was too much for the Dark Knight tbh :pac:

krudler

I watch my favourite movies all the time Raiders of the Lost Ark has got to be in the hundreds of viewings at this stage, comfort movies are great, I really dont understand this attitude that you cant watch a movie more than once, people I know are like that, if its something not worth watching again fair enough but wh yonly watch a great film one time? would you never listen to a song again because you've already heard it? granted a song isnt 2 hours long but same principal

qz

I remember seeing LOTR: FOTR 11 times in the cinema back in the day. I'd always go to the cinema with the intention of seeing something else but every time I'd say fúck it I want to experience the magic again

Sounds gay, but I was only a kid! Still love the film though.

Bombleswizzum

Bombleswizzum wrote: »

WTF!?! 37 times? in the cinema alone...that's insane...:)

Well when you're not working and are'nt particular fond of drinking your brains out every night the cinema can be your only choice.

Babybing wrote: »

You have too much time on your hands.











Im Jealous;)

I used to, now damned college is taking up all my time.

Tusky

Deleted User wrote: »

My personnal best has to be the Dark Knight, 37 viewings in the cinema alone and I was warned that if I did'nt slow down I'd wear my Blu Ray out in a matter of weeks.

Beruthiel

I've watched all my favs many times.
I've watched the following between 20 to 30 times:
LOTR
Withnail & I
Pulp Fiction
Life of Brian
The Holy Grail

Tusky

Tusky wrote: »

I'm not that bad yet, I see myself more like this. :D:D Technically I do have an excuse for watching films over and over again. For not only am I a film and tv student I have also worked as a writer for a number of low budget film studios.

L31mr0d

I watch movies again for one of 2 reasons

1) Nostalga: So movies that are 10+ years old I'll probably give a second viewing
2) Friends: If I have a friend that hasn't seen a movie before, and its one I liked, I'll watch it with them

Apart from that I never watch movies twice, when given the option of watching a new movie or one I've seen before, I'll always watch a new movie... and there are always movies out there that I haven't seen before that are worth watching.

johnny_ultimate

Depends on the film really. My true favourites I'll watch once a year or so, although those'd be very few in number. Films I like I'll often watch in the cinema and then again a few years later on TV or whatever. And I'll often rewatch DVDs if there is no other alternatives. But it'd be rare for me to watch a film more than two or three times. The only ones I think truly deserve a number of viewings are complex ones where you can discover something new everytime - something like Donnie Darko, Primer or anything by Charlie Kaufman or David Lynch. Those kind of films sometimes demand two or more viewings to get the most out of them, especially when the first viewing can leave you slightly bewildered.

But I don't think I could ever watch anything 37 times in the cinema alone (you crazy Darko :pac:)! I really can't stand watching a film twice in close proximity (the only reason I saw the Dark Knight twice in the cinema was because I got a chance to see it in Imax). For me watching something that many times would ultimately kill the joy associated with it. One thing I love about cinema is the surprise factor, and after a number of repeat viewings I would think that edge is lost. There are films I have seen 5 or more times, but at longer intervals, and I rarely if ever go to see something in the cinema twice - I'd at least wait for the DVD.

Lamper.sffc

Like above, I would tend to watch my favorite movies on average once a year. The one i love to watch again and again is fight club. I always see something new or realise something new about this movie every time i watch it. Reading the book for the first time at the mo aswell. Great read

Wacker

My two favourite films (Seven and Shawshank, in that order), I watch about once a year, so as not to dilute the emotional impact too much. My third favourite is The Godfather, which I stick on about once every three months. The level of detail in The Godfather allows me to pick up new stuff each time, although I think I'm really scraping the barrell at this stage. I'd say I've watched The Matrix, Goodfellas and Dazed and Confused upwards of fifteen times each.

DarkJager

I've seen Scarface about 46 times at this stage. Went through a phase when I was unemployed where I watched it at least 3-4 times a day.

Pigman II

I'm pretty sure I've hit 3-digits with Star Wars at this point.

robby^5

When I got the special edition Star Wars VHS when I was a kid I must have watched one of the films everyday for a few weeks during the summer, was completely obsessed with the films.

I tend to watch a few films a week, so I tend to rewatch some of favourites. Most Judd Apatow films I'll watch several times a year, when I'm not rewatching his TV shows Freaks and Geeks and Undelcared

lostexpectation

as few as possible *backs away from the above posters*

Heckler

True favourites maybe once a year. Seven, Edward Scissorhands (at Christmas). Pulp fiction, Goodfellas, Heat.

Entertaining bubblegum stuff anytime i'm bored, Speed, Once upon a time in Mexico.

Loads more.

Karl Hungus

Quite often. Maybe not to the same extent as a couple of people here, but if I like a film, it can get watched repeatedly. I wouldn't know how many times I've watched The Big Lebowski, or I've watched The Dark Knight about 3 times since Christmas. I'd say for a film that I own on DVD, I'd watch it a good 2 or 3 times at least.

Futurism

qz wrote: »

I remember seeing LOTR: FOTR 11 times in the cinema back in the day. I'd always go to the cinema with the intention of seeing something else but every time I'd say fúck it I want to experience the magic again

Sounds gay, but I was only a kid! Still love the film though.

I regret only seeing each of them once. I'll have to buy the dvd's and watch them but it won't be the same unless the screen is bigger than me.

bnt

I do watch films again, but only with long gaps between them - typically years.

One exception, though: with LotR, I never watched it in the cinema at all, waiting till the the Extended Edition of each part came out. I've watched the whole thing every Christmas, including on a laptop in an apartment in Bangalore (India) in 2006. I skipped last Christmas however, since it seemed a bit soon - so I'm going to read the book instead.

ztoical

didn't we have the same thread like about a year ago and some people just couldn't believe anyone would watch the same film more the once.

Given I work freelance from home I usually have a film on by my drawing desk so can watch films a bunch of times. Have easily watched Singing in the Rain a 100+ times.

EDIT: Found the old thread.

L31mr0d

ztoical wrote: »

didn't we have the same thread like about a year ago and some people just couldn't believe anyone would watch the same film more the once

those people where me and yes I still can't understand people who watch the same movie repeatedly in short succession. But lets not bring up that argument again :rolleyes:

It depends on the individual I guess. I'm the same with every form of media I consume, if given the option I will listen to new music, watch a new movie or play a new game. I liken it to individuals who travel to the same resort every year for a holiday, I'd rather travel to somewhere new, regardless of whether I know if i'm going to like it or not.

User45701

Deleted User wrote: »

I generally give most films at least two viewings, no matter how bad I find a film I will give it a second viewing a few months later just to see if it really was that bad or was I just not in the mood for it on the day.

For the films that I love well I can watch them over and over again. Take Serenity as an example, I watch it at least once a month and will often watch it once a week for months on end. My personnal best has to be the Dark Knight, 37 viewings in the cinema alone and I was warned that if I did'nt slow down I'd wear my Blu Ray out in a matter of weeks.

Fair play on the giving things a 2nd watch, i watch allot of B-movies which tbh can be hard to give a 2nd watch if you didnt enjoy them the first time

I would be the same as you on serenity, the main reason i bought a HD DVD player was because they where being recalled and i wanted to have that movie in HD, ive lost count the amount of times.

But Dark Night? Watched it once and well i was bored at parts, ive never been a big batman fan, Great acting and all but the movie just didnt hold my interest i was all for getting home and watching the new house when we where in the cinema.
But i do plan to give it another watch ive heard its worth one even if its just for the sfx on bluray.

Bombleswizzum wrote: »

I've seen Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas probably about 50 times. I love that film.

+ 1

1 find that is the movie that tends to get turned on around 8am when most people at a session have hit the hey and there is only a couple of stragglers left.

EL_Loco wrote: »

EDIT: if I happen to catch the blues brothers on the telly I always sit down and watch it to the end. Dunno why. Just one of those things.

Yes, About 4 times ive come accross peolple who havent seen it and i dont give them any choice at all they simply have to watch it.

krudler wrote: »

I watch my favourite movies all the time Raiders of the Lost Ark has got to be in the hundreds of viewings at this stage, comfort movies are great, I really dont understand this attitude that you cant watch a movie more than once, people I know are like that, if its something not worth watching again fair enough but wh yonly watch a great film one time? would you never listen to a song again because you've already heard it? granted a song isnt 2 hours long but same principal

Agreed (not about the lost arc ) but i dont understand not wanting to watch a movie more than once, the same people who say that will listen to the same song countless times not a bother.

L31mr0d wrote: »

I watch movies again for one of 2 reasons

1) Nostalga: So movies that are 10+ years old I'll probably give a second viewing
2) Friends: If I have a friend that hasn't seen a movie before, and its one I liked, I'll watch it with them

Same here, Reason 2 more so for films.

Reason 1 for TV shows, i can think of 3 times when ive sat down with a mate and watch an TV show,every season/episode with someone who hadent seen it.

One of my personal fav's when i was young where "broken arrow" and "face off"

Now - i dont know, i do like Serenity allot and it would be a regular watch, i like Leon and i know it is such a heavy watch over 3 hours of subtitles and all but i love Der Untergang and have given it 4 watches since it came out, but i seee that being a regular long term fav.

My mind is drawing a blank on the rest...

SpitfireIV

Thanks for the responses guys, some interesting variations there, from 37 times!! :eek: to just the once! :eek: I'm equally shocked at both!

Now keep in mind I'm referring to a movie that you really like, ie those that'd appear in your top 5 or 10, not just any old movie that you've seen the once and wouldnt bother wind again.

Personally, with the really good movies, say for instance 'The Remains of the Day', which, I hadnt seen for a few years, but watched last night again, I'll probably give that another look before the weekend, because there was just so much going on in it. Some amazing acting and a great storyline, I want to, in fact I need to flesh it out a little more, dig a little deeper into it, once just isnt enough for a movie of that calibre.

As for TV shows, well, I've lost track of the amount of times I've watched 'The Office' (UK version!), I'll never get fed up of that, makes me laugh every time.

Daisy Dweller

I've watched Wall E about 50 times since it came out. It has to be the sweetest most adorable movie on the planet! I guess the likes of Star Wars and LoTR all go without saying....I think my most watched DVD would be The Mighty Boosh box sets...can't get enough of Rudi and Spider!:D

eightcell

If I like a film alot I could watch it 3 or 4 times in the first month. Generally twice would be enough for most movies but with the matrix, back to the future or lord of the rings etc... I could watch countless times!

unreggd

Films like Kill Bill or The Fifth Element, ive watched countless times

I usually only watch a film once

But I was thinkin the other day about films i watched years ago. I watched them, I liked them. But I cant remember everything/anything about them

But ill hafta start re-watchin more often

and its true as Deleted User said about the mood your in, thats a big factor

yoshytoshy

Ones I've watched the most
Bladerunner ,Jacobs ladder ,The shining ,Withnail & I,trainspotting ,easy rider ,full metal jacket,dead mans shoes.

find it hard to watch blockbusters a second time ,films that use big bangs are usually crap the second time. With exception of a few classics.

seanybiker

Bombleswizzum wrote: »

I've seen Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas probably about 50 times. I love that film.

watched that about 20 times at least. Class film.
Watched fight club hmm must be about 40 or 50 times easily.
Shawshank redemption is probably me most watched film. Easily 60 times probably more like 80+. Just love that movie.

Vamoose Killers

Bizarre that someone would watch The Dark Knight that many times. It's not as if there's some hidden message or deep meaning in that film that you need to watch it over and over again. I'd understand numerous viewings of Mulholland Drive/Inland Empire/Magnolia/etc, but for TDK it's just silly.

User45701

yoshytoshy wrote: »

find it hard to watch blockbusters a second time ,films that use big bangs are usually crap the second time. With exception of a few classics.

+ 1

thats why im waiting on rewatching black night because if i get boared i minimise movies and just browse the web while it plays in a small window

echosound

I don't think there has to be any hidden messages or deep meaning behind some films for people to enjoy rewatching them over and over. If you've enjoyed a film a lot, whether it's a no-brainer popcorn movie or not, you'll enjoy rewatching it a lot.

For my own fave films I would probably number the repeat viewings at anything from 5 - 50. There's a mix of what would be perceived as thoughtprovoking and deep, some complete no-brainer actioners that I find visually arresting, and some comedies that crack me up no matter how often I see them.

I'll also watch a good few films for nostalgia's sake whenever they're on TV - the films I loved as a kid, the likes of the Indiana Jones trilogy, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, anything with Steve Martin/Chevy Chase/Dan Ackroyd in it, Star Wars, etc etc.

When I was a teen I used to babysit once a week for a family that only had RTE1 and 2, back when TV scheduling used to end at around 11.30pm or so. They had only 1 video in their collection, so I ended up watching their copy of "Die Hard" once a week once TV programming had finished up for the night, every week for about 4 years. :eek: That's what, over 200 viewings! And what's worse, if Die Hard happens to be on TV, I'll still leave it on in the background and read or surf the net while it's on. I look on films as similar to music - if you love a certain band, you'll stick them on in the background while you're pottering about; it's the same with films for me.

In my defense though, I did study film and broadcasting at college many moons ago, so I tend to rewatch films a few times to analyse everything, and often rewatch films just to look at factors like editing or shot setups.

L31mr0d

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

Bizarre that someone would watch The Dark Knight that many times. It's not as if there's some hidden message or deep meaning in that film that you need to watch it over and over again. I'd understand numerous viewings of Mulholland Drive/Inland Empire/Magnolia/etc, but for TDK it's just silly.

Read up about Game Theory and its relation to the The Dark Knight as its riddled with nods to some of the fundamentals of it. The Joker seems to be a keen advocate of game theory and its general conclusions, although he miscalculated a variable at the end which is why he failed.

Batman tries to explain it off as the fact that the people where necessarily good, but the real reason is that the joker introduced too many variables into the game. In most instances survival tends to trump morality when given a situation where only those two options are available.

Knowing this and the Jokers use of game theory made watching it a lot more interesting the second time around.

Blisterman

Typically once, then wait 3/4 years, until I've forgotten most of it, then watch again.

Exceptions are films I love, or ones with great soundtracks, which I find makes an alright movie a lot more watchable.

User45701

User45701 wrote: »

Fair play on the giving things a 2nd watch, i watch allot of B-movies which tbh can be hard to give a 2nd watch if you didnt enjoy them the first time

I would be the same as you on serenity, the main reason i bought a HD DVD player was because they where being recalled and i wanted to have that movie in HD, ive lost count the amount of times.

But Dark Night? Watched it once and well i was bored at parts, ive never been a big batman fan, Great acting and all but the movie just didnt hold my interest i was all for getting home and watching the new house when we where in the cinema.
But i do plan to give it another watch ive heard its worth one even if its just for the sfx on bluray.

I too watch a lot of B movies and find that certain films may be dreadful on first viewing but slapped on on a Sunday afternoon and they can be great fun second time round.

The Dark Knight on Blu Ray is amazing to look at, especially the scenes shot on the IMax cameras. I find myself pausing the film over and over again in order to take in all the detail.

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

Bizarre that someone would watch The Dark Knight that many times. It's not as if there's some hidden message or deep meaning in that film that you need to watch it over and over again. I'd understand numerous viewings of Mulholland Drive/Inland Empire/Magnolia/etc, but for TDK it's just silly.

Was going to point out the game theoy aspect but L31mr0d beat me to it. You don't have to watch a film a second time in search of a deeper meaning nor should you. If you enjoy a film and enjoy rewatching it what's the harm?

Take a film such the Punisher or Taken, two films that I really enjoy and have seen a number of times at this stage. I rewatch them because I enjoy the experience, I'm not searching for deeper meaning or subtle messages just 90 odd minutes of fun.

senordingdong

I've lost count of the amount of times I've watched Rambo (IV).

But to put things in perspective, I've watched it three times in 24 hours.

ThOnda

Well, I am repeatedly getting back to interesting films - Pulp Fiction, Dead Man's Shoes, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Apocalypse Now (redux), The Doors, 12 Monkeys (I didn't get it at the first time), Fight Club (the same reason), Life of Brian, Save the Green Planet,...
- I have just realised that I am a pretty depressive person :eek:

Well if I like the movie enough, it goes on what I like to call my "Desert Island DVD" list. Obviously they're movies I'm happy to watch time and time again and not get bored - in fact, if I'm browsing over DVD's looking for one to watch, I'll often find my hand straying to them over movies that I haven't watched as often.

They don't have to be "Citizen Kane" quality, I just love them. Millions probably wouldn't.

A quick list off the top of my head:

1. Conan the Barbarian
2. Batman Begins
3. V for Vendetta
4. Master and Commander
5. Revenge of the Sith

But hey, that's just me!

Hande hoche!

Have seen Commando at least twenty times.Including sober,drunk and playing the commando drinking game.

Super-Rush

Believe it or not back in the day of VHS i watched Waynes World 1 so many times i knew the entire script for each character verbatim. I then started to watch it with the sound off a do the talking myself. I won a lot of money doing that ....i know i know i'm a sad fcuker but i lived in the middle of nowhere and really had nothing else to do back then.

pickarooney

I'd very rarely watch a film more than once. There are just so many other films to watch I feel like I'm wasting precious time watching something I've already seen.

Vamoose Killers

Hande hoche! wrote: »

Have seen Commando at least twenty times.Including sober,drunk and playing the commando drinking game.

See, that's fair enough. The film has been around for years so I can understand someone watching it so many times. But it's pathetic for someone to have watched the same film in a cinema 37 times.

Also, some of the choices here are astonishing. John Rambo??

Vamoose Killers

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

See, that's fair enough. The film has been around for years so I can understand someone watching it so many times. But it's pathetic for someone to have watched the same film in a cinema 37 times.

Also, some of the choices here are astonishing. John Rambo??

How is it pathetic? Generally when I go to the cinema I will watch 2 films, the fact that I chose to watch the same film repeatedly because I really enjoyed it is'nt that big a deal. Would itg have been more acceptable if I had used that money to go out and get off my tits drunk?

Also I think you'll find that a lot of people have seen Rambo dozens of times. You see all a film has to do is entertain the viewer and one which do so successfully can be watched over and over again with the enjoyment factor never lessened.

Pigman II

Do you have a cineworld (or similar) card at least? I think it'd be a bit mental to spend over 300 euro going to the same movie. Also out of interest, how many days would these 37 viewings have been spread over?

Vamoose Killers

What was it like on the 28th viewing?

Not sure why you've brought drinking and clubbing into this, a little bit odd that. Ever think of checking out some of the other releases in the cinema? Seeing one film 37 times doesn't leave you with much time for the other ones out there. And I'm afraid to ask you how many times it's been viewed on dvd.

John Rambo was one of the worst cinematic experiences I had last year. I was surprised I lasted the one time.

Pigman II

Pigman II wrote: »

Do you have a cineworld (or similar) card at least? I think it'd be a bit mental to spend over 300 euro going to the same movie. Also out of interest, how many days would these 37 viewings have been spread over?

I don't unfortunatly. I generallt=y go to the cinema 3 times a week and will usually watch 2-3 films each time, depending on the mood.

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

What was it like on the 28th viewing?

Not sure why you've brought drinking and clubbing into this, a little bit odd that. Ever think of checking out some of the other releases in the cinema? Seeing one film 37 times doesn't leave you with much time for the other ones out there. And I'm afraid to ask you how many times it's been viewed on dvd.

John Rambo was one of the worst cinematic experiences I had last year. I was surprised I lasted the one time.

It was as much fun on the 27th viewing as it was on the 2nd or 9th. The reason I brought drinking into it was that some of us don't see the point of going out and gettign wasted every night we go out and the cinema can be the only other option outside of the big cities. Also I'm fairly certain that I see more films in the cinema and on DVD than most.

And as far as Rambo goes, well you're just wrong. It was 90 mintues which delivered exactly what it promised. Oodles of mindless violence and fun.

Vamoose Killers

My opinion is wrong? Haha, good one. I'm glad you used the word 'mindless' when discussing the turd of a film John Rambo. I can think of numerous terms for that movie but I won't even go there.

I'm still lost as to why you're still yapping about drinking. And I'd be pretty certain you're the only person to have watched TDK 37 times. You rawk!