Let’s face it, most movies are forgettable. They’re designed to charm and thrill the first time around, but there’s no value beyond that. You’ll forget about them as soon as the credits roll and move on to another film…Well, not these 7 films, these are the Best Movies to Rewatch.
These movies, made by some of the greatest filmmakers of our time, have everything a good movie has: compelling stories, memorable characters, and great visuals. But they manage to transcend even that, bringing such powerful influence to moviegoers that they keep getting rewatched over and over again. Whether by capturing timeless values, having themes resonant to its time, or simply offering aspirational comfort, these films have that X factor that keeps you coming back for more.
Here are the 7 best movies to rewatch (and why they’re better the second time)!
1. Inception
With the highly intricate dream heist movie Inception, filmmaker Christopher Nolan solidified himself as a master of the action-science fiction genre.
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The film follows a team of dream infiltrators, led by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Dom, whose job is to essentially steal someone’s secret by entering their dream. One day, Dom gets a new assignment from a ruthless businessman to do the reverse: to plant an idea in his rival’s dream to break up his company. Lured with the promise of freedom from a criminal record that prevents him from returning to his kids, Dom takes on the impossible task with an assortment of experts - played by an all-star ensemble including Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, and more. What unfolds next is some of the most ambitious, mind-bending spectacles ever put on cinema.
Why it's better the second time around
The film is notable for its trippy dream infiltration concept, which may be dazzling the first time around, but requires a great deal of concentration due to its complex nature. But once you get to that mind-boggling ending, you would want to go back to the beginning and experience it again. With more understanding of Nolan’s inception rules, subsequent times watching the film will have you in awe of all the easter eggs and subtle details he put throughout the movie.
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2. Get Out
In his directorial debut, Jordan Peele – then best known as one half of the comedy duo ‘Key & Peele’ – made such a splashy entry with the satirical horror Get Out. Made with a shoestring budget but a wholly original idea, Peele plays on themes of racial relations, cultural appropriation, and modern slavery. The story revolves around a young black man (played with aching perfection by Daniel Kaluuya) who follows his white girlfriend to visit her family at their vast estate. He begins noticing strange things about the black employees at the house and the girl’s cloyingly friendly parents. His suspicion leads to a horrifying revelation about the family’s “I voted for Obama and ally with black people“ facade.
Why it’s better the second time around
Get Out’s twist is both wickedly smart and terrifying at the same time. Once you recover from it, though, subsequent watches will allow you to appreciate all the social commentaries Peele infused in the story, not to mention the carefully planted clues that were there all along.
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3. Interstellar
In this space adventure epic, Nolan once again showcases his dazzling vision and penchant for trippy science fiction.
At the beginning of Interstellar, Earth is dying. An ex-NASA pilot (Matthew McConaughey) is called back from retirement to undertake a mission to find a new, hospitable planet for mankind. To do that, he has to abandon his two young kids without any guaranteed return. The dangerous mission takes him to the edge of space and time, literally, and nearly costs him everything but his transcendent love for his children.
Best Movies to Rewatch
Starring an Oscar-calibre cast that includes McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, and more, the film is as meditative as it is splendid. It has everything from action, sci-fi to tearjerking drama, which probably makes it Nolan’s most wholesome creation.
Why it’s better the second time around
The film’s visual splendor, lensed by Hoyte van Hoytema, begs for multiple appreciations. And the film’s thematic resonance, which touches on climate change, human perseverance, and the preciousness of time, grows ever more poignant the more you watch it.
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4. Star Wars
Best Movies to Rewatch
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a young farm boy on a remote planet gets roped into an intergalactic adventure that brings him face to face with the evil Empire. George Lucas’ 1977 space opera forever altered sci-fi and blockbuster filmmaking and gave birth to a cult-like fandom that thrives through generations.
Why it’s better the second time around
There is a reason this film inspired the next generations of creators all over the world. The film is the epitome of a hero’s journey done right, something timeless and universal, imbued with such potent creativity that it transports audiences into an escapist world you wish you’d never leave.
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5. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) gets uprooted from his calm village life into a life-and-death battle against the evil Lord Sauron over a powerful ring. Along with a mishmash band of men, an elf, a wizard, and a dwarf, Frodo sets out on a treacherous mission that will determine the fate of the world. Adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal fantasy novels, the trilogy is the most awarded film trilogy in history, boasting record-breaking achievements and an enduring legacy.
Best Movies to Rewatch
Why it’s better the second time around
Directed by Peter Jackson, all three films define filmmaking at the highest order. No aspect of it is lacking, from visual, production, story, to acting. The result is a well-realized worldbuilding that just feels so immersive every time you step into it, from the idyllic village of Shire, the majestic elven abode of Rivendell, to the fiery hellscape of Mordor.
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6. The Holiday
In Nancy Meyers’ sumptuous romantic comedy, two strangers – one in LA (Cameron Diaz), one in Surrey, England (Kate Winslet) – decide to swap houses over Christmas to nurse their broken hearts. Each woman would then encounter unexpected romantic rendezvous set against the beautiful holiday season backdrop.
Best Movies to Rewatch
Why it’s better the second time around
Meyers’ gorgeous set and warmhearted vibe feel like a comforting hug on a snowy day, rendering this film a favorite pick for regular rewatch, especially around the holiday season.
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7. Parasite
With this sharply acerbic black comedy about class inequality, South Korean auteur Bong Joon Ho made history as the first ever foreign film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. The film is about a poor family that infiltrates a wealthy family by posing as their employees. Things gradually develop into a cat-and-mouse game of secret identities and dissemination of class systems.
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Best Movies to Rewatch
Why it’s better the second time around
Utilizing clever symbolisms and metaphors, the film offers a layered experience that becomes clearer by watching it multiple times. It is a masterful work worthy of being analyzed beyond its shiny veneer.
