Movies are a linear, narrative-driven, and passive form of entertainment, making them quite challenging to revisit, unlike video games. But some of them defy this trend, making the thrills feel fresh every time. Here are several of my favorites.
10
I Love You, Man (2009)
Watch I Love You, Man on Apple TV
The journey of Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd), a socially awkward man who needs to find a best man by going on several “man dates,” is hilarious. He ends up meeting Sydney Fife (Jason Segel), who encourages him to be more confident and spontaneous. I Love You, Man is infinitely rewatchable due to the great chemistry between Rudd and Segel, as well as its timeless themes of friendship, self-discovery, and boundary-pushing explored through the lens of a mildly toxic bromance.
9
Die Hard (1988)
Watch Die Hard on Amazon Prime Video
Although disputed by some, Die Hard is often considered a Christmas movie due to its setting and holiday themes. Bruce Willis plays John McClane, a cop trapped in Nakatomi Plaza, who must single-handedly take down heavily armed terrorists. Die Hard has action, humor, and a memorable villain, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman)—all of which can be enjoyed over and over, regardless of the season.
8
Groundhog Day (1993)
Watch Groundhog Day on Netflix
Groundhog Day tells the story of a cynical weatherman, Phil (Bill Murray), who relives February 2nd repeatedly. It has since inspired several time-loop movies, but it was unique at the time for blending humor, heart, romance, and existential themes like purpose and redemption (Phil gradually transforms from selfish to selfless). It has become such a cultural phenomenon that people call it “Groundhog Day” when life starts to feel repetitive and monotonous.
7
The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)
Watch Batman Begins on HBO Max
Batman Begins is praised for presenting a grounded and darker version of the Caped Crusader. The Dark Knight gave us one of the most iconic villains in the form of Heath Ledger’s The Joker. And The Dark Knight Rises capped off the trilogy with an epic conclusion to the story.
At first, I hated The Dark Knight Trilogy because it changed my view of Batman—a highly-trained vigilante who takes down super villains with his fists and wits. The grounded take explores justice, chaos, and heroism in a way that doesn’t get old, even with repeat viewings.
6
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Watch Edge of Tomorrow on Apple TV
I’m a huge gamer, and Edge of Tomorrow clicked with me because it feels like you’re watching a roguelite video game. In the movie, the world is fighting off an alien invasion, and the main character, Cage (Tom Cruise), gains the ability to reset the day every time he dies.
Edge of Tomorrow rewards multiple viewings as you notice Cage subtly master each scenario through repetition. On top of that, the well-choreographed action, clever humor, and the chemistry between Cruise and Emily Blunt are compelling every time I watch it.
5
Hereditary (2018)
Watch Hereditary on Apple TV
Hereditary explores the power of generational curses, as a family deals with a series of sinister events after their grandmother, who was deeply involved with the occult, dies. It’s a gritty drama about grief and trauma with a supernatural horror twist, and the subtle details and foreshadowing require you to watch it over and over again to fully grasp and appreciate.
Even after the shock value has worn off, it’s endlessly entertaining to watch the family deal with the horrible legacy their grandmother left behind.
4
The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Watch The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on HBO Max
The Lord of the Rings movies are considered peak cinema for their epic story, deep lore, memorable characters, and immersive world. You need to watch them again and again to understand the intricate depth, timeless themes (e.g., love, friendship, loyalty, hope, and sacrifice), and richness of the world J.R.R. Tolkien created.
Director Peter Jackson displayed cinematic craftsmanship when bringing Middle-earth to life, with the New Zealand landscapes, costume designs, and special effects. Let us also not forget the unforgettable musical score by Howard Shore. The movies are beautiful and exciting, no matter how many times you watch them.
3
Iron Man (2008)
Watch Iron Man on Disney Plus
It’s always fun to watch Iron Man again, especially with hindsight of the events that follow between Phases 1 to 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This is where it all started, with a genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), creating a high-tech suit of armor. The film had a lot going for it, but the performance of Downey Jr., Tony’s growth, action scenes, well-aged CGI, and humor keep me coming back to it.
2
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Watch Top Gun: Maverick on Apple TV
When Paramount Pictures announced the sequel to Top Gun (1986), many of us were skeptical and feared it could ruin the original. But leave it to Tom Cruise to make something better, with thrilling aerial sequences, nostalgic callbacks, and a bit of heart. It grossed over a billion during its theatrical run and continues to be a huge hit on streaming because it’s worth seeing more than once or twice.
1
Fight Club (1999)
Watch Fight Club on HBO Max
No one ever forgets the first rule of Fight Club, which I’m about to break here. Initially a box office flop, but now a cult classic, Fight Club is about a man, referred to as the Narrator (Edward Norton), who co-founds an underground fight club run by Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) that helps him escape his monotonous corporate life.
Fight Club has a huge twist that will make you admire the psychological depth. But even after you know it, you still want to watch it for the epic fights and intense performances. It’s also interesting to see how a club about dudes wailing on each other at the end of the day transforms into an anarchist movement.
I have found over the years that if I revisit these movies, I tend to forget that I’ve already watched them before and get engrossed. The emotional impact remains just as powerful, and I don’t have that “I wish I could watch it again for the first time” feeling because they just get better with subsequent views. I will no doubt watch them all again before the year is up.
