I was flipping through my cable guide the other night trying to figure out what to watch, and it got me thinking. As I kept stopping on re-runs of television shows and movies that I had already seen, I realized that while I could watch something new, I chose to watch something that I knew I would definitely enjoy…something I had already seen. Now I suppose it could have just been the mood that I was in at the time, because I do love watching new movies and TV shows (especially if I have them in bulk on DVD), however I thoroughly enjoy the re-watch.

I mean if you think about it, you wouldn’t buy a movie to add to your own DVD collection unless you knew it were something you’d like to watch more than once again (otherwise you could just rent it and send it back into the world). Think of your favorite movie…how many times have you seen it? Think of your favorite sitcom…does it ever get old? I mean I can watch Friends every day and still laugh (along with all of the shows on The Zone obviously). I need to watch It’s a Wonderful Life and Home Alone every year around the holidays or it’s just not the holidays.

I think it is partly the sheer admiration for the object of your cinematic affection that inspires the re-watch, but I also think that it’s partly the nostalgia for the time and place and company that you first watched it in that can impact it’s re-watchability. For example, right now I am watching Definitely, Maybe, a pretty good, heartwarming film. When I watch it, I think of the Valentines Day when my friends and I went out for Sushi, got to the movie late and almost didn’t get seats…but we did! It was a good night, a pretty good movie, and therefore a delightful option for a re-watch.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the re-watch?