The Best Movies To Rewatch
Whether animated classics, paranormal comedies, or action-thrillers, what these films have in common is their watchability and their rewatchability. A big part of the success of these films is the fans' easy access to copies on VHS and DVD, as kids’ home theater libraries became a central element to any rec room, ensuring endless reviewing of favorite movies. These are some of the best movies to watch again and again.
Back To The Future (1985)
Robert Zemeckis’ timeless classic spawned two sequels and became one of the most beloved franchises in movie history. The original holds up as a thrilling and funny adventure and it turned TV’s Michael J Fox into a star.
Universal Pictures, Back to the Future (1985)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
A prison movie may seem unlikely to attract mass appeal, but this is more than a simple jailbreak story. Stephen King’s original story is about redemption with a classic twist while this adaptation adds details, strengthening the bonds between the two leads. This has continued to be a fan-favorite since its 1994 release.
Warner Bros., The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
After Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and before E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, director Steven Spielberg captivated audiences with this compelling and watchable action-adventure. A witty historical story with Harrison Ford outwitting Nazis, Raiders of the Lost Ark is extremely rewatchable.
Paramount, Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Doing in the early 1990s what he did in the early 1980s, director Steven Spielberg brought out another high-concept adventure. A theme park with dinosaurs brought back to life, Jurassic Park used cutting-edge special effects and a compelling story to bring Michael Crichton’s best-selling novel to the big screen, bridging science fiction, real science, and action-adventure.
Universal, Jurassic Park (1993)
Toy Story (1995)
Aside from Disney productions, animated feature films have rarely been given much attention or respect. There wasn’t even an Academy Award category for animated features until 2002. Toy Story from 1995 changed all that, with an engrossing story of sentient toys that was groundbreaking as an animated film for all audiences, becoming an instant classic.
Shrek (2001)
Shrek remains a fan favorite due to its clever takes on classic fairy tale tropes and the talent of its cast. The story and message are wholesome and sweet but Shrek remains subversive enough to reward multiple viewings.
Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone has two big things going for it: It’s a timeless tale of payback and revenge and it’s also a holiday classic. Watching Kevin’s elaborate defense of his house is a rewarding watch no matter how many times you’ve seen it and it now exists as a beloved holiday tradition.
Twentieth Century, Home Alone (1990)
Ghostbusters (1984)
As a comedy, Ghostbusters is solid, with great performances, but it also works as a paranormal tale with enough detail and lore to make repeated viewings satisfying. In 1984, Ghostbusters was everywhere, as a film, a hit song, and even an SNL sketch about the phenomenon. Even with the sequels and reboots, the original film still holds up.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy exists within the Marvel Universe, which almost guarantees success. More than that, however, the movie holds up as a great story with unique characters. As a stand-alone movie, Guardians of the Galaxy holds its own.
Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Men In Black (1997)
Like Ghostbusters, Men in Black is a comedy and a paranormal story. It holds up because the story is compelling, there’s solid background and lore, and the performances are top-level. With its mix of humor and action, it warrants repeated viewings.
Die Hard (1988)
As an action film with wit and an exciting story, Die Hard was always guaranteed success beyond its initial run. Launching Bruce Willis’ career, Die Hard remains a fan-favorite and will forever be the source of a classic debate: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
Twentieth Century, Die Hard (1988)
The Lion King (1994)
Disney films tend to succeed as rewatchable, and The Lion King lives on for a generation raised on VHS tapes, ideal for endless repeated viewings. The story is exciting, the music memorable, and the animation first-class. The Lion King remains a timeless classic.
Walt Disney, The Lion King (1994)
The Goonies (1985)
For Gen X, The Goonies is a moment in time that lives on in repeated viewings. A story about misfits in an exciting adventure remains a fan favorite and a cult classic about friendship, filled with humor and action.
Warner Bros., The Goonies (1985)
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Part of the new wave of animated films that came out after Toy Story, Monsters, Inc. is a heartwarming story. It’s a compelling story and features top-notch voice acting and groundbreaking animation. Like The Lion King, Toy Story, and Shrek, Monsters, Inc. was a staple of children’s VHS libraries.
Walt Disney, Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Beetlejuice (1988)
A recent successful sequel points to the enduring popularity of this paranormal comedy. With typical Tim Burton dark humor mixed with genuine horror, Beetlejuice, like Ghostbusters before it, managed to combine comedy and horror in a compelling way. It was a great story and contained enough lore to reward multiple viewings.
The Geffen Company, Beetlejuice (1988)
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
A thrilling adventure filled with humor, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the third Indiana Jones movie and is worthy of the original. With Sean Connery as Indy’s father, he and Harrison Ford play well off each other, and much like the first film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a well-written, witty, and exciting action film.
Paramount, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Initially not a hit, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory became a central movie in the Gen X collective memory. Filled with great songs, a wonderful story, and just enough weirdness to truly be a 1970s film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory continues to captivate audiences and it’s in no small part due to Gene Wilder’s classic performance as Willy Wonka.
Wolper Pictures, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a classic swashbuckling adventure. It contains enough darkness and lore to bear repeated viewings and is especially renowned for its inspired performances.
Walt Disney, Pirates Of The Caribbean- The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
Jumanji (1995)
A family movie night staple, Jumanji is a tour-de-force for Robin Williams. A thrilling adventure about a magical jungle world, Jumanji is filled with enough heart and critical acclaim to ensure its watchability.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Immensely quotable with a timeless soundtrack, The Breakfast Club is the ultimate 1980s teenage film. A coming-of-age story that didn’t talk down to its audience, this John Hughes film is considered one of the best teen movies of all time, resonating with audiences with its honest look at adolescence.
Universal, The Breakfast Club (1985)
Iron Man (2008)
The film that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man was also Robert Downey Jr’s return to box office success. A thriller filled with wit and action, Iron Man is ultimately about redemption and contains enough high-tech gadgetry and special effects to satisfy any fan of the superhero genre.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Innovative in its filmmaking techniques and dominated by Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance, Forrest Gump is one of the most successful films of all time. A movie about history and love, Forrest Gump managed to please both audiences and critics and, rare for a live-action drama, it remains immensely rewatchable.
Paramount, Forrest Gump (1994)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Empire Strikes Back is generally considered to be the best of all the Star Wars films. With amazing set pieces on the frozen planet Hoth and the jungle planet Dagobah, The Empire Strikes Back is a thrilling story, with special effects that still hold up and one of the most famous plot twists in movie history.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (2001)
One of the biggest films in history, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is about magic and friendship and captured the imaginations of a generation of children. With its focus on wizardry and self-discovery, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone launched a huge film franchise.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (2001)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Christmas films tend to be favorites for rewatching and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a classic holiday comedy. Chaotic yet relatable, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation manages to find that line between laugh-out-loud funny and heartwarming. Despite its at times crude humor and strong language, it nevertheless remains a family holiday favorite.
Hughes Entertainment, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight is part of the larger Batman franchise, but it stands out as uniquely compelling, focusing on the chaos enacted by The Joker. Batman, walking that thin line between justice and revenge, fights crime in Gotham City as a moody anti-hero. Is he a hero or a vigilante? And how different is he from The Joker?
Warner Bros., The Dark Knight (2008)
Jaws (1975)
One of the first summer blockbuster films, Jaws is a great story that’s genuinely terrifying, even when you’ve watched it more than once. The film was groundbreaking and it featured great performances from Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss.
The Green Mile (1999)
Like The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile is based on a Stephen King story about prison. However, where The Shawshank Redemption was about friendship and justice, The Green Mile’s setting on death row is harrowing and tragic. Great performances and a powerful story ensure repeated viewings.
Castle Rock, The Green Mile (1999)
The Princess Bride (1987)
Seemingly out of nowhere, The Princess Bride managed to be an immensely quotable (and meme-able) film that combined adventure and comedy. With an epic quest and unforgettable performances, The Princess Bride remains a fan favorite.
Act III Communications, The Princess Bride (1987)
The Avengers (2012)
One of the most successful films of all time, The Avengers’ thrilling action and solid ensemble cast make this more than a superhero movie. A story about a threat to Earth and a group of heroes who need to work together to save it, The Avengers holds up as a timeless classic.
The Mummy (1999)
Mixing history, horror and action, The Mummy is a suspenseful epic film. The story and lore are compelling and the movie was genuinely scary enough to prove to be a big hit. It remains a favorite for repeated viewings.
Independence Day (1996)
This is an epic adventure and a solid action and science-fiction movie. A group united by fate and circumstances must save Earth from an alien invasion and the story holds up well, as does the action and special effects.
Twentieth Century, Independence Day (1996)
Mrs Doubtfire (1993)
A tour-de-force for Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire is also a heartwarming story about a father’s love for his children. A family comedy, Mrs Doubtfire was a perfect vehicle for Robin Williams’ mix of chaos and warmth and it remains a fan favorite.
Twentieth Century, Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Another 1980s teen classic, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is about a smart teenager who manages to outwit his family and school principal on a day playing hooky. A citywide adventure in Chicago follows as Ferris and his two friends explore the larger world while dodging the principle.
Paramount, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
A terrifying film about a brilliant serial killer, The Silence of the Lambs won all five top category Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adaptive Screenplay, and Best Lead Actor and Lead Actress Oscars for Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. A psychological thriller, The Silence of the Lambs has captivated audiences since its release.
Orion, The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001–2003)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy managed to do the unthinkable: faithfully realize JRR Tolkien’s epic and complex trilogy in film form. Director Peter Jackson did this in three consecutive years, producing a compelling and watchable story filled with groundbreaking special effects and top-notch acting. Each film was nominated for Best Picture, with the final film, The Return of the King finally winning—although many fans see the three parts as one epic feature film.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)
The third installment of the Harry Potter series lives up to the first, and then some. Far darker than the first two films, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban continues the story of the now-adolescent Harry Potter and his friends navigating the secrets of the school—and Harry himself.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983)
The third Star Wars film remains a fan favorite. Perhaps not as good as The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi nevertheless contains key elements that fans treasure: Han Solo coming back from suspended animation, Jabba the Hutt, and Luke Skywalker’s continued battle with the dark side. It even has the Ewoks, which fans remain divided over, but the action sequences remain top-notch.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo continued the trend in animation of producing well-written stories filled with humor. One of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, Finding Nemo is to kids in the 2000s what Toy Story was to kids in the 1990s: Children’s home collections (now as DVDs) always contained a copy, perfect for endless reviewing. Today, it's one of the best films to rewatch—but a new fan theory suggests the movie is far darker than we thought.
Some fans believe that Nemo isn’t real and is instead a figment of Marlin’s imagination. The theory goes that all of the eggs were destroyed, and Marlin made up Nemo as way to cope with his grief. The rescue mission he goes on teaches him to be a good father, even after the tragic loss of his family. Adding some support to the theory is that “nemo” means “nobody” in Latin—however, there are also many ways to debunk this theory. So, what do you think really happened? Let us know in the comments section!
