Time To Start Rewatching Your Favorite Movie Again And Again Because Science Says So
by N/A, 8 years ago |
3 min read
It's that time of the year again to rewatch your favorite Halloween classics, and soon after that, your favorite holiday films, and soon after that, well... the cycle starts all over again. Believe it or not, rewatching your favorite flicks for the 20th time is actually good for your well-being.
Halloween is a time for dress up, pumpkin patches, and of course, rewatching your favorite scary movies.
Hocus Pocus, Scream, and The Nightmare Before Christmas are always your go-to's.
It's comforting to recite your favorite lines over and over and over again.
It's also good for your brain, too. The nostalgia you get from rewatching movies can make you feel more stable and happy remembering the past, according to a 2012 study.
The study was conducted by Cristel Antonia Russell and Sidney J. Levy to explore why people tend to rewatch their favorite movies and shows.
The psychological term for it is "Repeated Hedonic Experiences," aka wanting to watch "Scream" for the millionth time to get a good, familiar scare.
When you watch a movie again, you gain a sense of control over what's going on, the study says.
If you know one part is boring, disturbing, or just too emotional to handle, you can easily fast-forward through it. There's no surprises.
You'll feel exactly the same emotional response you did when you first saw the film, whether it's terror, love, or empowerment. That feeling is ultimately what we're looking for when we rewatch something.
"Watching the same movie reaffirms that there is order in the world," Pamela Rutledge, a psychologist tells Men's Health. "Our primitive brains are hardwired to keep us safe, so the unknown future can cause anxiety. Knowing a film’s outcome creates a sense of safety and therefore comfort on a primal level."
This is also why kids enjoy watching the same movies. In addition to providing comfort, it reassures them that there is order in the world.
"Children like repetition," Lisa Belkin wrote in the New York Times. It offers reassurance that the world is a predictable place, as well as the confidence of mastering one corner of that world."
It's a cycle and habit that we become familiar with.
Let's be honest though, there's nothing wrong with watching "Hocus Pocus" and other classics over and over again. Now you know that the nostalgia is actually doing you good.
What are your favorite movies to rewatch?
