What makes a movie rewatchable? There must be a thrilling plot, a cast of relatable and engaging characters, and the movie should be an amalgamation of genres to create the prime crowd-pleasing experience. Rewatchability thrives on giving audiences new and fun things to discover each time. The movies must stand the test of time and stay fresh in the action, jokes, or scares. Just like the way the dinosaurs still look real in Jurassic Park or the jokes in Mean Girls still burn, rewatchable movies keep us coming back for more.

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Films perfect for repeat viewings should possess an element of escapism. They should take viewers out of their day-to-day world and transport them to another place and time on-screen. These films are universal and possess more than a little movie magic.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Sam Neill vs a T-Rex in Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park brings dinosaurs into the present and pits human against nature in a battle of survival. Director Steven Spielberg's '90s epic molds his phenomenal ensemble cast into an on-screen surrogate family whom viewers can't help but root for. Their crackling chemistry is as engaging now as it was then.

Movies that try and scare the audience can often lose their fear factor as film technology develops and special effects look dated. However, Spielberg's combination of animatronics, puppets, and CGI give the dinosaurs a fleshed-out, realistic feel, making them scary to first-time, second-time, or tenth-time viewers.

Spirited Away (2001)

A still from Spirited Away
Image via Disney

This film demands a rewatch based solely on its stunning visuals. Spirited Away is one of the famed director Hayao Miyazaki's greatest films. It actually takes multiple rewatches just to pick up on all the fine details included in its animation and story-telling.

You don't have to be an anime fan to appreciate this fable, which appeals to filmgoers of all ages. Everyone can relate to the central character's fears of being alone and Spirited Away's family-centric theme.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Heath Ledger as the Joker in the streets of Gotham in The Dark Knight
Image via Warner Bros.

The Dark Knight puts forth one heck of a hero vs. villain battle. As chaos and order respectively, Heath Ledger's Joker and Christian Bale's Batman exist on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum. What makes The Dark Knight such a great superhero movie are the performances from its leads, particularly Ledger, who won a posthumous Oscar for his role.

Director Christopher Nolan pits his opposing characters against the backdrop of a Gotham on the brink of anarchy. The cinematography and score by Hans Zimmer create a brooding Gotham, keeping viewers firmly inside Batman's world. The city may be on the brink of corruption, but that certainly hasn't stopped audiences from coming back.

Mean Girls (2004)

Lohan in Mean Girls as Cady
Image via Paramount Pictures

Teen movies exploded in the '80s with John Hughes' movies and continued well into the '90s. The 2000s and beyond saw a decrease in these films' popularity, but Mean Girls will always be remembered as a classic of the genre thanks to its relatable fish-out-of-water concept and Tina Fey's hilarious script. Many fans know every word of the movie off by heart, but that's just another reason for a rewatch.

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Almost 20 years later, fans are still exchanging Mean Girls quotes from "Get in loser, we're going shopping" to "That is so fetch!' to "You go, Glen Coco!" There's even a Mean Girls day; it's October 3rd.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

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Image via Miramax

Boasting an ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors and a few Hollywood mainstays, Pulp Fiction launched indie director Quentin Tarantino into the mainstream. The film delivers a jigsaw puzzle of interwoven narratives, all of which converge with kinetic power at the film's conclusion. But rewatches are less about following the plot and more about watching the characters play off each other.

The wild pacing of the film plays out against a backdrop of Hollywood sleaze and violence, shown through the point-of-view of the desperate anti-heroes trying to survive and make a buck. Funny, subversive, and action-packed, Pulp Fiction is a fun movie to watch all the way through or browse through viewers' favorite scenes.

Back To The Future (1985)

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Image via Universal Pictures

Back to the Future has an exciting science-fiction time-travel premise: a kid goes back in time to see what his parents were like at his age. Would they turn out to be cool or dorks? Would he want to be friends with the younger versions of his mom and dad? These are questions audiences can never get tired of asking upon rewatches.

The film introduced sci-fi themes typically regulated to episodes of The Outer Limits and comic books, and made them accessible and engaging to movie audiences. The many "what if" situations the film presents provide endless fodder for viewers to think about.

The Matrix (1999)

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The Matrix revolutionized special effects when it came out in 1999. It was the first film to employ "bullet-time," a special effect utilizing multiple cameras and vantage points to give off the effect of an actor bending time and space to dodge bullets. In addition, it was the first major blockbuster to combine philosophical themes with cutting-edge special effects.

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The film has many rewatchable action sequences, including the karate training sessions between Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). One can rewatch and follow the breadcrumbs of the film’s philosophy or enjoy Neo and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) battling agents in the movie’s innovative action sequences, which combine CGI and hand-to-hand combat.

Toy Story (1995)

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Since its release in 1995, Toy Story has influenced decades of animated kids’ films, but few come close to the rewatchable appeal of Toy Story. Why? For one, it’s cast. Tim Allen and Tom Hanks provide a lovable and relatable on-screen friendship through the avatars of child playthings, Buzz Lightyear and Woody. The animated film was a benchmark for CGI in the early '90s, and it's the combined talents of Pixar and Disney that inspired the next three decades of computer-animated films.

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The movie balances action, humor, and emotional resonance as thoroughly as a live-action film. In addition, spot-on voice-casting and a simple premise allow Toy Story to unite viewers of every age around the story of letting something beloved go.

What's Love Got To Do With It (1993)

Tina Turner singing on stage in Whats Love Got to Do With It?

Tina Turner is beloved for her electric performances and songs. What's Love Got to Do With It brings this kinetic energy to the screen with a movie that loyal and newcomer fans alike can enjoy more than once. There is so much here that's ripe for repeat viewings: the outfits, the songs, and most of all, Angela Bassett's charismatic and soulful performance as Turner.

Turner is a legend, and audiences will never grow tired of wanting her to watch her overcome adversity and become a music icon.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Arnold Schwarznegger on motorcycle in Terminator 2

Terminator 2: Judgement Day used state-of-the-art special effects for its time to bring the film's futuristic androids to life. The tension during the film's chase sequences is beyond intense, especially the motorcycle chase through the Los Angeles aqueduct. The movie's violence never loosens its grip as Arnold Schwarzenegger's titular character tries to fulfill his mission to protect humankind's savior, John Connor.

Director James Cameron made the bold move to turn Schwarzenegger's android, the main villain in the original, into the protagonist in the sequel. The gamble paid off and the battle for robot supremacy between Schwarzenegger and his futuristic upgrade, the T-1000, is one of the most rewatchable parts of the film.

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