Everybody has a favorite film, but those aren’t always ones that are easy to watch. Sometimes they’re too long, too scary, or too enthralling to watch every day. There’s another category of movies that is better equipped for day-to-day watching. Now, most of these movies are pretty good too. They’re also great to watch over and over. They never get old.
This kind of movie is almost always entertaining. It’s hard to watch serious, airless dramas over and over again. An element of humor keeps things light without removing all of the dramatic tension. The movies that are the easiest to re-watch combine elements of drama and comedy to create an experience that is well-balanced, and engaging without becoming draining. Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule, and there are some films that might be missing from this list that can be found on our list of the most re-watchable movies of all time. With that in mind, here are 15 Movies You Can Watch Every Day And Not Get Tired of.
15. Halloween
It may seem jarring to suggest that a horror movie can be well-balanced, but Halloween is, in its own way. It’s also the only horror entry on this list, and for good reason. It’s hard to re-watch horror regularly, because the whole thing can become too frightening. With Halloween, though, it’s almost like a drug. Jamie Lee Curtis’ debut role facing off against an escaped patient from an insane asylum is proof enough of why she became a star, and it helps the film separate itself from typical slasher fare.
While it may not seem like an asset, Halloweenis also fairly low-budget, which means that it has to do more with less– a skill that often feels like it’s been lost in Hollywood today. Halloween is a terrifying experience, but a really good one. Horror today can be too reliant on jump scares and easy startles, but Halloween is horror done right, and it’ll produce more than enough thrills to get you through a dull day.
14. Grease
Movie musicals weren’t exactly a new thing when Greasecame out, but Grease perfected a particular form of them. The film is as tightly paced as can be, and what’s more, it’s filled to the brim with excellent songs. Of course, Grease really tells a fairly simple story; one of teenage love that is made harder by the cliques that so dominate your life during that period.
As Danny and Sandy, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are an incredibly charming pair that are a large part of what makes the film so endlessly watchable. Grease also has its fair share of drama mixed into the music, especially through the character of Rizzo, who deals with a completely different, and far darker set of problems throughout the film. Of course, Grease is really anchored by its leads, and by the music they’re given the chance to sing. Grease is comforting and dark in equal measure, and it’s definitely worth a watch, maybe even daily.
13. The Matrix
Thematically, The Matrixis fairly simple, but it’s endlessly watchable. The revolutionary action still largely holds up, as do the wonderful supporting performances from Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne. Ultimately, what makes this movie so endlessly watchable, though, is the careful world-building that creates a setting unlike any that most had seen at the time.
It speaks to the lasting power of The Matrix that so many films have tried to copy it since its release. Of course, the story of a Chosen One who;s awakened to a whole new world is the most basic form of storytelling, but The Matrix couples this with a unique and distinctive visual palette– one that actually makes the film stand out. While it’s easy to find the philosophy in the film fairly rudimentary, it’s hard to deny the simple pleasure of watching The Matrix, a film that achieves exactly what it wants to. Sometimes that’s more than enough.
12. Animal House
Animal Houseis a straight-up comedy, and it’s all the better for it. Telling the story of college freshmen who decide to join a party-heavy fraternity, the film is really about fighting for one’s right to party, and boy, does this film do that. Animal House began an entire genre of party comedy that still exists today in basically everything that Seth Rogen makes.
Of course, the originals are almost always the best, and Animal House is no exception. John Belushi didn’t have a bevy of film roles, but his work here is certainly indicative of the wild and unrestrained energy that he brought to everything he did. On top of that, Animal House also manages to be a story about what college life is like through the eyes of unsuspecting freshmen, and it’s easy to get a little nostalgia about those days. The good news is, it’ll make you laugh too.
11. Dirty Dancing
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” That’s just one of the several iconic moments from Dirty Dancing, and it’s one of the reasons the movie is so easy to watch on repeat. Of course, there’s also the lift; the moment in cinema history that made many people try and fail to lift their loved ones into the air. In addition to the phenomenal final sequence and the incredible chemistry between Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing also manages to be fairly interesting for its social commentary.
At its core, this is a film about the conflict between classes, and the struggles of overcoming the pressures that come with that conflict. Dirty Dancing isn’t boring or dry, though. It’s a ton of fun right from its opening moment, and the additional thematic resonances only serve to make it a more satisfying experience. It’s an ’80s classic, and it’s the kind of film that doesn’t come along as much anymore. Savor it.
10. It’s a Wonderful Life
You may only watch this once a year on Christmas, but you could definitely see it more often.It’s a Wonderful Lifeis sweet, heartfelt, and honest film about seeing life with clear eyes. Jimmy Stewart’s performance as the blustering but well-meaning George Bailey is among the sweetest ever committed to film, and it’s backed by a story that’s worthy of it.
Bailey ultimately learns that the best way to live your life is by touching the lives of as many other people as possible. His life was great because it was good. That uplifting message, and the somewhat dark journey he takes to get there, are more than enough to motivate you to live your life to the fullest. It’s a Wonderful Life is an all-time classic, of course, but it’s also clever, touching, and deeply funny, even today. Watching it once a year isn’t enough. Bailey’s wonderful life should be seen every day.
9. Caddyshack
Caddyshack’s cast alone is enough to put it on this list. The combination of Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Ted Knight is more than enough, but Caddyshack is also the funniest sports comedy of all time. The story of a young caddie who’s just trying to earn money to go to college, this is a film structured around the delivery of outstanding jokes, and it does that incredibly well.
Movies like Caddyshack are rare, especially today. The humor in the film is at the fore in a way that most of today’s comedies seem terrified of. The fact that the movie is so packed with jokes actually helps its re-watchability. There are always new jokes and nuances to discover, and each is as beautifully executed as the last. The kinds of humor are also incredibly diverse. Bill Murray’s dopey-faced sensibility is entirely different from Chevy Chase’s faux-wisdom, but they work together beautifully, and make Caddyshack endlessly viewable.
8. Shaun of the Dead
Edgar Wright is a genius, and he’s a huge part of what makes Shaun of the Dead so wonderfully re-watchable. The esteemed director took on zombies, and he did not disappoint. The film follows Shaun, an average, run-of-the-mill electronics clerk who is forced to step up to a gargantuan task when the zombie apocalypse inexplicably begins.
Shaun of the Dead is so easy to re-watch because it’s a quintessentially fun experience. Wright’s skill lies in blending comedy and action, and that skill is on full display in this film. On top of that, the film is also tightly plotted from beginning to end. Every step of the film’s journey is set up in the opening moments, but that doesn’t make the ride any less enjoyable. Shaun of the Dead is a brilliant example of what makes a film work. It’s tight, well-plotted, funny, and above all else, a joy to sit down and watch.
7. The Princess Bride
The most watchable movies are usually some combination of sweet and hilarious, and under those criteria, The Princess Brideis endlessly watchable. Framed as a story within a story, The Princess Bride manages the perfect balance of comedy and plot that makes a movie so fun to rewatch. Every scene plays as an extended joke, but they all work together to tell one story as well.
Of course, there are moments from the film that stand out, but it’s the experience as a whole that makes the film worth returning to time after time. The performances from Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes are both hilarious and nuanced in a way many comedic performances aren’t. The film is incredibly sharply written, but there’s an edge of unpredictability to it that is absent from most fantasy fare. All of that makes for a winning combination, and it’s more than enough to put The Princess Bride on any list of films that can be watched daily.
6. The Sound of Music
Although it’s among the longer entries on this list, The Sound of Music is still intensely watchable, in part because of its diverse array of tones. Early on, The Sound of Music is the story of a nun, played by Julie Andrews, who leaves her convent and becomes the governess of seven children. Of course, part of the magic of The Sound of Music comes from the simple pleasure of watching Andrews in her prime. Both a lovely and complete presence, Andrews’ performance in the film is key to its success.
Of course, there are plenty of other things to love about The Sound of Music, including the music itself, which is so memorable that it’s still sung in choir rooms across the country. There’s also the wonderful performance from Christopher Plummer as the father of the seven children, and the dynamics between the children. The Sound of Music gets darker in its last hour, but it never loses its belief in the decency of its characters, and it never becomes anything less than enthralling.
5. Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little Chinaisn’t just a film, it’s an experience. This is the kind of movie that blows all of your preconceived notions within five minutes. The film is completely ludicrous, and large chunks of it just don’t make sense. That being said, it’s also one of the most fun experiences you’ll ever have watching a film, as you catalogue every strange piece of dialogue and plot contrivance that is actually totally hilarious. Far from being a serious action film, Big Trouble in Little China is actually subverting the very idea of them.
Kurt Russell is perfectly cast as the Bruce Willis-esque Jack Burton, who seems like a tough guy who’s there to save the day, but is actually completely useless. From there, the rest of the film becomes a story of what an action movie might look like if all the characters seemed just a little bit aware of how cliché everything was. You can, and should, watch it every day. Just ask Ol’ Jack Burton.
4. The Dark Knight
A modern superhero classic, The Dark Knight isn’t just a tight crime-thriller, it’s also deeply entertaining. The opening scene is a small-scale example of what the rest of the film does so perfectly. It’s tight, taut, and doesn’t get bogged down in details that aren’t really very interesting to begin with. From there, the film takes you on a fairly carefully plotted adventure that is always gripping and, for the most part, unconventional.
The Dark Knight is really a great crime thriller, and its characterization of its villain is as memorable as they come. What’s important, though, is that the film never verges into melodrama or cynicism. Instead, it ends on a bittersweet note, with the story’s hero morphing into a villain, but only out of necessity. The Dark Knight is the defining superhero film of the 21st Century, but it’s also a great ride, and that may be more important.
3. The Lion King
Disney’s run of success in the ’90s is among the best from a studio in film history, and that run reached its peak with 1994’s The Lion King, a film that perfectly combined every element in the Disney formula. The music is fantastic, anchored by “The Circle of Life”, which remains one of the great Disney songs of all-time. On top of that, you have an animated version of Hamlet that manages to capture the core of what makes that play so powerful.
The tragedy of Mufasa’s loss and the guilt that Simba feels are both very real, but they aren’t so terribly emotional that the film becomes unwatchable. Instead, they create a level of investment in the viewer that makes you care about the outcome. The Lion King is a powerful story about what it means to grieve, and how you move past a loss. Even better, it’s also hilarious, especially when Timon and Pumba are on screen.
2. Titanic
Titanicis a juggernaut, and even today it’s hard to argue that it isn’t a seminal film. What’s often lost about Titanic, because of the weight with which it is now examined, is how much fun it is to watch. The story of Jack and Rose falling in love inevitably ends in tragedy, but that’s mitigated in part by the fact that it feels inevitable inside of a movie named after a sinking ship.
For most of its runtime, Titanic is fun and fairly light. It’s the story of two incredibly charismatic and attractive people falling in love, and it’s one that millions around the world fell in love with. The last hour or so, everything after the ship hits the iceberg, is as thrilling as anything that Hollywood has ever produced. Of course, they both could have fit on that plank that Rose was hogging, but minor quibbles aside, Titanic is a movie we could watch for days.
1. Star Wars (Episode IV – A New Hope)
This was an easy pick. Star Warsmade insane amounts of money in theaters for a reason. It was completely mesmerizing at the time, and it still carries much of that magic today. There’s a reason The Force Awakens shared more than a passing resemblance with it. Star Wars established a formula that works, and it’s perhaps the defining movie experience in cinema, at least for a generation of eager movie-goers.
Star Wars is also virtuous in a way movies rarely are– in that it knows when to end. The story is exactly as long as it needs to be, and it tells a story that doesn’t worry about setting up a sequel. Obviously, one came, but Star Wars is a great enough experience to be enjoyed on its own terms, sequels be damned. The sequels are great, sure, but Star Wars is still the most enduring entry in the series, and with good reason.
Which movie could you rewatch every single day? Let us know in the comments!
