Rewatching old favorites can be relaxing, restorative, and surprisingly insightful. Childhood movies don’t just bring us back to the past — they show us how far we’ve traveled since we first watched them.
Many of us have childhood movies we haven’t watched in years, yet certain scenes, songs, or moments remain lodged in our minds. These films can form some of our earliest and most powerful memories because we first experienced them at such a young and impressionable age, when everything was still met with innocence, wonder, and awe.
When we rewatch an old film after many years away from it, it’s like being transported back to a familiar world. We get the chance to relive earlier chapters of our lives, reconnect with a younger version of ourselves, and remember what it was like to see the world through a child’s eyes, when imagination came more naturally.
Rewatching is Relaxing and Restorative
In general, psychology research suggests that rewatching old favorites, including beloved films and TV episodes, can provide easy comfort and stress relief, while helping us cool down difficult emotions. After a long day, returning to a story we already know is like stepping back into our comfort zone — a place of safety and stability where we can recharge when life feels uncertain and draining.
Watching TV is still the king of leisure. According to the American Time Use Survey, watching TV remains America’s dominant leisure-time activity, averaging 2.6 hours per day and accounting for about half of all leisure time. For many people, it’s one of the easiest ways to unwind, decompress, and shut off the noise of the day.
That’s part of why rewatching can feel so appealing. Choosing something we already know we’ll enjoy is safer than gambling on something new that turns out to be a dud. However, too much familiar media may reduce novelty-seeking or openness to new experiences. Enjoy the comfort, but still check out new films, shows, and stories — don’t just become a rewatch junkie.
Nostalgia Strengthens the Self
When we rewatch a childhood movie after many years, we are often watching it from a different place in life. In this way, childhood movies can become psychological benchmarks, showing us how much our lives have changed over time.
When we revisit an old film, we often feel a wave of nostalgia, reconnecting us to our past. Research shows that nostalgia can strengthen our sense of self by highlighting the connections between past, present, and future chapters of our lives. One study found that reflecting on and sharing nostalgic memories can reinforce this self-continuity, reminding us of who we were, who we are, and who we’re becoming.
This year, I’ve been revisiting some of my own childhood favorites, including classic animated films like Toy Story, Pinocchio, and Bambi, as well as personal favorites like Hook and Free Willy. After experiencing a major loss last year, these rewatches have helped me regather myself and remember that grief is only one chapter in the longer arc of life.
That is why rewatching an old movie can feel so strange and powerful. Familiar yet unfamiliar. The film may be the same, but we are not. Every rewatch reveals a new version of ourselves.
Classic Films Become Shared Rituals
Rewatching doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. It can also become a shared ritual with family and friends, especially during certain holidays or seasons.
Winter is the perfect time to revisit Christmas classics. Many people make it a tradition to watch favorites like Home Alone, A Christmas Story, or It’s a Wonderful Life while decorating, wrapping gifts, or preparing for holiday celebrations. These small rituals become part of a family’s shared memory, strengthening bonds across generations.
One study looked at why people repeatedly watch what the researchers call “Classic Old Movies and TV Series” (COMTS). These are the types of older, beloved films and shows people return to again and again – think of classics like Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, or The Sound of Music. The study found that nostalgia was a strong predictor of rewatching. People who are more open, agreeable, or emotionally sensitive tend to feel nostalgia more deeply, making them more likely to revisit old favorites.
Whether we watch them alone or share them with others, old favorites can become small rituals of memory, comfort, and connection. What movies have become rituals in your own life — the ones you return to with family, friends, or even by yourself every year?
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