# "Favorite" movies you've seen only once **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365 "2008-10-03T20:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/21 "2008-10-04T08:45:00Z")
Already mentioned movies that I **liked** but will never see again: Schindler’s List They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? American History X Reservoir Dogs Donnie Darko The Sweet Hereafter some others looking at my top raters at IMDB: 25th Hour Deliverance The Boys The Elephant Man Sexy Beast Boogie Nights ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/22 "2008-10-04T14:46:22Z")
Most of the above plus _two_ from last year, an unusual occurrance: **No Country for Old Men** and **There Might be Blood**. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/23 "2008-10-04T16:11:33Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > **SFW:** Some crazy movie with Stephen Dorff I watched in my teens late at night. It rocked my world in a nineties teen angst sort of way. But I don’t really want to watch it again because I know it’s not going to be half as good as my memory of it. Soundtrack is pretty awesome, though. I kept that in my car for years. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/24 "2008-10-04T16:50:56Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > **They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?** It’s as though I got everything out of it that I possibly could on first viewing. I’d love to see it again, though, but I’m not going to seek it out. Which is weird, because I almost never promote a movie into “favorite” category unless I’ve seen it at least twice. Oh, yes, I want to add this to my list. I know that it probably needs repeated viewings. I’m sure I missed something the first time. And I really was powerfully moved by it, so I’d definitely rank it as a favorite. But I won’t seek it out, either. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/25 "2008-10-04T17:03:23Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Most of the above plus _two_ from last year, an unusual occurrance: **No Country for Old Men** and **There Might be Blood**. I forgot about **No Country for Old Men**. Me too. **There Might Be Blood** is one I could watch again if they updated the soundtrack to include hits by They Will Be Giants. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/26 "2008-10-04T17:23:37Z")
I just ordered a copy of \*The Young in Heart \*from Daedalus. It is an absolutely delightful comedy about a family of con artists who move in on an old lady and find themselves going straight against their will. I saw it once on TCM and can’t forget it. Can’t wait to see it again. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/27 "2008-10-04T22:04:01Z")
> [@Constant\_Reader](#): > > **Pan’s Labyrinth** It was beautiful and terrible and I don’t know if I ever want to watch it again. Agreed. It was a wonderful movie on every level and someday I hope to summon up the courage to watch it again. Not soon, though. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/28 "2008-10-04T22:10:48Z")
**Twelve Angry Men** Outstanding look at groupthink and social cohesion, but I don’t know if I could watch it again. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/29 "2008-10-04T22:24:36Z")
**Requiem for a Dream**. The mother’s monologue on what it feels like to be old is not something I could ever see again. Brilliant, utterly heartwrenching stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/30 "2008-10-04T23:27:53Z")
> [@Constant\_Reader](#): > > **Pan’s Labyrinth** It was beautiful and terrible and I don’t know if I ever want to watch it again. This. I recommend it to friends, but I don’t think I could ever watch it again myself. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/31 "2008-10-05T02:34:43Z")
I am a list lover and made a list of my favorite movies off the top of my head several months ago. I ended up with about 20 favorite movies and over a third I’ve seen only once. They are M, Ikiru, Battle of Algiers, Cinema Paradiso, Spirited Away, The Great Dictator, Seven Samurai and Network. Since I made the list I’ve seen The Passion of Joan of Arc and I am tempted to say that is one of my favorites too. ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/32 "2008-10-05T08:48:24Z")
[quote=“E.Thorp, post:1, topic:466365”] Looking over my self-proclaimed “Favorite Movies” on my Facebook profile, I was struck by how many of my “favorites” I’ve seen only once. Usually when I have a favorite movie I watch it many times, as I suspect most people would. But the following movies, though they made a great impression on me at first viewing, I still haven’t gotten around to seeing a second time: On my list is _Roberta_ Starring Irene Dunne & Fred Astaire. Irene Dunne had a classically-trained voice as shown by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoY\_1SItKHg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoY_1SItKHg) Also _Follow the Fleet_ also with Fred Astaire. I like this movie because a very young Lucille Ball (look for the the lady who shows Harriet Hillard, aka the later Mrs Harriet Nelson how to dress). I’ve seen both of these only once, on TCM. I look forward to seeing them both again. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/33 "2008-10-05T09:00:53Z")
Gandhi Diabolique Ordinary People The Usual Suspects The Doors ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/34 "2008-10-05T09:08:12Z")
How did I forget 3 movies by the same director: Million Dollar Baby Unforgiven Mystic River ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/35 "2008-10-05T09:18:00Z")
> [@Constant\_Reader](#): > > **Pan’s Labyrinth** It was beautiful and terrible and I don’t know if I ever want to watch it again. I’ve got to be honest…I don’t recall what was so rough about that movie. The torture scene was the worst part, and even I didn’t think it was that bad. Awesome movie though. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/36 "2008-10-05T12:55:11Z")
Yeah, there are many qualities that make a movie worth watching, acting, action special effects, mystery, plot, immersion in another life or time, etc. Rewatchability doesn’t always have to be one of them. And in some cases, although ideally it’s nice to have a film be highly rewatchable, it’s better to enhance the other qualities, especially in films that involve mystery. My one timers: - Drawing Restraint 9: A really abstract ‘mood piece’. Some reviewers likened it to ‘watching paint peel’ but for me I felt really immersed in it and put into a strange but fascinating state of mind. The film equivalent of a mind altering drug (and I was completely sober when I watched it). - A Very Long Engagement - I love the director and actress, and enjoyed the film, but the title is apt, it was very long and I wouldn’t enjoy going through all that again just for the resolution On the other hand I find these films to be highly rewatchable: Serenity, The Big Blue, Galaxy Quest, The Princess Bride, The Dark Crystal, Time Bandits, Neverending Story, Creator, Love Actually, Fight Club, Donnie Darko, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Mouin Rouge (actually I find most musicals that I like to be highly rewatchable do to the musical aspect), Young Einstein, Fried Green Tomatoes. There’s also films that aren’t necessarily rewatchable in the sense of that watching them again won’t be fresh or as enjoyable in the same way that they were the first time, but they are worth rewatching just to catch certain things that you didn’t notice the first time, or that you realize were a set up for the surprise ending: Memento, The Sixth Sense, Primer, Run Lola Run, Minority Report And then there’s some films that I love to watch again, but only when in a specific mood for them, usually they are a bit slower and long: Color Purple, Home at the End of the World, Electric Dreams, The Pillow Book, Shortbus, Se7en, Gattaca ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/37 "2008-10-05T14:08:20Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > The Usual Suspects Seconded, although technically I’ve seen this 1.5 times (I came in on my roommates halfway through watching it and was repeatedly warned not to sit down. Should have listened.) I’d sit through it again, but only with someone who hasn’t seen it before. _Miracle Mile_. A wonderfully tragic story that pegs the “too intense to sit through again” meter for me. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/38 "2008-10-05T18:34:36Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > I’ve got to be honest…I don’t recall what was so rough about that movie. The torture scene was the worst part, and even I didn’t think it was that bad. > > Awesome movie though. For me, two words: Wine bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/39 "2008-10-05T18:50:57Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > For me, two words: Wine bottle. Hmm, I don’t even remember…can you refresh my memory? ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365/40 "2008-10-05T19:12:33Z")
Primer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-movies-youve-seen-only-once/466365.md?page=3)