To wonder why you'd read or watch anything more than once?

[ArriettyMatilda]

I only ever watch films or read books once. When you know how the story will end I can't see the point in reading or watching again. If a tv programme comes on that I've seen before then I'd rather turn the TV off than watch it again. What is the point in watching twice? I feel like I'd be wasting time because I could be watching something new. I won't even have time in my life to read all the books I'd like to so why would I spend time rereading something that I would know how it ends. I use the library a lot so at least it doesn't cost anything for me to read new books!

You'd hate me then I read the end of the book while I'm still reading the start and look up the plot for movies while I'm watching them
I am rubbish at routine tasks which is why my dh is a saint I do become very focussed though when I'm researching or learning something new and I think that is part of the reason I like the escape of a reread or rewatch though. It lets my brain switch off for a bit something I am not very good at doing.
Dd has ADHD and I wish it affected her in that way 😂 Path of least effort sums her up.

For pleasure.

OP, if you like sex do you do it again? Why? When you know how it ends?

Because there's more to a story than finding out the ending?

If all you're getting out of these forms of entertainment is a conclusion to a plot line, why even bother reading/watching them? You could just google them and find out the full plot in under a minute. That would 'waste' far less time.

To spend time with characters I've grown to like/love.

Sometimes I find comfort in the familiarity.

I also notice things that I didn't before. It's easier to spot foreshadowing on subsequent readings/viewings.

I like to leave a respectable time between viewings/readings - couple of years. I find I've forgotten the ending etc often

I thought it was just me being odd.
Yes I can read the back or the first page and know I have read it before, and find there is no wonder to the book as I know the plot.
There are somethings I like to rewatch, mama-mia, and classics but 90% of the time I just turn over if watched before.

OP I do understand your pov to a certain extent as I almost never re-read books (I'm a very heavy book reader so can't bear to 'waste' time re-readimg something when I could be reading something new!) - the one exception being my favourite Terry Pratchett which I read every Christmas and love more and more each time even though I must have read it at least 16 times now.

When it comes to films it depends. I love rewatching favourites sometimes but equally love the feeling of watching something completely new so would opt to do that most times unless I was in the mood for something familiar. Some films are so good you just need to rewatch them to experience them all over again.

And as for TV, I love to revisit my favourite series as it is like revisiting old friends. And telly is such a big commitment (eg starting a new series, not knowing if you'll like it or not) that sometimes watching something I know is the safest and most enjoyable option.

So I don't think YAB totally U although hopefully this thread might give you reason to rewatch or re-read and enjoy something you've loved before.

Iv read the Hobbit well over 20 times and il continue reading it especially to my children if they will let me.

Watched Labyrinth and Legend well in the excess of 100 times each probably more. I just never get bored of them I have fond memories of watching them in my childhood. I also have watched most of the studio Ghibli stuff loads it's so beautifully animated and well written, how could you resist.

Oh I also download old PlayStation games to my PS4 and play them again for nostalgia purposes.

I get that you see rewatching or rereading something might be a waste of time though, each to there own.

Christmas isn't happening for me if I haven't watched at least two versions of A Christmas Carol/Scrooge. I've just got tickets to see it on the Old Vic and i'll still be watching the Muppets version whilst wrapping/putting my GDD's toys together.

Gone with the Wind/Platoon/Jeepers Creepers/Texas Chainsaw/Friday 13th/Terry Pratchett books, some that spring to mind that are too good to just see/read the once.

Because I've a mind like a goldfish and forget the detail and often the plot on a regular basis. Sorry, what was the question?

Children find comfort in repetition - the same story, same toy, same game over and over again

This behaviour follows us to adulthood - it's a comfort thing. You repeat the experience because you know it was good last time and you can find comfort in knowing what will happen

You could say the same about a lot of things - why listen to an album lots of times? Why have a favourite song? Why dance the horizontal tango once you've done it once? Why wear a favourite piece of jewellery all the time?

Because it makes you feel good, feels familiar and comforting and you enjoy it!

[and watching Bridget Jones (and the subsequent sequels for Mark Darcy is LIIIIIIIIIIIFE. Ahem ;) ]

There's lots of interesting points here! I'm loving the comparisons- sex, food music and seeing a friend to name a few.

I suppose sex is kind of different each time and I'd say as I have a low sex drive enough time with passes in between for me enjoy it again.

I enjoy singing along to music so actually the more I hear it the better! As pp have mentioned regarding films and books, I enjoy the emotion it evokes too. And if it's playing at home then I tend to be dancing, otherwise it's to keep me alert in the car!

I totally get the food analogy, I do enjoy familiar foods as well as trying new things, but that doesn't seem to translate to films/tv or books. Also I tend to find that I enjoy new books and films more than old ones, whereas with food it can be a bit more risky trying something new.

I'm not sure seeing a friend is the same, you don't have the same conversations over and over!

I did think many others would take the opposing view. I have no idea why I feel like this and I'd be interested to see if my viewpoint changes with age.

Generally because there is a comfort in a good story. I reread books all the time. Currently reading a Joanna Trollope I probably have read 4 times already - it is easy, comfort reading perfect for reading over breakfast or just before going to sleep. At the same time I am reading more challenging books and a book of essays by a poet - probably won't reread them.

Also a lot of more literary writing bears reading and rereading because the first read usually only skims the surface. A deeper closer read the second or third time will give you a greater understanding of the work and new insights.

If you read a poem you loved, surely you'd read it more than once in your life?

I'm not sure seeing a friend is the same, you don't have the same conversations over and over!

I don't know about that :) I have 2 very close friends and I love them because they have the most interesting engaging conversations I have with anyone - constantly surprising. But also because we can talk for hours about the topic of sisters - it is always the same conversation and it is always extremely satisfying.

Birdsgottaf1y the Muppets Christmas Carol is the one film I will watch more than once! I do find Christmas traditions enjoyable and I like going back to the same holiday destination a lot too.

Some books, films, series are really enjoyable the second time around you see the characters differently

Others it's not quite the same as the twist in the story is spoilt (like The Usual Suspects)

I have read Wuthering Heights many times and still get totally drawn in and view the characters a little differently each time

I frequently re-read/re-watch things. For all the reasons pp have said, and also because sometimes, especially when I'm really tired or have had a really crap day at work, I don't want to have to think too hard. I want something I KNOW I like - like comfort eating, but comfort reading!

My husband jokes that I'll only watch films (play games, etc.) that I've already watched. Which can't be true as things keep getting added to the list

Sometimes, mostly with films, I'm not in the mood for something new. I wasn't something I know because I don't have to pay attention to it. With games there may be things I've not tried, ways to play it differently.

With books, well I'm a huge Tolkien fan. I first read The Lord of the Rings when I was eight. If I'd not read it again there's a lot I'd have missed! And similarly with other books - One Hundred Years of Solitude was very different the second time I read it.

I like going back to the same holiday destination a lot too

So re reading a book is a waste as there's too many new ones to reread.and a waste to watch a film when you know the ending.

Yet you watch Muppets Christmas Carol every.year.amd holiday in the same destination when there is a whole world out there to visit?!

The reasoning for you doing those things could be applied to why people re read books and re watch films which makes your AIbu redundant really!

There's a book called The Road to Middlemarch, where the writer describes reading and re-reading Middlemarch and how she responded differently to it, in the light of her life experiences, such as marriage, having children, bereavement, etc.

Great books deserve more than one reading, in my view. Same with great films and TV. I have watched the West Wing several times. And there are several books that I have read probably five or more times. I do still try and find time for new things as well!

There are certain cult films I have seen several times: Grease, Mama Mia, Blues Brothers, Rocky Horror Show, Little Shop of Horrors - I enjoy knowing the songs and singing along (just because I can't sing, doesn't mean I won't sing).

What a silly question.

Would you buy Adele's new album, listen to it once, think 'that's great, but I've heard all the songs now, so no need to listen to them again'?

I wouldn't watch / read something again when I'd only just read or watched it, but it's been really interesting re-reading several classics from my school days over the last 10 years or so, as my dc have been reading the same classics and I found I couldn't remember enough about them to have even the lightest of discussions with them. Particularly interesting to re-read 1984, now it is after 1984 for example.
I've also enjoyed introducing my dc to some classic films - from Disney to musicals, and just classics such as Back to the Future or ET, alongside some comedy greats - Airplane, for example.

Musicals work like listening to music for me, where they only improve with familiarity, and the emotions they raise.

I won't even have time in my life to read all the books I'd like to so why would I spend time rereading something that I would know how it ends.

I see your point to a certain extent and I keep this in mind when I'm reading a book but I'm just not feeling it. Nowadays I think there's nothing to be gained from forcing myself to a finish a book I'm not enjoying, whereas I used to think giving up on a book showed a weakness of character. But then I decided that as there are only a finite amount of books I can read I'd rather only read ones that really grab me. But for me this includes re-reading old favourites.