Psychologist reveals why people rewatch the same TV shows and movies rather than trying something new

On any given night, across countless living rooms, the same theme songs are playing, the same punchlines land and the same storylines unfold — not for the first time, but the tenth, or maybe even the hundredth. In an age of endless streaming choices, viewers are deliberately rewatching the stories they know by heart. The Office, Kath and Kim, How I Met Your Mother, Friends and Frasier are arguably among the most rewatched sitcoms. But what is it about these late ’90s and early naughties feel-good classics that have people so hooked? Why is it that when Monica and Chandler move out of their unforgettably purple apartment, people immediately want to see Rachel rushing into Central Park in her wedding dress again? Why does everyone still get a kick out of hearing Kath say “look at moi”? And why are people still debating if they should laugh or cry when Kevin spills the chilli in The Office? According to psychologist Danya McStein, it’s because we’re only human. Ms McStein says the comfort of replaying a favourite series can serve a positive psychological function — particularly during periods of stress or emotional strain. “If we’ve enjoyed something before, it might be something that we want to re-engage with because it has positive associations or positive memories,” she said. “If somebody’s experiencing mental health issues, they may seek out media that helps them to feel better, so there can be positive moods associated with watching certain things.” Against the backdrop of streaming platforms boasting a dizzying array of content, familiarity can be a relief. “People talk about being quite overwhelmed when you go on a streamer and you’ve got thousands of titles to choose from,” Ms McStein said. “For some people, rewatching something familiar is less stressful and less taxing than trying to find something new to watch. “Sometimes it can just be easier to go back and watch something that you’ve already seen before, you know that you like it.” While the habit is often framed as a streaming quirk of Gen Z or a Millennial comfort ritual, Ms McStein noted it spans other generations. “The behaviour of rewatching the same TV shows and movies on repeat happens across age groups,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a new phenomenon that people rewatch or re-engage with media repeatedly. “I just think the type of media that people engage with changes over time and the reasons why they do that change over time depending on the media landscape and what’s going on in people’s lives.” Amanda Davis admitted rewatching TV shows and movies is her guilty pleasure. The 46-year-old said she has lost count of the number of times she has rewatched her all-time favourite series, Kath and Kim. “I love Kath and Kim,” she said. “Oh gosh, I could recite most of those episodes. Like I probably have watched Kath and Kim upwards of 10, 15 times. “I just love the humour. It’s really reliable. I love learning the quotes.” While Ms Davis makes the effort to watch new content, she admits she to getting reeled back in by the comfort and certainty that comes with familiar favourites. “I will try to watch a new movie but if it’s just not hitting the spot, then I will just rewatch a movie or rewatch a show,” she said. “If it doesn’t grab me straight away then I just turn it off and I’ll go back to something that I know I like.” For film and television reviewer Alex Cearns — who watches hundreds of new releases each year — the nostalgia that comes with rewatching is hard to pass up. “Watching a favourite movie can basically transport you back to a different time in your life and bring back the feelings you felt when you were having that experience of watching the film,” she said. “We might watch Beetlejuice again or The Goonies, or things that came out when we were a kid.” Ms Cearns also admitted to enjoying the certainty that comes with rewatching. “I think films can direct our mood and so can TV shows,” she said. “When you know the outcome and you know what’s going to happen, the anxiety is removed, “You know where the jump scares are, you know where the twists are, or which way the film’s going to go. “So if you’re in a certain mood for something light you know what to put on — a nice gentle film — and if you want something heavy, you might watch a really intense series you have seen before because you know what you’re going to get by doing that.” Through her years of watching film, Ms Cearns said she has noticed rewatching habits can ramp up in the midst of the festive season. “With Christmas movies, like Love Actually, they’re a seasonal film and people rewatch them with family and friends to connect and to create something that becomes an annual event that you can share with other people,” she said. Streaming platforms themselves are quietly reinforcing the idea that audiences gravitate toward the familiar. This week, Stan’s “Best TV Shows Ever” category is dominated not by new releases, but by long-established favourites such as The Office, Puberty Blues, That 70s Show, The O.C., Breaking Bad, Gossip Girl, Frasier, Will and Grace, and Parks and Recreation — all series that first aired years, and in some cases decades, ago. Even more telling is the platform’s “Popular Now” section, which again highlights older, well-worn titles. Shows such as Dawson’s Creek, The Vampire Diaries, Normal People and fan favourite Will and Grace top the chart. A similar pattern appears on Netflix. Its “Critically Acclaimed” category features a line-up of highly familiar series, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Gilmore Girls, Seinfeld and Schitt’s Creek — all shows with established fan bases and longstanding cultural impact. Despite the constant influx of new content it is clear viewers repeatedly return to the same shows they already know and love.