Films that most require multiple viewings?

[Ray Jackson]

Pauline Kael, arguably the most renowned American film critic, once said that she refused to watch a movie more than once....to do so would diminish the visceral impact of the film.

While I have my doubts as to whether that statement is genuine, I do think the philosophy has some merit in certain cases.

That being said, it seems patently absurd to think that you can fully appreciate certain films without watching them multiple times. Some films require four or five viewings before you even begin to understand the deeper layers of the story. Some films are so packed with symbolism, subtext and abstract imagery that they reward the viewer with a richer cinematic experience upon each subsequent viewing.

Best examples I can think of:

-Mulholland Drive
-Persona
-Last Year at Marienbad
-2001: A Space Odyssey
-Tree of Life
-Memento
-Eraserhead
-almost any Fellini or Godard film from the 60s

I could probably watch Last Year At Marienbad a hundred times and still not have a clue what it's really about. Perhaps that makes it one of those films that's not meant to be understood and loses it's emotional impact with multiple viewings?

...what do you think?

[Tony208]

Two movies that puzzled me for the longest time and still do.

The Fountain
Southland Tales

[Ray Jackson]

I know that for the longest time, Goodfellas has been in my all-time top five.

But the last few times I watched it, something hasn't been the same. The joy just isn't there like it used to be.

I think I've seen it too many times.

...compounded by the fact that pop culture is completely saturated by never-ending references to it.

[octagon]

Eyes Wide Shut always comes to mind.

My opinion of it swings (sometimes pretty drastically) after almost every viewing.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Two movies that puzzled me for the longest time and still do.

The Fountain
Southland Tales

I've heard mixed reviews about The Fountain.

...that's based on the Ayn Rand novel right?

[Jett Rink]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I've heard mixed reviews about The Fountain.

...that's based on the Ayn Rand novel right?

That is The Fountainhead. The Fountain is about a fountain of youth if I'm not mistaken?

[LuckyDragon]

I recently watched Smokin' Aces for the first time. I was told by multiple people that they hated it on their first viewing but came around on their second. I loved it on the first viewing. But obviously others felt differently.

[dallywhitty]

Troll 2 is a film that demands multiple viewings so that you can unravel the mysteries and complexities that Claudio Fragasso wired into the fabric of its being.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Troll 2 is a film that demands multiple viewings so that you can unravel the mysteries and complexities that Claudio Fragasso wired into the fabric of its being.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I've heard mixed reviews about The Fountain.

...that's based on the Ayn Rand novel right?

The tree of life, but it's not really about that either. It's more philosophical and spiritual. To quote the Matrix, no one can be told what The Fountain is. You have to see it for yourself.

[LegacyCosts]

Fury Road, Blade Runner, Eternal Sunshine, all my favorites require multiple viewings

[DanTheMan]

The Prestige for sure.

[LegacyCosts]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

This gif requires multiple viewings.

[Infernal King]

All of the Wachowskis' films

[Leonidas King]

Cloud Atlas for sure.

The more you watch it the more you appreciate it.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by Leonidas_King

Cloud Atlas for sure.

The more you watch it the more you appreciate it.

It's the only one of their films I haven't seen more than once. I'm eventually going to fix that.

[floridaswamprat]

Agree with OP regarding Memento. Also, Sixth Sense - though you know the ending, it is interesting to see the subtle (and not so subtle) hints throughout the movie.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Stole that from me didn't you

[LegacyCosts]

Bound requires all the viewings.

[PipesDonatello]

For me its Paul Thomas Anderson's last 3 movies (There Will Be Blood, The Master, Inherent Vice). I actually disliked all 3 movies on 1st viewing, but oddly I felt that there was something there in each of them to warrant another chance. Now I feel each of them get better every time I watch them.