How many films do you get through a year?

[KEROUAC1957]

I'm just wondering how many films people get through in a year/month/week. I'm guessing it will be quite high amongst the hardcore on here. I've been on a quest to see how many films I can get through mainly to improve my knowledge and understanding of films and directors. There are so many well known films which I still haven't seen and along with the sheer volume of releases each year it's a real challenge but a mostly enjoyable one.

I'm up to 108 films as at June 15th which for me is a lot compared to my usual but would be interested in others viewing habits. By the way I mean viewing via any media and not just in the cinema.

[Al_The_Strange]

Going off of what I logged in Letterboxd (probably includes some shorts, so give or take a dozen a year):

In 2014: 475
In 2015: 382
In 2016: 522
In 2017: 595
In 2018: 618

2019 looks to be on-track for 500+ by the year's end. Currently logged 243 films (averages 40.5 a month, 10 per week).

[ArrestedDevelopment]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Going off of what I logged in Letterboxd (probably includes some shorts, so give or take a dozen a year):

In 2014: 475
In 2015: 382
In 2016: 522
In 2017: 595
In 2018: 618

2019 looks to be on-track for 500+ by the year's end. Currently logged 243 films (averages 40.5 a month, 10 per week).

Good lord man. I watched 53 movies in theaters last year and a handful at home and I thought that was an accomplishment lol.

Feel like Leo in Wall Street with these rookie numbers.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by ArrestedDevelopment

Good lord man. I watched 53 movies in theaters last year and a handful at home and I thought that was an accomplishment lol.

You have me beat on theater viewings. I've only gone to the cinemas a few times this year, probably several times last year. Went a lot more often in the last state I lived in.

Still, I squeeze in at least a film or two most nights, maybe more on the weekends. Britbuffguy has me beat, but I'm in the same boat as him--no GF or social life.

Originally Posted by ArrestedDevelopment

Feel like Leo in Wall Street with these rookie numbers.

[Cremildo]

Roughly 220-240 a year, about 20 a month, 5 a week.

[Britbuffguy]

I'm on #265 right now. Been a slacker year, as work has been into mad OT all year for some odd reason.

I usually aim for an average of TWO movies per day, 60 movies a month. Haven't hit that number any month this year yet.

My movie watching falls in the fall when NFL season hits.

I have like 3 elements to my watching:

1. Library rentals of new-ish movies. I used to see a lot in theaters, not barely anything, just rent them for free from the library.

2. My quest year. I usually pick a random year, right now it's 1993, and I use the library, my own collection, Amazon streaming, YouTube and even buying old VHS copies on eBay if needs be to try to see every THEATRICAL film released in that year. Have about 13 left on that year.

3. A current watch pile. I have maybe 350 movies/tv shows to watch from the unwatched pile, so I take about 30 titles at a time and have them to watch as well.

I also have no social life and no girlfriend, so easy to watch a tone of movies. Sadly.

Here's some past year totals:

2018- 635
2017- 653
2016- 614
2015- 640
2014- 727

Man, Letterbox'd makes things so easy.

[DanTheMan]

297 films in 2019 as of today. On pace for 500-600, if not more.

Think I had over 500 last year too.

[Hucksta G]

2019 so far: 113
2018: 250
2017: 295
2016: 278
2015: 257
2014: 270
2013: 271

Damn life and work getting in the way of all that I want to do

[KEROUAC1957]

Wow those are some serious numbers. Thanks for the replies. I also get a bit indecisive when faced with such a huge amount of films to watch either on my imdb watchlist or my bluray collection so waste valuable time trying to decide. I'd love to find a good system to help me decide. I did try using a random number generator linked to the amount in my watchlist but even then I waver on what to watch.

[DanTheMan]

Try starting with shorter runtimes in your collection and your watchlist. You can knock out a good number in a month right there.

The random generator is a cool system to use too. I tried that for movies I’ve watched this month too. Made things more spontaneous.

[Namuhana]

From the past few years (inclusive of any rewatches):

2015: 215
2016: 120
2017: 180
2018: 205

And 72 so far for this year.

[MifuneFan]

I used to watch a lot more years back, like pretty much every day, but I think I got burnt out by doing that, and it started to feel more like a chore, which a movie experience should never be. So I definitely spread them out more now, maybe 2-3 a week now on average. I am watching way more TV shows now too (thanks to streaming services mostly) which I rarely did when I'd binge on films.

[Monterey Jack]

Lots.

[DR Herbert West]

Too many.

[Member-275053]

2019: 185 (57 new releases)
2018: 307
2017: 312

My goal every year is to watch 365 films (one for each day of the year). But, I usually fall short. And I do most of my movie-watching on the weekends. Trust me, I would like nothing more than to watch movies all day long. But, sadly, I have work, school, and other obligations.

In any case, 108 films is a lot. I think you'd be surprised to learn how very few films members on this forum watch, especially new releases. I think you're doing better than you think you are.

[oilers73]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Too many.

No such thing.

[sawdustandtinsel]

I can't stress this enough, quality over quantity. The one year I eclipsed 460 (neverending TCM marathon) nearly burned me out completely to the point where I wasn't getting much out of it by the end. Personally, my sweet spot is between 300-325 in order to make room for rewatches and theater trips along the way. Also(and I'm not doubting anybody here) I find that people tend to drastically overestimate the number of films they have seen so don't dwell too much on it and enjoy yourself.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by sawdustandtinsel

I can't stress this enough, quality over quantity.

Funnily enough, I do value the bad or unenjoyable movies too. I like to pick them apart to see what went wrong, why they suck, why I personally didn't like them, and inevitably I learn how to not tell a story (and it's important for my storytelling endeavors with fiction writing). It also sets a benchmark--if I watched only good movies all the time, I'd never know how low a film's quality can genuinely sink.

I guess I'd make the argument for quantity on account that the more you see (and experience), the more your tastes and sense of quality changes.

[LegacyCosts]

Not many interest me enough to sit through even though I love movies. About 20-25 a year. Oh.you meant in general, not just new releases. Probably 60-70

[JEDGAR1000]

Probably around 50-60, though I don't keep count.