What makes a film rewatchable? A great soundtrack? Stunning cinematography? Great performances? There’s no definite answer. Sometimes we rewatch films because we want to relive a feeling that we associate with them, and they don’t even have to be great films. We also rewatch films because they are so complex that one view is not enough, or because knowing how the film ends changes our entire perspective on it.
There are so many reasons, but most of the time, we rewatch films because they are entertaining, and this is a common factor with all of the 10 titles on this list. Let us know in the comments what other films from the 2010s you consider rewatchable.
10. La La Land (2016)
Full of color, joy, and music, “La La Land” is one of the best movies of this decade and the perfect modern musical. The film pays tribute to many of the classic musicals from “Singin’ in the Rain” to “West Side Story,” and manages to capture some of the magic of the past while also being rooted in the present day.
“La La Land” is the kind of film which conveys a lot of emotions yet never feels forced or artificial. The movie masterfully switches from joy to melancholy, from bringing tears to your eyes to making you laugh, and from fantasy to reality.
Director Damien Chazelle, whose film “Whiplash” is also present on this list, considered becoming a jazz musician before turning to filmmaking, and his passion for music is apparent in all of his work. “Whiplash” can be rewatched entirely for its soundtrack, and this is also the case with “La La Land.” Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling singing “City of Stars” over the beautiful night skyline of Los Angeles is a truly magical scene.
9. The Conjuring (2013)
Five years ago, Australian director James Wan revitalized the horror genre by making a film that was both scary and well-made, while also paying tribute to horror classics such as “The Amityville Horror,” “The Exorcist” or “The Changeling,” and adapting the haunted house/possession film genre to the demands of the 21st century audiences.
People are less likely to get scared nowadays than they were in the 1970s. The abundance of graphic images, violence, and jump scares is commonplace in today’s horror films, and not only. However, “The Conjuring” knew how to create its scares and is invested in what most of today’s horror movies overlook: character development, atmosphere, and cinematography.
The film is gripping from the very start. The Perrons, a family with five daughters, move to an isolated farm. Soon, strange things start to occur and they ask for the help of a couple of paranormal investigators. The atmosphere keeps building up until the terrifying final act, where the horror is full-blown.
The dramatic elements of the film aren’t left behind, either. The characters are well developed and the film benefits from great performances from its entire cast. “The Conjuring” gets under your skin no matter how many times you watch it.
8. Interstellar (2014)
Bound to become a classic and one of the most rewatchable films of this decade, “Interstellar” is the kind of movie that will linger in your mind long after watching it. Christopher Nolan is a director who needs no introduction.
From “Memento” and the Dark Knight trilogy to “Inception” and “Dunkirk,” Nolan is one of the few filmmakers whose works are never disappointing. But when it comes to visual effects, cinematography and production design, “Interstellar” is one step ahead, even by Nolan standards.
The film follows a group of astronauts who go on a quest to find a new home for the human race after the future of Earth is threatened by the effects of climate change. At a 169-minute running length, this is Nolan’s longest film yet, but it never gets tedious. A space odyssey of the 21st century, “Interstellar” is an experience as thrilling and stunning as it can get, and it transposes the viewer to realms of imaginary in a way that only the greatest movies can do.
7. Swiss Army Man (2016)
“Swiss Army Man” is the kind of film you’ll either hate or love. The film stars Paul Dano as Hank Thompson, a castaway who is about to take his own life, but changes his mind when he sees a corpse (Daniel Radcliffe) washing up on the nearby shore.
Soon after, he finds out that the corpse is capable of doing all sorts of things, just like a Swiss Army knife. One of them: using farts to propel itself just like a jet ski. Riding the fart-fueled corpse jet ski, Hank tries to find his way back home. This sounds crazy, but it is nothing compared to what the remainder of the film has to offer.
Awkward, crazy, and excruciatingly funny, light-hearted yet thought provoking, “Swiss Army Man” is one of the most original films of the 2010s, and definitely a that which sooner or later you’ll want to watch again.
6. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Just like its predecessor, Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner 2049” is a film so rich in detail that it might take multiple viewings to fully appreciate it. And even if you get its entire plot, there’s still a lot left to like, from the amazing depiction of the future Los Angeles to the great special effects and soundtrack.
Moreover, knowing how the story ends gives an entirely new perspective to the whole movie, and the experience of watching “Blade Runner 2049” for the second time is very different than going into it with no prior knowledge. But unlike some of the other films on this list, “Blade Runner 2049” is more than the sum of its parts, so if you are going to rewatch it, you should do it from start to end and let yourself get immersed in its vast universe.