There are lots of movies that get better and better upon multiple viewings. Some movies demand to be viewed multiple times in order to fully comprehend them. A great plot twist ending or a sci-fi film with lots of confusing information can be better appreciated after watching it again and catching more details.
For those who have ever been too confused by a movie or have mixed emotions, a second or third or even a fourth viewing may be required. Some of the best movies require further analysis in order to be fully appreciated.
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a bizarre, but complicated drama about Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal), a teenager who is visited by an eerie figure in a creepy bunny suit who gives Donnie an apocalyptic premonition of the future. Throughout the film, Donnie has weird hallucinations and visions which suggest that something is amiss.
The film is shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty and even the ending brings up more questions than answers about what actually happened. Watching it again may not provide viewers with a completely clear vision of the movie's narrative, but it can give a better opportunity for an interpretation of what occurred.
The Prestige
The Prestige has plenty of twists and turns as many magic tricks do. What is genius about this Christopher Nolan flick is that Nolan set it up as a magic trick in many areas. The film even tells viewers to look closely because the trick is happening in front of their eyes without them knowing it.
After knowing the crazy twist ending, viewers can go back and find clues that Nolan placed at multiple moments throughout the movie. It is hard to notice many of Nolan's hints at the ending because, just like a good magic trick, the viewer is not trying to figure out the secret and wants to be fooled.
The Sixth Sense
The Sixth Sense is best known for its crazy plot twist. Spoiler alert: Bruce Willis was dead the entire movie. For many, this twist was brilliant since it seemingly came out of nowhere. However, upon a second viewing, one can notice that M. Night Shyamalan put this in the viewer's face throughout the whole movie. It was such an improbability that it didn't seem possible.
Shyamalan does a good job of constructing the film so that the twist at the end is incredibly effective. He leaves hints like breadcrumbs that lead viewers to this resolution. And the line "I see dead people" should have been a dead giveaway.
Fight Club
Another movie that is famous for its unexpected twist, Fight Club, upon multiple viewings, allows for more interpretation of Edward Norton's relationship with Brad Pitt's Tyler Durden. Director David Fincher does leave hints for the eventual reveal of the truth behind Durden's character.
Fincher gives hints that Durden is not really there, but it is hard to catch these hints without knowing how Fight Club ends. It also questions Norton's sanity and the reality in which he lived. There are some plotholes that are opened from a rewatch, but it doesn't take away from how impressive the film is.
Interstellar
Interstellar does have a great twist, but it is a scientific space epic that requires multiple viewings in order to comprehend all the complex information that is thrown at viewers throughout the film. The application of theories behind time, black holes, and multiple dimensions can be overwhelming upon first viewing.
However, much of the science in the film is based on real science and Nolan's unbelievable imagery helps bring it to life. It is a complicated movie, but a clearer understanding of the ideas in the movie can give a better appreciation of what Nolan is trying to do here.
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
There are a lot of deeper meanings within this film that may be hard to catch upon initial viewing. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind explores the ideas of relationships and the habit that humanity shares to try and only cling to good memories. It is a very unique romance story as the couple tries to wipe each other from their memories.
It's full of heartbreak and melodrama, but also has a good message about the good memories still being worth the pain. It can be hard to follow, as it does jump between timelines, but a second viewing will allow the deeper themes to sink in.
Parasite
The recent Best Picture winner has so much to digest that it is impossible to grasp all of it on a first watch. Parasite has so much to say about class division and how the rich and poor view different situations based on the context in which they see it.
The film is a disturbing look at class discrepancy and yet also manages to be a comedy, drama, and thriller, all at once. The plot has plenty of unexpected twists and turns, which Bong Joon-Ho manages to foreshadow in subtle ways throughout the film. Parasite builds to a chaotic climax that will make viewers want to relive the build-up all over again.
Get Out
Get Out is Jordan Peele's breakout horror film and so much more than a standard thriller. It does deliver on the thrills, but it also is an intriguing take on race in the modern world. Its message continues to be very relevant since its release in 2017 and multiple viewings can give viewers a better interpretation of Peele's perspective.
There are lots of hidden details in the film, as Peele constructed it expertly, letting viewers find something new with every rewatch. It is a smart horror movie that reflects society in a mirror, which may be the scariest part of all.
2001: A Space Odyssey
If you were confused when the giant space baby shows up at the end of this sci-fi epic, a second viewing is probably a good idea. 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most thought-provoking and overwhelming movies in science fiction. Stanley Kubrick offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of the relationship between humanity and technology.
2001 is a prime example of "show don't tell," as the imagery here has lots of meaning but the film explains so little that there is a lot left to interpretation. The visuals are still impressive almost 50 years later and it offers a story that rewards its viewers for trying to better understand it.
Inception
Almost any Nolan movie could make this list. Memento and Tenet are contenders, as well, but Inception is a film that has a reputation for being confusing. With multiple viewings, however, it is not nearly as complicated as it seems.
There is a lot of information being thrown at viewers about how dreams work and how each layer of the dreams is impacted by the other. It may be hard to process every piece of information, so a second viewing does clear up questions that viewers may have. The ending, especially, makes viewers want to revisit the film in order to better their interpretation of that ambiguous ending.