Have Modern Films Lost Their Rewatchability?

It is an unsettling thought that, have modern films lost their repeat value? We live in a time when a movie makes an instant hit, captures attention and then quickly fades from memory. It is not just about box office performance, it is about how long these films stay with us. 

In a recent interview, director KS Ravikumar made an interesting observation. He mentioned how films today lose their charm after the first watch. Unlike his films, which can be rewatched multiple times, today's films often do not hold the same appeal. His comment stuck with me, and I began to wonder, is this true? Have films, like songs in recent days, lost the ability to make us come back again and again?

There are several angles to explore here. The first is humor. Ravikumar’s films have always managed to blend comedy with commercial elements. Comedy has this timeless appeal. Even after knowing all the jokes, we laugh just as much. But we can tackle this argument by asking, how many recent comedies can we say this about? When was the last time you rewatched a recent comedy film and enjoyed it just as much? 

Then there is the genre argument. Serious crime or mystery films, for example, often lose rewatch value because the mystery is already solved. Once the suspense is gone, what is left to come back for? But even this is not always the case. Films like "Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu", a classic crime thriller, still hold repeat value for many. So why do those films manage to draw us back, while newer ones fail to do so? 

Classic Hollywood films, such as "Casablanca" or "The Godfather", has a timeless appeal that invites audiences to revisit them repeatedly, thanks to their deep characters and narratives. In contrast, many recent Hollywood blockbusters, while visually impressive and commercially successful, often lack the emotional or narrative depth that fosters repeat viewings. The rise of streaming services that led to an overwhelming amount of content, causing many films to fade from memory soon after release could be a reason.

Another possible argument is the shift between pre and post-COVID eras. Pre-COVID, we were immersed in the theatrical experience. The entire event of going to the cinema made us absorb films differently. We would sit through them, fully engaged. But with the OTT boom during and after COVID, attention spans have shortened. We have become conditioned to glide through films, constantly pausing, distracted by our phones. This is not entirely the fault of filmmakers, but it could be a shift that cannot be ignored.

It is worth asking, what recent film can you say you have watched multiple times? It is hard to come up with an answer. But films like "Panchathanthiram" or "Padayappa", despite us knowing every scene, every line, we still find ourselves rewatching them. They do not just entertain us they keep pulling us back. What has changed in the way films are made, that causes them to burn bright and fade faster today?, Have directors lost the magic that once made films timeless?

As cinema continues to evolve, these questions challenge us to reflect on what we value in storytelling. Will filmmakers adapt and reclaim the art that encourage deeper connections, or are we heading toward a future where films are mere momentary distractions, quickly forgotten after their initial viewing? The answers may not only shape the future of filmmaking but also redefine our experience as audiences in this rapidly changing cultural context.

What is that one recent film that you have watched multiple times?