20 movies and TV Shows that change completely upon a re-watch

Something that is so great about movies and TV shows is that it allows for an endless number of reinterpretations. The best part is subjective and multi-layered. There have been many TV series and films that have so much depth and complexity that one viewing does not give them justice. It is only upon a re-watch that viewers can comprehend its message. Here are 20 such movies and shows that present a new dimension when watched again. Please note, this entire article is based on the writer's opinion and it may contain spoilers to various shows and movies. Reader's discretion is advised.

1. Eternals (2021)

Starring Kit Harington, Angelina Jolie, and others, this superhero movie is about a race of immortal beings, the Eternals, and their fight against the evil Deviants, who want to destroy Earth. Though the movie received mixed reviews, a re-viewing brings many facets to light. It is only when the movie ends that we get to know that Ikaris manipulated the Eternals all along and was a sinister villain who killed Ajak.

2. Interstellar (2014)

Directed by Christopher Nolan, this epic sci-fi movie is about an ex-NASA pilot (Matthew McConaughey) who must travel across the breadth of space to find a habitable home for humans. The movie plays with the themes of time travel and it is only upon a re-watch that viewers can better understand the whole timeline of how much time eclipses on Earth and on the various planets Matthew’s character goes to.

3. Young Sheldon (2017)

A spin-off of The Big Bang Theory, this comedy-drama revolves around the growing-up years of Sheldon Cooper. One of the most memorable characters is Sheldon’s father, George Cooper, who stands out because of his determination to always stand by his family. It is therefore heart-breaking when he dies towards the end of the show. A re-watch puts into perspective how much sacrifice and understanding his character had shown throughout the show.

4. The Sixth Sense (1999)

M. Night Shyamalan’s directorial is known for its famous plot twist that adds a deeper layer of meaning upon a re-watch. The movie deals with a young boy who can see and talk to dead people and is approached by a child psychologist (Bruce Willis). It is only at the end that one learns that even Willis’ character is dead. A rewatch completely changes the perspective from which viewers see the movie.

5. Fight Club (1999)

Starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, this cult classic is about a white-collar executive who starts an underground fight club with a soap salesman, Tyler. As the movie progresses, the line between imagination and reality starts to blur, when at the end, the viewers learn that Tyler and the unnamed executive are split personalities. A re-viewing of the movie with this new information therefore completely changes the viewing experience.

6. Shutter Island (2010)

Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this psychological thriller is about a US Marshal (Leonardo) who goes to a psychiatric facility atop an island to investigate the disappearance of a patient but begins to experience strange occurrences. But the movie flips on its head when viewers learn that Leonardo is one of the patients of the facility himself. Watching the movie again with the knowledge changes the dynamics of the viewing.

7. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino, this cult classic features John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson and is presented in a non-linear manner that does not make sense until the very end. Ultimately, the movie is about the intertwined lives of a gangster’s wife, two criminals, a boxer, and two mobsters. When viewers are finally able to put the puzzle together, it makes for an interesting re-watch as one can now trace the chronology of events in the movie and how it impacts the film.

8. Fresh (2022)

Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan, this horror thriller starts off on a romantic note until it gets unhinged and turns into a cat-and-mouse chase between a cannibal and his victim. Steve (Stan) woos Noa (Daisy) and the two start dating, only for Noa to find out that Steve runs an illegal business about human flesh. A re-watch offers a fresh (pun intended) perspective as audiences can now see how Steve behaved all along and trapped Noa.

9. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

A comedy-drama featuring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, the film revolves around a journalist, Andy (Anne), who works for the high-handed fashion magazine editor Miranda (Meryl). Upon initial watch, the viewers might find the authoritative Miranda as the villain and Andy’s boyfriend as the supportive partner. But a re-watch brings to light that Miranda was the one that encouraged Andy to find her voice and her boyfriend was the one holding her back.

10. Breaking Bad (2008)

Considered one of the most influential shows, this crime drama revolves around a chemistry teacher, Walter (Bryan Cranston), who starts a meth-making business after he gets cancer. Throughout the series, Walter maintains that he is doing this for his family, but towards the end, he accepts that he did this for himself. A re-watch provides audiences a better perspective of how and where it changed for Walter and he turned from a meek teacher to a powerful drug lord.

11. Dark (2017)

Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, this German sci-fi thriller begins with the disappearance of a child but evolves into a mammoth time travel conspiracy as its story stretches across time periods and generations. The plot is ambitious and it all comes together only during the final episode. Once the viewers know the timeline of the show, it makes for an interesting re-watch as it allows viewers to draw the connections that they had missed earlier.

12. Stranger Things (2016)

Starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, and others, this sci-fi show created by the Duffer Brothers is extremely popular and is famous for its nostalgia that pays an ode to the 1980s and its plot that revolves around alternate dimension monsters. The show draws a full circle in season 4 and provides a whole backstory on the origins of the monsters. This leads the show into a new light, which offers a fresh perspective upon a re-watch.

13. Saw (2004)

Directed by James Wan, this iconic horror movie revolves around a doctor and a photographer who wakes up in a dilapidated room with a seemingly dead man on the floor. They must follow the instructions of an unknown killer who relishes in gruesomely harming his victims. The movie’s twist ending reveals that the dead man is actually the killer and conspirator of the whole plot. A re-watch therefore provides a new perspective to the movie.

14. Perfect Blue (1997)

Directed by Satoshi Kon, this path-breaking Japanese anime movie revolves around a Japanese singer, Mima, who wants to venture into films, but soon goes through mind-bending incidents as her reality and imagination blur and she encounters a deadly version of herself. The movie is extremely non-linear and until the very end, it keeps the audience confused. The movie needs multiple re-viewings to fully grasp its complex plot and is therefore considered an iconic movie.

15. Iron Man 3 (2013)

Starring Robert Downey Jr. as the invincible Iron Man, this MCU movie received mixed reviews for its plot twist that did not fare well with the audiences. The movie revolves around Tony Stark/Iron Man and offers a new dimension to his story. But the reveal that the villain Mandarin, is an actor created by the real villain Aldrich Killian, weakens Mandarin’s charm and power. Upon a re-watch viewers can see the movie in a new light.

16. Captain Marvel (2019)

Starring Brie Larson as the titular character, this superhero movie is another MCU title that adds a plot twist to the movie. The film revolves around Vers (Larson), who is a Kree warrior and fights against the Skrulls. But when she gets stranded on Earth, she comes to know that the Skrulls are not enemies, and her journey as Captain America begins. Re-viewing the movie adds a new dimension to Vers' character and highlights the complex situation she faces.

17. The Shining (1980)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this horror masterpiece about an aspiring writer who takes his family to an isolated hotel and begins to slide into insanity as the hotel begins to haunt him, is a seminal piece of work. Starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, the movie reveals at the end that Nicholson’s character was reincarnated and was earlier a part of the hotel’s staff. This provides an extra layer to the movie, which makes for an interesting re-watch.

18. Parasite (2019)

Directed by Bon Joon-ho, this South Korean dark comedy revolves around a poor family, the Kims, who con their way into a wealthy family, the Parks, but things go berserk quickly. The movie might seem frivolous and confusing at first and the Kims’ devious plan makes them the villains. But once viewers learn about the class divide in South Korea, a re-watch of the movie adds understanding to the Kims’ actions and exposes the class dynamics of society.

19. Death on the Nile (2022)

Starring Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, and others, this mystery movie based on the novel by Agatha Christie revolves around the detective, Hercule Poirot, who must solve the mystery of a murder that takes aboard a steamer, where a couple’s honeymoon is taking place. The film offers a plot twist when it is revealed that the couple are themselves involved in the murder. This brings a new dimension, which makes for an interesting re-watch.

20. The Truman Show (1998)

Starring Jim Carrey and directed by Peter Weir, this comedy-drama follows an insurance salesman, who has lived his entire life on the sets of a show, that is broadcast to the entire world, and this truth is unknown to him. But when he finally notices discrepancies, he decides to escape. The movie has important themes about the nature of reality and the influence of media. A second watch brings a deeper understanding of these topics.