Top 10 Movies That Were So Good People Went Back for More
#10: “Barbie” (2023)
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Come on Barbie, let’s go… break some box office records! Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” was not only a sensationally fun and thought-provoking film, it was the event of Summer 2023! Folks flocked to the theaters dressed in their best “Barbiecore” fits, creating community both online and in-person. Not only did the flick’s fashion trends and fervent marketing contribute to its success, the release of “Oppenheimer” on the same day boosted hype, and encouraged a long day at the cinema. And sure, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s standout performances didn’t hurt either! Who wouldn’t want to see Gosling singing “I’m Just Ken” as many times as humanly possible? “Barbie” racked up over a billion dollars worldwide, and became the highest grossing film for a female director.
#9: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (2022)
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This Oscar winner for Best Picture seemed to come out of nowhere and there was no certainty that its twisting narrative and offbeat sensibility would do well with audiences. But “Everything Everywhere All At Once” became a smashing success when it was released in March 2022 - so much so that audiences were quick to come back when an extended version with extra footage dropped in July of that year. The movie was good enough to warrant a rewatch, but its complicated timelines and visual style warranted a second or even a third viewing just to drink in all the details.
#8: “Avatar” (2009)
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Many of writer-director James Cameron’s movies have topped box office records. A movie like “Avatar” is a spectacle unto itself, the kind of movie you beg your friends to see with you. A lot of that is due to its novel and cutting edge special effects. Audiences were seeing things they had never seen on a movie screen before. The movie’s record-smashing success was helped along by the simultaneous theatrical release of standard, 3D, and IMAX versions. Even if you’d seen one version, the other two promised completely different sensory experiences. A successful re-release in anticipation of the sequel, “The Way of Water,” showed it was still a one of a kind experience moviegoers can’t get enough of.
#7: “Inception” (2010)
Christopher Nolan’s inventive heist movie threw a lot at its audience over its two and a half hour runtime. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a thief who specializes in stealing confidential information from a sleeping person’s subconscious. Apart from its chaotic and gravity-defying visual effects, it’s a summer blockbuster with a lot of rewatch value. The movie is full of surreal imagery, increasingly complicated dream logic, and journeys into the subconscious. “Inception’s” layered and imaginative story is full of symbolism and subtext that benefits from a second viewing. If nothing else, repeat viewers wanted to collect more clues about its famously ambiguous ending.
#6: “Gone With the Wind” (1939)
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It runs three-and-a-half hours, but this epic historical romance was a commitment many audiences were willing to make more than once. Though its idealization of the Antebellum South was controversial even at the time, it was a salve for millions of viewers looking for an escape from the brutal realities of the Depression. In its initial release, it proved so popular with audiences that theaters were playing it well into 1941. Nearly a dozen theatrical re-releases followed in the decades after, including one in 1961 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Civil War. America truly couldn’t get enough of “Gone With the Wind.”
#5: “The Sound of Music” (1965)
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When Julie Andrews taught the Von Trapp kids how to sing, she had millions of viewers singing along. The real life-inspired story of the novice nun, a Naval captain, and his brood of musical children was number one at the box office for several months after its 1965 premiere. This was unprecedented, as were its total grosses of over $100 million at the end of its outstanding four-year run in theaters. However, the audience’s excitement about Austrian children could not be contained within a four-year release. Not only did it receive a traditional re-release, but a sing-along version with on-screen lyrics continues to be popular all over the world.
#4: “Star Wars” (1977)
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No one could have predicted George Lucas’ sci-fi opera would birth a multimedia franchise and scores of iconic characters. In the beginning, it was just an underdog of a movie with dazzling visual effects. The novelty of it kept audiences coming back over the next few months. One year after it premiered, a special birthday screening of the movie was held in theaters that were still playing it. Fans, often in costume with lightsaber toys, enjoyed re-releases throughout the 80s, a digitally remastered version in the late 90s, and theatrical revivals in the years after the latest trilogy.
#3: “Titanic” (1997)
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James Cameron’s romantic epic set aboard the doomed ocean liner was possibly a defining moment of the 1990s. Groundbreaking sets and special effects, heartbreaking romance, and a chart-topping Céline Dion power ballad catapulted “Titanic” into the cultural zeitgeist. Clearly, the three hour runtime was probably a selling point for audience members who had come down with Leo-mania. Its popularity among teenage girls was often cited as a reason for its repeat business. However, “Titanic” fever knew no bounds. While most blockbuster movies see a 5% repeat viewing rate among audiences, Media Awareness Network reported that “Titanic’s” repeat rate was almost four times bigger.
#2: “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995)
Something about this musical romance about two young people who fall in love charmed millions of movie lovers. It ran for over a year in the UK and played sold out shows across the world. Its near-continuous run at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir Cinema has made it one of the longest continuous releases of any movie in history. In 2015, when the theater’s management decided to end its 1,009 week-run, audiences practically revolted. It worked, and the movie continued to play for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Not even COVID could end its run for long. Once the lockdowns lifted, it was just as popular as it had been for decades. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Back to the Future” (1985) This Time Travel Comedy Was a Top Ten Box Office Earner for Most of 1985 “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984) Eddie Murphy & a Killer Soundtrack Kept the Audiences Coming Back for More “Top Gun” (1986) This ‘80s Classic Maintained Its Opening Weekend Numbers for Six Months “Home Alone” (1990) This Family-Friendly Crime Caper Spent Weeks in Theaters & Is Now a Holiday Classic “Forrest Gump” (1994) The Endlessly Quotable Epic Was a Success in Theaters & on TV
#1: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
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Considering that it utterly failed in the early days of its release, this odd science fiction musical has done very well for itself over the years. It really did seem like it would be a total flop. But once the producers disocvered the lucrative market of midnight screenings, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” found its quirky audience. It became a true spectacle, establishing time-honored traditions. Devoted fans are encouraged to participate while a live cast performs in front of the screen. Amazingly, it’s still considered to be in its original theatrical run, making it the longest running theatrical release ever.
