Want to watch ‘Elf’, ‘Die Hard’ or ‘The Grinch’ again? Why rewatching our favorite shows and movies makes us feel good.

I have a confession to make. When the daily stresses of work, parenting, and life seem overwhelming, I like to turn on a random episode Downton Abbey. Yes, I’ve seen the entire series (several times). Yes, it’s a low-stakes show with not much happening. But that’s exactly why I like it: rewatching Downton it feels like I’m turning off my brain and sinking into a warm bubble bath. It just feels good.

And I know I’m not the only one. Every fall, viewers flock to Netflix for their seasonal fix Gilmore girls or to Amazon Prime for an annual subscription When Harry met Sally watch, or to Apple TV+ for It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Every holiday season, families gather on the couch to enjoy classics such as Home alone or A Christmas story.

Somehow, certain movies and shows never get old. But with so many new entertainment offering out there, why do we love watching the same things over and over again? This is what psychologists say.

Revisiting something familiar makes you feel in control

Life is unpredictable, which can be scary. When you revisit a story you’re already familiar with, you won’t be overwhelmed by plot twists, giving you the feeling that you have some control over the story.

Media psychologist Pamela Rutledge says that revisiting old favorites is “a way to take control and manage our emotional experiences to support our well-being, especially during periods of stress (such as the holidays).”

The predictability is reassuring

Dr. David Spiegel, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, tells Yahoo Life that “old habits save mental energy” — meaning we use less brainpower when we stick to the familiar. When we’re feeling stressed, it can be comforting and safer to return to the old favorites that we know make us feel good, without much effort, than to try something new that we may not like.

“Knowing that you can be predictably amused or entertained may seem better than risking new fears being piled on top of old ones,” says Spiegel. “The old ones can get boring and seem like a waste of time, but especially in stressful times, predictable relief can seem better than the risk of being reminded of what’s really bothering you.”

It connects you to people from your past – including your ‘younger self’

Did you grow up watching it? The Grinch or It’s a great life with your family every Christmas? If so, as an adult, each holiday season can bring back fond memories of another time and place.

“Rewatching a movie can connect us to our younger selves and make us feel connected to family and romantic partners who may no longer be with us,” says Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster, associate professor of media psychology at Chapman University. “It psychologically connects us to other people who have viewed this content with us in the past and creates a sense of connection and continuity.”

It’s a form of escapism

Certain shows and movies seem tailor-made for rewatching, and Rutledge says this is especially true with holiday films.

“Their simplistic plots offer comfort, hope and the promise of love and connection,” Rutledge explains. “Holiday films also draw on tradition and ritual, creating nostalgia for simpler, kinder, slower times.”

She adds that by allowing ourselves to indulge in nostalgia, we can escape “our obligations, stressors and realities” and reimagine the world as “full of possibilities.”

You may have a ‘parasocial relationship’ with the characters

Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships in which people feel like they know someone they have never met. The term is often used to describe fascination with celebrities or public figures, but you can also have a parasocial relationship with a fictional character.

Tukachinsky Forster says that if you have a parasocial relationship with a character, rewatching the movie or TV show they’re in can feel like “visiting an old friend.”

“It gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling of seeing an old friend you haven’t seen in a while — and seeing that they haven’t changed at all,” she says.

Why revisiting old favorites can be good for your health

If you find yourself streaming Die hard (yes, it’s a Christmas movie) for the umpteenth time, don’t feel guilty. Experts say revisiting old favorites can actually provide health benefits.

• Rewatching helps us recharge and calm ourselves. “Famous characters can serve as an emotional safe haven where we can recharge and calm ourselves,” says Tukachinsky Forster. “It can promote that sense of connection, [which is] good for dealing with social stressors in our daily lives.”

• It delivers those feel-good endorphins. It’s not just about the outcome; preparing to watch something know what you’re about to enjoy provides an extra dose of feel-good chemicals. “Anticipation improves our mood, reduces stress and reduces negative emotions such as irritation, because anticipation activates the brain’s reward system and releases dopamine,” says Rutledge. “And we’ll get another dose of feel-good chemicals if the movie pays off.”

• Feeling good also has tangible health benefits. And allowing yourself to enjoy something you know you like, even if it’s the same thing Harry Potter movies you’ve been watching for years – is good for your body. “Positive emotions also have physical benefits,” says Rutledge. “They contribute to lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of heart disease, a healthier weight, better blood sugar levels and a longer lifespan.”