Sometimes movies lend themselves well to repeat viewings. They either inspire good feelings, leave you with many unanswered questions that only a second watch will answer, or just provide so much entertainment value that you can’t wait to watch the whole thing all over again.
But what about the other type of “great film,” the one that, while it may be an excellent movie, you never, ever want to watch it again. The type of film that is widely acclaimed and highly praised, but leaves such an impression on you after just one viewing that you have no desire to re-visit it.
Believe it or not, such films do exist. A movie can be truly great yet leave you with no desire to watch it again. This could be for a number of reasons, be it that it’s disturbing, confusing, exhausting or mentally draining.
Below, you’ll find 20 fantastic movies that we recommend watching once, and only once. Again, these are all excellent films, well made and almost universally praised, but each one is a viewing experience that you likely won’t want to subject yourself to again.
So, with that in mind, read on for our list of 20 great films that you’ll only want to watch once.