Why revisiting much-loved media often trumps newer offerings

Netflix. Now TV. Spotify. Kindle. Disney+. Amazon Prime. When it comes to consuming media, there are more options than ever before. Why is it, then, that so many people have a few old favourites – books, films, TV shows or albums – that they return to time and again, despite all the new offerings available at their fingertips?

Predictability

For some, it might be a pull towards what’s known and safe. One thing in life is certain, after all – that not much is ever certain. At times, this ambiguity can feel manageable – even exciting. There’s often a thrill in knowing that things aren’t mapped out and life could go one way or another. But sometimes, the scale begins to tip in the opposite direction. When things feel overwhelming and out of control, many make a beeline for the safe and predictable.

‘Revisiting certain media provides a sense of structure and comfort during turbulent times,’ says Kelsey Barnes, a magazine editor and pop-culture expert who’s based in Toronto, Canada. ‘Often, when people are searching for media that falls under this category, it might be something they watched when they were going through a difficult time in the past – so they lean on it in the present, as a reminder that things will be fine.’