Most of the things listed on this page will be movies I watched on DVD, but there will also be some TV movies, miniseries, or specials (which I may have watched on DVD or online). Also, mostly this page is for things I decided to watch when there was a related movie in theaters (or a movie with the same actor, director, genre, etc.), which I wouldn't get to go see. But there are other things listed here that I chose for various specific reasons unrelated to what was playing in theaters at the time (such as wanting to be prepared for a related TV show I was planning to watch). Anyway, I've long mentioned reasons for my choice of what to watch in my reviews, and finally I thought it had become enough of a thing that maybe I should start a page just to list such things. (Of course, I may fail to include things here if I've forgotten I had a reason for watching them when I did, and I failed to mention it in my reviews.) I won't include things I chose to watch because of Halloween or Christmas. But I guess other holidays are fair game for this page. Also note that the years listed here of my having watched a movie may or may not be the first time I saw it; sometimes it's just the time I wrote a review of it after re-watching it.
Because Movies * because TV * because holidays * because other reasons
The Addams Family (2019), watched on opening night of The Addams Family 2, in 2021.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), watched on opening night of Spider-Man: Homecoming, in 2017.
Annie (1982), watched on opening night of a remake, in 2014.
Beauty and the Beast (2017), watched on what should have been the opening weekend of Mulan, in 2020.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), watched about a month before release of Bridget Jones's Baby, in 2016.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), watched on opening night of The Avengers, in 2012, because MCU.
Carrie (1976), watched on the night the remake opened in 2013.
Carrie (2013), watched the night Greta opened in 2019, because Chloe Moretz.
Clerks II (2006), watched on opening night of Clerks III, in 2022.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), watched on opening weekend of the sequel in 2013.
Do the Right Thing (1989), re-watched when BlacKkKlansman was in theaters, in 2018, because Spike Lee.
Doctor Strange (2016), watched on opening weekend of Avengers: Infinity War, in 2018, because MCU.
Dumbo (1941), re-watched the weekend that the live-action Dumbo opened in 2019.
Dumbo (2019), watched on the last day of Carnival, in 2024.
Evil Dead II (1987), re-watched on opening night of Evil Dead Rise, in 2023.
The Expendables (2010), watched on opening night of the sequel, in 2012.
Finding Nemo (2003), watched soon after the sequel opened in 2016.
Firestarter (1984), watched on the night a remake opened, in 2022.
Flatliners (1990), re-watched on opening night of Lisa Frankenstein, in 2024.
The Fog (1980), watched around the time Evil Dead opened, in 2013, because horror.
Free Guy (2021), watched one day before it was released on Disney+ in 2022.
Ghostbusters II (1989), re-watched when the Ghostbusters reboot was in theaters, in 2016.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009), watched within a month of the American remake opening, in 2011.
Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956), watched when Pacific Rim came out in 2013, because kaiju.
Goosebumps (2015), watched on opening night of The House with a Clock in Its Walls, in 2018, because Jack Black.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), watched on opening night of The Last Witch Hunter, in 2015, because similar titles.
The Haunted Mansion (2003), watched when a remake was in theaters, in 2023.
Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015), watched on opening night of Hotel Transylvania 3, in 2018.
Jurassic Park (1993), re-watched on opening night of Jurassic World in 2015.
Jurassic World (2015), watched on opening night of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in 2018.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), watched the weekend that Tomb Raider opened in 2018.
Maleficent (2014), watched the night after Beauty and the Beast opened, in 2017, because Disney remakes.
The Matrix Revolutions (2003), watched when The Matrix Resurrections was in theaters, in 2021.
Men in Black (1997), re-watched on opening night of Men in Black 3, in 2012.
The Mummy (1999), re-watched on opening night of The Mummy in 2017.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974), watched on opening weekend of a remake, in 2017.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), watched while POTC: On Stranger Tides was in theaters in 2011.
Prey (2022), watched on Hulu the day it was released on DVD, in 2023.
The Purge (2013), watched on opening night of The Forever Purge, in 2021.
Return to Oz (1985), re-watched when Oz the Great and Powerful opened, in 2013.
Princess Mononoke (1997), watched while The Secret World of Arrietty was in theaters, in 2012 (in the U.S.), because Ghibli.
Saving Mr. Banks (2013), watched on opening night of Mary Poppins Returns, in 2018.
Scoop (2006), watched while The Wolverine was in theaters, in 2013, because Hugh Jackman.
Scream 3 (2000), watched the night Us opened in 2019, because horror.
Slither (2006), watched on opening night of The Cabin in the Woods, in 2012, because horror.
The Soloist (2009), watched on opening night of Solo, in 2018, because similar titles.
Space Jam (1996), re-watched on opening weekend of Space Jam: A New Legacy, in 2021.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), watched on opening night of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in 2022.
Tarzan (1999), re-watched while The Legend of Tarzan was in theaters, in 2016.
Terminator Salvation (2009), watched soon after Terminator Genisys opened, in 2015.
Unbreakable (2000), re-watched on opening night of Iron Man 3, in 2013, because super heroes.
West Side Story (1961), watched on opening night of the remake, in 2021.
A Wrinkle in Time (2004 TV movie), watched on opening weekend of A Wrinkle in Time, in 2018.
Crocodile Dundee II (1988), re-watched in 2019 because of the My Little Pony episode The Last Crusade.
Dirty Dancing (1987), re-watched not long before a TV remake, in 2017.
The Exorcist (1973), watched prior to the premiere of the TV series of the same name, in 2016.
Frozen (2013), watched a couple weeks before the movie's characters would appear on Once Upon a Time, in 2014.
Hercules (1997), watched the month before Hades would appear on Once Upon a Time, in 2016.
The Santa Clause (1994), re-watched because of the premiere of "The Santa Clauses" web series, in 2022.
Shrek the Third (May 2007), watched sometime prior to the TV special Shrek the Halls, in November 2007.
Snowpiercer (2013), watched on the night the TV series "Snowpiercer" premiered, in 2020.
Supergirl (1984), re-watched on the day the TV series Supergirl premiered, in 2015.
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009), watched on the day the TV series premiered, in 2022.
Trolls (2016), watched prior to the TV special Trolls Holiday, in 2017.
V (1983 TV miniseries), re-watched several months before the premiere of the reboot, in 2009.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996), re-watched on the 20th anniversary of its release, in 2016.
Along Came Polly (2004) watched in 2019, because of a dream.
Apocalypto (2006), watched on December 21, 2012, which was when the world was supposed to end.
Back to the Future Part II (1989), re-watched on October 21, 2015, because Marty time traveled to that date.
The Big Easy (1987), watched on December 30, 2020, because Facebook told me it was one year since I had bought the DVD.
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010), watched on December 18, 2021, because Dec 18 is an important date in the movie.
Doomsday (2008), watched on December 20, 2012, which was the day before the world was supposed to end.
Dracula 2000 (2000), watched because of Wes Craven's death, in 2015.
Enter the Dragon (1973), re-watched a few days after an episode of Pokemon mentioned a movie called Enter the Beartic, and also on opening night of Kick-Ass 2, in 2013.
Five Feet Apart (2019), watched in 2021 on the day I got my second Covid shot.
Gone with the Wind (1939), re-watched one day when the internet was out, in 2013.
Hatchet (2007), watched... for complicated reasons... in 2018.
Hidden Figures (2016), watched because space, on July 20, 2020.
The Kite Runner (2007), watched because of an online quiz, in 2015.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018), watched in 2021 on the anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), re-watched because of a Mentos gum commercial, in 2014.
Mumford (1999), re-watched one day that I happened to see a video by Mumford & Sons, in 2012.
Osmosis Jones (2001), watched in 2021 because I had a cold.
Sleeping Beauty (1959), watched around its 57th anniversary, in 2016.
Summer Wars (2009), watched on the first day of summer in 2011.
Sweeney Todd (2007), watched because of an article in Entertainment Weekly, in 2009.
Treasure Island (1950), watched on its 70th anniversary, in 2020.
The Wave (1981 TV special), watched on YouTube, because I saw it mentioned on facebook, in 2015.
Because TV/web
Because Holidays
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 15-21, Monday)
Selma (2014), watched in 2016.
Groundhog Day (Feb. 2)
Groundhog Day (1993), re-watched in 2017.
Lincoln's Birthday (Feb. 12)
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (2012), watched the day after Lincoln's birthday, in 2016.
Valentine's Day (Feb. 14)
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008), watched in 2010.
Let Me In (2010), watched in 2011.
Date Night (2010), watched in 2013.
Before Midnight (2013), watched in 2015.
The Notebook (2004), watched a couple days after Valentine's Day, in 2017.
Emma (1996), watched in 2018.
Beyond the Lights (2014), watched in 2019.
St. Patrick's Day (March 17)
Far and Away (1992), re-watched in 2012.
Leprechaun (1993), watched in 2013.
Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959), watched in 2017.
The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999 TV miniseries), watched on Amazon, March 15-17, 2019.
Brooklyn (2015), watched in 2020.
WolfWalkers (2020), watched in 2024.
Easter (March 22-April 25, Sunday)
Hop (2011), watched the night before Easter, in 2014.
Shakespeare's birth/death day (April 23)
Anonymous (2011), watched in 2013.
Astronomy Day (mid-April to mid-May / mid-September to mid-October; Saturday)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), watched May 14, 2016, because the moon.
Star Wars Day (May 4)
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002), watched in 2020.
Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
Quinceañera (2006), watched in 2013.
Mother's Day (second Sunday in May)
Mars Needs Moms (2011), watched in 2015.
Father's Day (third Sunday in June)
The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), watched in 2022.
Midsummer (June 24)
Midsommar (2019), watched in 2020.
Independence Day (July 4)
Fireworks (2017), watched in 2019.
Independence Day (1996), re-watched in 2013.
Team America: World Police (2004), watched in 2018.
Bastille Day (July 14)
Marie Antoinette (2006), watched in 2013.
Christmas in July (July 25)
The Ultimate Gift (2007), watched in 2013.
Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion (2005 TV special), re-watched in 2015.
Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor (2013 TV special), watched on Amazon, in 2018.
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time (2017 TV special), watched on Amazon, in 2019.
A Fairly Odd Christmas (2012 TV movie), watched on Hulu, in 2020.
Mr. St. Nick (2002 TV movie), re-watched in 2022.
Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sep. 19)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), watched in 2014.
Swiss Family Robinson (1960), watched in 2019.
My birthday (Sep. 21)
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), watched on my 40th birthday, in 2015.
Happy Death Day (2017), watched on my birthday in 2020.
Hobbit Day (Sep. 22)
LOTR: The Return of the King (2003), re-watched in two parts, on my birthday and Hobbit Day, in 2014.
Halloween (Oct. 31): see my holiday journals.
All Saints' Day (Nov. 1)
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009), watched on Nov. 1, 2019, just because of the title.
Day of the Dead (Nov. 1-2)
The Book of Life (2014), watched in 2015.
Election Day (first Tuesday in November)
Election (1999), re-watched in 2020.
Guy Fawkes Night (Nov. 5)
V for Vendetta (2006), watched in 2007.
Thanksgiving (Nov. 22-28, Thursday)
Turkey Hollow (2015 TV movie), watched the day before Thanksgiving, in 2016.
Pieces of April (2003), re-watched the day after Thanksgiving, in 2016.
Krampusnacht (Dec. 5)
Krampus (2015), watched in 2016.
Gremlins (1984), re-watched in 2017.
Better Watch Out (2017), watched in 2018.
Black Christmas (1974), watched in 2019.
A Christmas Horror Story (2015), watched in 2020.
Anna and the Apocalypse (2017), watched in 2021.
Once Upon a Time at Christmas (2017), watched in 2023.
Hanukkah (eight days in December)
Eight Crazy Nights (2002), watched in 2023.
Christmas (Dec. 25): see my holiday journals.
Because Reasons
Films Index