It is an objective and well-established truth that watching The Big Lebowski (1998) four times is much better than watching it once. It just has a quality about it that rewards multiple viewings. Some films, such as Gandhi (1982), make their point beautifully, and then never need to be watched again. Others insist on worming their way into your head, demanding to be rewatched at 3 a.m. even though you’ve memorized every line. They are the addictive films.

Look at your video collection. Have you purchased the same film on VHS, DVD, special edition DVD, Superbit DVD, and Blu-ray? Do you still watch it when it gets broadcast on television, even though you own multiple copies? Do you and your friends recite entire passages at random moments? Do you attend midnight screenings of this film while dressed as your favourite character? If you’re a serious movie buff, you undoubtedly answered yes to these questions, and about more than one film.

Consider Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). I’ve watched this sucker so often that I don’t actually laugh at the jokes anymore. Nevertheless, an offhand quote like “What do you mean? An African or a European swallow?” or “Your mother was a hamster, and your father smells of elderberries!” just makes me smile every time a friend blurts it out. I’ve spent more time quoting Holy Grail than the Pythons actually spent filming the damn thing, and whenever I meet a fellow addict, there’s a blissful moment of connection as we smile at recognized jokes and bask in our shared love of the film. This is a movie that provides happiness for far longer than the 90 minutes it takes to watch it once. (Egad, who watches Holy Grail only once? Madness!)

Anybody who has ever mentioned The Princess Bride (1987) since 1990 or so has undoubtedly watched it several times.

Fans of Ghostbusters (1984) love meeting people who have never seen the film, because it gives them an excuse to rewatch it under the pretence of teaching an ignorant youngster about a Hollywood classic. Heck, we even get to see that scenario played out in Zombieland (2009) as the characters discuss the film’s artistic importance.

What other movies demand repeat viewings from addicted fans? Well, how about:

-The Wizard of Oz (1939).

-Shaun of the Dead (2004).

-Miller’s Crossing (1990).

-Casablanca (1942).

-M (1931).

-Memento (2000).

-The Seven Samurai (1954).

-Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (1993).

-Big Trouble in Little China (1986).

-The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

-Django (1966).

OK, that last one might not ring a bell with most viewers. Still, if you’ve seen Django, you’re addicted. That’s the thing about addictive films; in addition to the usual suspects, you’ll likely have a list of must-watch-again-and-again flicks peculiar to you. Personally, I’ll never tire of Spider Baby (1968), Infra-Man (1975) or Shock! Shock! Shock! (1987), and if you’ve seen these bizarre classics, you know exactly what I mean.

One of the most addictive films of all-time remains It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). A flop during its initial release, this holiday classic became an essential part of the Christmas season when it began to air on television every December. Everybody’s seen bits and pieces of it, but once you finally settle down to watch it beginning to end, you’re hooked for life. There’s a lot more to this film than the angel-saves-the-day ending that everybody remembers. Sentimental, yes, but rich, complex and brilliant, as well. Besides, don’t pretend sentiment doesn’t work on you, ya big faker. If you don’t watch It’s a Wonderful Life again soon, your Christmas is going to suck.