Is rewatching shows and movies a sign of high intelligence

1. What the research actually measures — and what it doesn’t

Studies and reviews cited in the available material assess intelligence using standardized tests (IQ) and then look for correlations with life outcomes or a range of behaviors; they do not treat single leisure habits (like rewatching shows) as validated indicators of general intelligence ^{[2] [3]}. The nearest available evidence comes from a self-report study that asked about 35 behaviors and found positive correlations between IQ and enjoyment of puzzles, math, and learning, but that study lists many behaviors and explicitly shows some expected links are absent or weak — rewatching media is not among the behaviors reported ^[1].

2. Patterns researchers reliably find about personality, preferences and IQ

When there are reliable correlations, they tend to be with cognitive activities: abstract reasoning, working memory, and an enjoyment of problem‑solving ^{[4] [1]}. The Scientific American overview emphasizes that IQ measures cluster around a “general intelligence factor” tied to abilities that help learn new, complex information — not to specific leisure choices ^[4]. The clearer behavioral signals are activities like solving riddles/puzzles and finding math easy, which correlated positively in the survey described ^[1].

3. Why a popular belief could still arise about rewatching

People infer traits from habits: repeating a complex movie might be taken as evidence of attention to detail or deeper analysis, while rewatching a comfort show could be read as emotional, not cognitive, behavior. However, the materials here warn about over‑interpreting single behaviors: self‑reported behaviors correlate with IQ inconsistently, and many leisure activities show little or mixed relationship with intelligence ^[1]. Available sources do not mention rewatching specifically, so any strong claim connecting it to IQ is unsupported by the provided reporting (not found in current reporting).

4. Limitations of measurement and self‑report data

IQ testing and surveys each have limits. IQ is a construct measured through standardized tests that correlate with many outcomes, but it’s not a full account of “intelligence” in every sense ^{[2] [4]}. Self‑reported behavior studies (like the 35‑behavior survey) rely on participant recall and sampling (n = 692 in the cited section); such methods can detect trends but cannot establish causal links between a pastime and cognitive ability ^[1]. The literature emphasizes correlation, not proof that one behavior “signals” intelligence.

5. Competing viewpoints and disagreement in sources

Some sources stress the predictive power of IQ for academic and occupational success ^{[5] [2]}, while others highlight nuance: correlations vary by trait and context and not every expected behavior tracks with IQ ^[1]. The review literature warns against simplistic interpretations of IQ and life outcomes and calls for careful methodology ^[3]. These differences show that while IQ relates to many life outcomes, researchers do not agree that any single leisure habit is a reliable indicator.

6. Practical takeaways for readers and journalists

Don’t treat rewatching a show or movie as a diagnostic of intelligence; available sources do not evaluate that behavior and instead link IQ more reliably to cognitive preferences like puzzle solving and interest in learning ^{[1] [4]}. If you want to explore whether particular habits correlate with IQ, look for studies that list those specific behaviors and use standardized measures — the current reporting set does not include rewatching media as such a behavior (not found in current reporting).

Sources referenced: ^[1], ^[4], ^[2], ^[3], ^[5], ^[6].