“Just one more episode” or “just a few more minutes” are phrases many of us have said before. Whether it is unwinding after a long week or procrastinating on an assignment, students and staff at Shadow Hills share a common habit: streaming.
To understand these viewing habits, we conducted a survey of 34 students and staff members. The results show that Netflix and Disney+ are the most preferred platforms on campus, followed by Hulu and HBO Max.
When it comes to binge-worthy series, viewers are currently drawn to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Abbott Elementary, Bridgerton, Love is Blind and The Rookie. Nostalgic favorites also appeared frequently in survey responses, including Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl and The Office.
Junior Yaretzi Magana said she is currently fond of director David Lynch’s work, particularly his show Twin Peaks.
“I love his movies; I love the way he tells his stories,” Magana said. “And I like the cinematography. I just feel so immersed. I feel like my soul is connected to it.”
On the film side, recent favorites include Sinners, Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Superman, Frankenstein and Weapons. Respondents also cited sequels like The Black Phone 2, Happy Gilmore 2 and Smile 2 as popular choices.
While 67.6% of respondents expressed no preference between movies and series, some students find that format influences their choice. Senior Adam Berumen prefers movies because of the time commitment.
“I just like movies because they’re very one and done; I don’t have to commit to a big series,” Berumen said. “It’s nostalgia-based. I watched Scream with my mom all the time, so I find myself rewatching them as a comfort.”
Rewatching content is a common trend on campus, with 90.9% of respondents saying they enjoy revisiting old movies and series for nostalgia, comfort or as background noise while studying.
For U.S. history teacher Mr. Duthaler, nostalgic viewing is a preferred way to wind down.
“I’ve been falling asleep to Seinfeld for 12 years straight,” Duthaler said. “You already know what’s going on, so you don’t have to figure it out. If I put on something that’s new, I’ll have to pay attention.”
Ultimately, he noted, “It’s comfort food for the soul.”
