Video summary

I Tried Bong Joon Ho's Movie-Watching Routine...It Killed Me

Main summary

Key takeaways

Entertainment

Overview

The video is a personal experiment where the creator tries director Bong Joon-ho’s reported habit of watching a movie every day at 5:00 a.m.—mostly to see how it affects their mindset and whether it might make them a better filmmaker/director. Over five days, they go in exhausted, then become more “locked in” emotionally as the early-morning conditions repeatedly change how each film lands.

Main Plot / Structure

Day 1 (5 a.m.): Schindler’s List

  • They choose Spielberg’s monumental film (never seen it before) and are surprised they stay awake and fully engaged despite the early hour.
  • It’s deeply harrowing, but it feels unusually personal and intimate—almost like getting to know the filmmaker through the quiet act of watching.
  • The next day feels emotionally “foggy”, and they barely feel like they earned rest.

Day 2: The Notebook

  • They switch to something lighter, expecting romance to be easier at 5 a.m., but it backfires.
  • They call it the worst Ryan Gosling performance they’ve seen (not “bad” overall—just underwhelming for him).
  • They praise Rachel McAdams more.
  • They find the early scenes/overall vibe too sappy and not emotionally effective at this hour.
  • At most, they imagine it might hit better at night (wine, tears, etc.).

Sponsor Break: Helix Mattress Pitch

  • Their sleep improves noticeably due to Helix, which they credit with helping them feel rested enough to keep doing the routine.
  • The sponsor is presented as both a comfort upgrade and an explanation for why they aren’t completely wrecked.

Day 3: Dancer in the Dark

  • After the romance disappointment, they try something “extreme,” expecting intensity—but it feels bleak and difficult.
  • They struggle to find meaning and feel hazy/half-awake.
  • They do highlight the musical sequences as standout moments.
  • Bigger point: at 5 a.m., the brain works at a lower “thinking” level, so movies become more about pure feeling than analysis—something they liken to the stripped-down purity of Dogme 95.

Day 4: Unforgiven (Their Best Pick)

  • They describe this as a near-perfect pairing with morning: a “cozy” western with coffee.
  • It’s both a great western and a genre commentary.
  • Crucially, it leaves a stronger after-effect than the others—more “lodged” in memory.
  • Watching it at the least preferable hour seems to unlock its impact.

Day 5: Dick (Light Note, Still Weird)

  • They end with a comedy they’ve long wanted to see, but even this “fun” movie feels off and oddly slow.
  • Jokes land differently than expected.
  • They call it the most forgettable of the week, possibly because it’s only 94 minutes and blends into the rest of the day.
  • They like it, but feel it might have been better later at night.

Key Highlights & Recurring Reactions

The “5 a.m. Effect”

The creator repeatedly emphasizes:

  • the world feels quieter,
  • the mind feels foggier,
  • the viewing experience becomes more visceral and emotional,
  • and less analytical.

Best Moments

  • Schindler’s List felt unusually personal and intensely riveting.
  • Unforgiven was their favorite and the film that stayed with them the most.
  • Dancer in the Dark had memorable musical highlights, even if the overall experience was tough.

Big Comic/Critical Edge

  • Romance “isn’t the move” at 5 a.m. (jokingly framed).
  • Their Ryan Gosling take is a standards-based roast: “not bad,” just not hitting like Gosling at his best.
  • Dick is treated as “light” on paper, yet it still feels weirdly like an almost midnight movie.

Final Takeaway

They conclude that waking at 5 a.m. improves mood and makes the routine feel “spiritual” and important—but the challenge doesn’t get easier. It only becomes more exhausting. Still, they don’t regret trying it.

Personal / Brand Notes

  • The video uses Helix to highlight improved sleep and help maintain stamina for the five-day challenge.

Personalities Appearing

  • Carson (creator/host)
  • Bong Joon-ho (referenced via interviews/routine)
  • Ryan Gosling (via The Notebook)
  • Rachel McAdams (via The Notebook)
  • Clint Eastwood (via Unforgiven)
  • Lars von Trier (via Dancer in the Dark)
  • Will Ferrell, Michelle Williams, Kirsten Dunst (via Dick)
  • Helix (sponsor)

Original video