Hard watch definition: what "Hard watch" means and examples

When something is a "hard watch," it doesn't necessarily mean it is bad; it means the content is so awkward or emotionally taxing that you find yourself wanting to look away. It could be a scene in a comedy where a character makes a fool of themselves, or a real-life video of someone being incredibly rude in public. It is the visual version of "second-hand embarrassment." If your child says a movie was a hard watch, they likely found the social awkwardness of the characters too painful to endure.

Examples:

1. "That interview was such a hard watch; the presenter didn't know what to say at all."
2. "I had to turn off the show because the main character's mistakes made it a total hard watch."
3. "Watching him try to dance at the wedding was a bit of a hard watch, bless him."