diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7785b14..f2c119e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ This tool is perfect for users who want to standardize their media library's aud
 
   * Files are skipped entirely if no audio streams in the target languages meet the criteria for transcoding, preventing empty or unnecessary output files.
 
+* **Efficient Processing:**
+
+  * The script automatically skips processing a file if an output file with the target name already exists. This allows you to safely re-run the script on the same directory to only process new files. Use the `--force-reprocess` flag to override this behavior.
+
 * **Flexible Output:** 
 
   * Save processed files alongside originals or in a specified output directory, maintaining the source folder structure if applicable.
@@ -99,11 +103,15 @@ __*This will use all available CPU cores for maximum speed.*__
 
 `eac3-transcode --input "video.mkv" --langs "eng,spa" --bitrate "640k" --jobs 4`
 
+5. **Force the script to re-process all files, even those that already exist:**
+
+`eac3-transcode --input "/path/to/your/video_folder/" --force-reprocess`
+
 ## Command-Line Options
 
 **Usage:**
 
-`eac3-transcode [-h] -i INPUT_PATH [-o OUTPUT_DIRECTORY_BASE] [-br AUDIO_BITRATE] [-l LANGUAGES] [-j JOBS] [--dry-run]`  
+`eac3-transcode [-h] -i INPUT_PATH [-o OUTPUT_DIRECTORY_BASE] [-br AUDIO_BITRATE] [-l LANGUAGES] [-j JOBS] [--dry-run] [--force-reprocess]`  
 An advanced video transcoder that processes files to use E-AC3 for specific audio tracks, filters by language, and can process entire folders.
 
 **Options:**
@@ -129,15 +137,23 @@ An advanced video transcoder that processes files to use E-AC3 for specific audi
 * `--dry-run`  
     **(Optional)** Analyze files and report actions without executing ffmpeg. No files will be modified.
 
+* `--force-reprocess`  
+    **(Optional)** Force reprocessing of all files, even if an output file with the target name already exists.
+
+
 ## How It Works
 
 1. **File Discovery:** The script scans the input path for `.mkv` and `.mp4` files.
 
-2. **Stream Analysis (using `ffprobe`):** For each file:
+2. **Pre-flight Checks:**
+
+    * **Existence Check:** The script first determines the final output filename. If that file already exists and `--force-reprocess` is NOT used, the script skips the file and moves to the next one.
+
+3. **Stream Analysis (using `ffprobe`):** For each file:
 
    * It extracts information about all audio streams: codec, channels, and language tags.
 
-3. **Decision Logic:**
+4. **Decision Logic:**
 
    * **Language Filter:** Only audio streams matching the languages provided with the `-l LANGUAGES, --langs LANGUAGES` option are considered for keeping. **This defaults to `eng,jpn`**. Others are marked to be dropped.
 
@@ -147,7 +163,7 @@ An advanced video transcoder that processes files to use E-AC3 for specific audi
 
    * **File Skipping:** If no audio streams are marked for 'transcode', the entire file is skipped.
 
-4. **Processing (using `ffmpeg`):**
+5. **Processing (using `ffmpeg`):**
 
    * If not in `--dry-run` mode, a new FFmpeg command is constructed. This processing is done in parallel for multiple files, with a progress bar updating you on the status of the batch.
 
@@ -171,7 +187,11 @@ An advanced video transcoder that processes files to use E-AC3 for specific audi
 
 * **No files processed / "Skipping 'filename': No audio streams in the desired languages... meet criteria..."**:
 
-  * This is expected behavior if the files scanned do not contain any audio tracks in the target languages that require transcoding to E-AC3. This message reflects the default languages (`eng,jpn`) or the ones you specified with `--langs`. Use `--dry-run` to confirm the logic without waiting for processing.
+  * This is expected if files don't meet the criteria. Check the log message:
+
+    * **"Output file already exists.":** This is the default behavior. The script will not re-process a file if the output (`filename_eac3.mkv`) is already present. Use `--force-reprocess` if you want to overwrite it.
+
+    * **"No audio streams... meet criteria":** This means no audio tracks in the target languages require transcoding to E-AC3. This reflects the default languages (`eng,jpn`) or the ones you specified with `--langs`.
 
 * **Permission Errors:**
 
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index a0931d5..556aec5 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [metadata]
 name = surround-to-eac3
-version = 0.3.3
+version = 0.3.4
 author = Jonathan Rampersad
 author_email = jonathan@jono-rams.work
 description = A CLI tool to transcode 5.1 audio in video files to E-AC3.
diff --git a/src/surround_to_eac3/main.py b/src/surround_to_eac3/main.py
index 81e20d4..ed3d361 100644
--- a/src/surround_to_eac3/main.py
+++ b/src/surround_to_eac3/main.py
@@ -257,6 +257,15 @@ def process_single_file(filepath: str, pbar_position: int, args: argparse.Namesp
             output_dir_for_this_file = args.output_directory_base
     
     final_output_filepath = os.path.join(output_dir_for_this_file, output_filename)
+
+    # Check if the output file already exists and we are NOT forcing reprocessing.
+    if os.path.exists(final_output_filepath) and not args.force_reprocess:
+        file_specific_logs.append(f"      ⏭️ Skipping: Output file already exists. Use --force-reprocess to override.")
+        with tqdm_lock:
+            for log_msg in file_specific_logs:
+                tqdm.write(log_msg)
+        final_status = "skipped_existing"
+        return final_status
     
     # Check for identical paths before starting
     if os.path.abspath(filepath) == os.path.abspath(final_output_filepath):
@@ -365,6 +374,11 @@ def main():
         action="store_true", # Makes it a flag, e.g., --dry-run
         help="Analyze files and report actions without executing ffmpeg."
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--force-reprocess",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Force reprocessing of all files, even if an output file with the target name already exists."
+    )
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -403,6 +417,7 @@ def main():
         "skipped_no_ops": 0, 
         "skipped_no_transcode": 0, 
         "skipped_identical_path": 0,
+        "skipped_existing": 0,
         "failed": 0
     }
 
@@ -451,11 +466,12 @@ def main():
     print(f"\n{summary_title}")
     print(f"Total files checked: {len(files_to_process_paths)}")
     print(f"✅ {processed_label}: {stats['processed']}")
-    total_skipped = stats['skipped_no_ops'] + stats['skipped_no_transcode'] + stats['skipped_identical_path']
+    total_skipped = stats['skipped_no_ops'] + stats['skipped_no_transcode'] + stats['skipped_identical_path'] + stats['skipped_existing']
     print(f"⏭️ Total Skipped: {total_skipped}")
     if total_skipped > 0:
         print(f"    - No target audio operations: {stats['skipped_no_ops']}")
         print(f"    - No transcoding required (all copy): {stats['skipped_no_transcode']}")
         print(f"    - Identical input/output path: {stats['skipped_identical_path']}")
+        print(f"    - Output file already exists: {stats['skipped_existing']}")
     print(f"🚨 Failed to process: {stats['failed']}")
     print("--------------------------")