Double Features Are Awesome

Double features are a mixture of two fun qualities: creativity and a love for cinema. Sure anyone could say something like, “Hey, let’s watch 'The Hangover' and then 'The Hangover Part II.' ” Something like that, or watching all of a trilogy in a row, is fun, but there’s something special when you can juxtapose two films together. It’s a great way to revisit a movie but also see it in a new context.

For example …

Double features can be a cool way to look at an artist’s range. Like…

• "10 Things I Hate About You" / "Brick" (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

• "Double Indemnity" / "Some Like It Hot" (Billy Wilder)

• "Good Morning Vietnam" / "Good Will Hunting" (Robin Williams)

• "Groundhog Day" / "Broken Flowers" (Bill Murray)

• "The Lady Eve" / "Once Upon a Time in the West" (Henry Fonda)

• "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" / "The Naked Spur" (Jimmy Stewart)

• "The Next Karate Kid" / "Million Dollar Baby" (Hilary Swank)

Similarities in story or themes can make films great companion pieces

• "American Graffiti" / "Dazed and Confused"

• "The Aviator" / "The Bad and the Beautiful"

• "Black Narcissus" / "Vertigo"

• "Casino Royale" / "District B13"

• "Clue" / "Murder By Death"

• "The Conversation" / "Enemy of the State"

• "Coraline" / "Pan’s Labyrinth"

• "Dog Day Afternoon" / "Inside Job"

• "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" / "In the Loop"

• “The End” — "LOST" / “The End of Time Part 1 & 2” — "Doctor Who"

• "Enter the Void" / "The Tree of Life"

• "The Frighteners" / "Ghost Town"

• "Galaxy Quest" / "Star Trek" (2009)

• "Get Shorty" / "Big Trouble"

• "The Great Mouse Detective" / “A Study in Pink” — "Sherlock"

• "The Guns of Navarone" / "Inglourious Basterds"

• "Heat" / "The Dark Knight"

• "Me and Orson Welles" / "My Favorite Year"

• “Objects in Space” — "Firefly" / “The Doctor’s Wife” — "Doctor Who"

• "The Others" / "The Orphanage"

• "The Private Life of Henry VIII" / "A Man For All Seasons"

• "Psycho" / "Magic"

• "The Red Shoes" / "Black Swan"

• "Saboteur" / "North By Northwest"

• "Scream" / "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon"

• "Slacker" / "45365"

• "There Will Be Blood" / "The Social Network"

• "This is Spinal Tap" / "Anvil: The Story of Anvil"

• "Topsy Turvy" / "Amadeus"

• "TRON" / "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"

Two different takes on a subject can make for a great combo.

• "2001: A Space Odyssey" / "WALL-E"

• "Broadcast News" / "Morning Glory"

• "Carrie" / "Grease"

• "E.T." / "Signs"

• "Ghostbusters" / "Casper"

• "Pocahontas" / "The New World"

• "Twilight" / "Let the Right One In"

The best way to watch a parody / homage film is when the referenced film is fresh in your mind.

• "28 Days Later ..." / "Shaun of the Dead"

• "All the President’s Men" / "Dick"

• "Airport" / "Airplane!"

• "Apocalypse Now" / "Tropic Thunder"

• "The Big Sleep" / "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"

• "Point Break" / "Hot Fuzz"

• "Shaft" / "Black Dynamite"

• "Star Wars: A New Hope" / "Spaceballs"

• "Top Gun" / "Hot Shots"

• "Walk the Line" / "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story"

Sometimes the remakes are different enough that together it doesn’t feel like you’re just watching the same film twice.

• "12 Angry Men" / "12"

• "Blow Up" / "Blow Out"

• "Dawn of the Dead" (1978) / "Dawn of the Dead" (2004)

• "Doc Hollywood" / "Cars"

• "Fitzcarraldo" / "Burden of Dreams"

• "King Kong" (1933) / "King Kong" (2005)

• "Hamlet" / "The Lion King"

• "Infernal Affairs" / "The Departed"

• "Macbeth" / "Throne of Blood"

• "The Seven Samurai" / "A Bug’s Life"

• "Sleuth" (1972) / "Sleuth" (2007)

• "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924) / "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940)

• "The Thing From Another World" / "The Thing"

What are some more fun ideas for double features?