The Barbie and Oppenheimer double feature has taken the world by storm. The idea of two massive blockbusters releasing on the same day in two wildly different genres seems to have everyone clamoring for a double feature.
Double features were a staple of the cinema experience as late as the 1970s. With the invention of VHS and rental stores, people stopped spending entire afternoons at the cinema. They instead chose to have their double features at home from the comfort of their couch. These are our favorite double features to enjoy after seeing Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Joker and Taxi Driver: A Descent into Madness
Martin Scorsese may hate the MCU, but he did create one of the best villain origin stories in all of cinema. Todd Phillips Joker is the perfect film to watch after Robert Deniro’s classic, as the 1976 film’s DNA is all over the Joker’s origin.
The Joker and Taxi Driver share so much in common that it almost feels like a remake. The protagonist’s slow burn into madness, the aesthetic of a filthy city, and a violent finale make these two films perfect for a double feature.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Dazed & Confused: A Comedic Duo
High school comedies are a staple of American cinema. And no two films go together more perfectly than Fast Times and Dazed & Confused.
Fast Times is fondly remembered for putting Sean Penn on the map and the infamous pool scene. Dazed & Confused is a slower film focusing on high school life in the ’70s. Both films are classics in their own right and also gut-busting hilarious.
War Games and The Wizard: Classic 80′ Cinema
These two films aren’t just two of our favorite video game films but are also great for a double feature. They both star classic 80s stars and feature kids with a firm hold on 80s technology.
War Games follows Matthew Broderick as he gets entangled in a game of real war with a computer. The Wizard stars Fred Savage and is the world’s introduction to Super Mario Bros. 3. Both feel-good films will have you longing for a trip back to the 80s.
Groundhog Day and Palm Springs: Time-warping Double Feature
Bill Murray and Andy Samberg were comedy legends when they released these hilarious time-traveling romps. Each movie stars the respective comic trapped in a time-loop of the same day trying to escape.
While the leading men add the laughs to these two films, their female co-stars land these two flicks on our list. Cristin Milioti and Andie McDowell both add a special charm to these comedies. The chemistry between the leads in these films will make you wish you could relive the same day repeatedly.
The Fast and The Furious and Mission Impossible: Grounded Roots
These two movies are great starting points for franchises that have since gone off the rails. The Fast and The Furious is a street racing heist film, and Mission Impossible is an international spy thriller. Both of these films are grounded, and it’s interesting to see the starting point of knowing where the franchises have ended up today.
These two movies work so well together for a double feature because of their action and staying power. While many remember the craziest moments from each franchise, reliving both series humble beginnings make for a great double feature.
Heat and The Town: A Heist Double Feature
Heat and The Town are both heist movies that feature bank robbers trying to stay one step ahead of the law. The iconic LA heist in Heat will pump your blood while The Town slowly ramps the tensions leading up to a theft and Fenway Park.
Both films are great on their own, but when viewed together, you get a great idea of what makes a good heist movie. The performances of Robert Deniro and Al Pacino are iconic, and Ben Affleck holds his own acting against powerhouse Jon Hamm.
The Professional and Grosse Pointe Blank: Hit Men on a Mission
The job of a hitman always makes for a thrilling cinema experience. The Professional stars a brilliant Jean Reno showing a young Natalie Portman the ropes of the business. Grosse Pointe Blanke is a dark comedy that lets John Cusak show off his acting chops.
The Professional and Grosse Pointe Blank may be the best double feature after Barbie and Oppenheimer, as they have vastly different themes. Both films deal with the same subject matter but are each tackled in unique ways.
Chasing Amy and High Fidelity: The Guy Doesn’t Always Get the Girl
High Fidelity and Chasing Amy work so well as a double feature for one big reason. They both turn their leading man into a jerk. They are both excellent films of their time, but watching them today takes on a whole new meaning.
Ben Affleck in Chasing Amy plays a man that can’t get over his girlfriend’s past, and John Cusak in High Fidelity plays basically the same arch. They are great 90s films that aren’t afraid to tell the guys who think they’re too cool for school that they just need therapy.
Planet Terror and Death Proof: Grindhouse Double Feature Perfection
This one is a bit of a cheat, as they were released in theaters together as a double feature. Still, this pairing of films is best watched back to back to relive the glorious days of grindhouse cinema.
Grindhouse is a term used for theaters that would play double-feature exploitation films. Directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez teamed up to make two films that pay homage to this all-but-lost style of filmmaking. Each film is great in its own right, but we can’t help but prefer Tarantino’s take on a killer car.
National Lampoons Vacation and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Two Comedians at the Top of Their Game
You’d be hard-pressed to find two better comedy movies for a double feature than this pairing. Each film is a classic due to their respective leading comics at the top of their game when these films came out.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles stars John Candy and Steve Martin in a buddy comedy trying to make it home for the holidays. Vacation stars Chevy Chase as a family man looking to deliver the perfect family vacation. Both movies involve countless comedic antics and remain classic films regardless of how many times they are viewed.
