Balanced double-feature movie pairings

Double features began as a marketing gimmick—two tickets for the price of one—but curating them has become an art. A good pairing can feel like a playlist or a wine match: films that complement one another or contrast to bring out new shades in each. These ten pairings connect directors, themes and tones to create well-balanced viewing nights.

Martin Scorsese’s 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino' offer two grand criminal epics that share performers and stylistic trademarks, from narration and fast edits to rock-and-roll soundtracks such as The Rolling Stones’ "Gimmie Shelter." Where 'Goodfellas' charts the rise and fall of a small-time crook in New York, 'Casino' treats the mafia as an institution in Las Vegas, and its longer runtime allows the films to play like spiritual companions.

Two romance pairings lean on setting and mood.

double features, movie pairings, martin scorsese, goodfellas, casino, criminal epics, narration, fast edits, gimmie shelter, las vegas