double feature

/ˌdʌb.əl ˈfiː.tʃɚ/

Meaning

A double feature is a cinema screening where two movies are shown back-to-back for the price of a single ticket. While highly popular in the mid-20th century, the term is now often used by film festivals, drive-ins, or friends hosting movie nights at home.

Examples

  • The local drive-in theater is showing a retro double feature of classic 80s horror movies tonight.

    The local drive-in theater is showing a retro double feature of classic 80s horror movies tonight.

  • We decided to do a double feature at home, watching both parts of the movie series back-to-back.

    We decided to do a double feature at home, watching both parts of the movie series back-to-back.

  • Back in the day, cinemas always offered a double feature consisting of a major film and a low-budget B-movie.

    Back in the day, cinemas always offered a double feature consisting of a major film and a low-budget B-movie.

  • The film festival is hosting a special Quentin Tarantino double feature this Saturday.

    The film festival is hosting a special Quentin Tarantino double feature this Saturday.

  • If you have five hours to spare, we could do a double feature of those sci-fi classics.

    If you have five hours to spare, we could do a double feature of those sci-fi classics.

Common Mistakes

  • ✗ We watched a double movie last night.

    ✓ We watched a double feature last night.

    To describe watching two movies back-to-back, the correct idiomatic phrase is 'double feature'.

  • ✗ The cinema is showing two features tonight.

    ✓ The cinema is showing a double feature tonight.

    While 'two features' is grammatically correct, 'double feature' is the established industry and cultural term.

Related Expressions

back-to-back screeningmarathon double bill

Practice

  • The local cinema is running a Halloween ___ with two classic slasher films.

    💡 Two movies shown consecutively.

    Show answer

    double feature

  • Instead of going out, let's buy some popcorn and have a ___ of our favorite comedies at home.

    💡 A back-to-back viewing of two films.

    Show answer

    double feature