double feature

American  

noun

1. a motion-picture program consisting of two films shown one after the other for the price of a single ticket.

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double feature British  

noun

1. Informal name (US): twin bill.  films a programme showing two full-length films

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double feature Idioms  

1. Also, double bill. A program consisting of two full-length films shown for the price of a single ticket. For example, It was a double feature and lasted five hours, or The women's conference had a double bill, first speakers from China and then visiting guests from the rest of the world. This expression is occasionally loosely used for other paired events (as in the second example). [c. 1930]

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Etymology

Origin of double feature

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

On paper, “The Sheep Detectives” and “Blue Heron” don’t seem like they’d share enough to warrant comparison, let alone a double feature.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

Anything to give people a reason to put down their phones and drive over to Main Street for a double feature of filmed and live entertainment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

While precise counts of how many people numbed their buns through that double feature aren’t available, there’s no question that millions of us committed to the bit.

From Salon • Jul. 11, 2025

General admission for a double feature on a single screen is $12 per person, $7 for kids 12 and under and adults 55 and up, free for kids 4 and under.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

Vacuuming is the most disturbing video, actually a double feature beginning with an introduction to the special backpack vacuum we are to use.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich