The world is experiencing the biggest double feature event of modern film history withBarbieandOppenheimerreleasing today. Nothing can excite cinephiles more than getting to watch two distinct films with several things in common, like great directors, a star-studded cast, and an intriguing story to tell. Directed by Greta Gerwig,Barbiesees the titular doll facing an existential crisis that leads to her being expelled from her magical dreamland. She enters the human world to rediscover herself and find her true purpose.From her perfect homeland to the real world, her journey will be filled with a lot of ups and downs. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling bring to life the Mattel dolls, Barbie and Ken, respectively.
Oppenheimer, on the other hand, is directed by one of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood, Christopher Nolan. It’s a three-hour-long movie about J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, who developed the first-ever atomic bomb and his involvement in The Manhattan Project. The film explores how a great mind’s creation changes the face of war (and history), resulting in mass hysteria, deaths, and destruction.
The two films have different aesthetics, with Gerwig’s movie having all colorful feels, while Nolan goes hybrid with color and a black -and-white approach inOppenheimer. Even though the films differ in many aspects, it’s uniting the film lovers at the theaters to witness the most awaited summer hits back-to-back. Ahead ofBarbenheimer’s release, as ithas been dubbed, let’s dive into other similar double features you can watch next.
10La La Land (2016) & JoJo Rabbit (2019)
La La Landis a beautiful musical love story about Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling) and Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) falling in love with one another, but soon their high ambitions and dreams tear them apart. Damien Chazelle helmed this six-time Academy Award-winning film. Released in 2019,Jojo Rabbitfollows the story of a little boy who is a strong believer of Nazism until he finds a Jewish girl in his attic, which crumbles his beliefs. It is abook to film adaptationofCaging Skies, written by Christine Leunen.
Both films are pretty vibrant and visually striking, while the former deals more with romance and the latter brings a light-hearted, intriguing vision of 1940s Germany to our screens. The commonality between the characters in films is that they are super ambitious to pursue their goal: in Mia’s case, it’s being an actress, and for JoJo, it’s to become a part of Hitler Youth. Love and letting go remain common themes; Jojo’s love for the Jewish girl enables him to let go of the horrendous Nazi mentality, whereas Mia tries to move on and pursue her love for acting.
Related:Why Barbie’s Marketing Strategy Deserves All the Praise
9The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) & The Fugitive (1993)
InThe Grand Budapest Hotel, Ralph Fiennes plays the role of M.Gustave, who gets into massive trouble when he is accused of murdering his aged lover. According to the talented director, Wes Anderson, he gathered inspiration from a friend of his and the literary works of Stefan Zweig for the film.The Fugitivesees Tommy Lee Jones portray Dr. Richard Kimble, who is charged with his wife’s murder. The film is a bit inspired by the TV series of the same name. It is directed by Andrew Davis, who is well known for his works inCode of Silence, Above the Law, A Perfect Mother, Stony Island,and others.
The Grand Budapest HotelshowcasesWes Anderson’s famous filmmaking styleof colorful vintage and symmetry, andThe Fugitivegoes with a simple aesthetic, nothing special. The two films are somewhat similar in terms of plot, as the films' protagonists falsely get involved in a murderous situation. Characters need to find a way out to clear out their names and prove their innocence by finding the real culprit. The cat-and-mouse game deals with a comedic narrative in one movie and a serious way in the other. Even though the style and tone differ between the two films, the characters and their journey to pave a way out of the dangerous situation remain memorable.
8Legally Blonde (2001) and American Sniper (2014)
Penned by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith,Legally Blondeis a rom-com based on the novel by Amanda Brown. Warner Huntington breaks up with Elle Woods because he sees her as a dumb, unserious, and non-ambitious girl who is unfit to be with him. Elle decides to prove her worth through her achievements to win Warner back. Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper brings his Navy SEAL Sniper persona to screens inAmerican Sniperas Chris Kyle by giving up on his dream of becoming a cowboy. He dedicates his life to the nation, while witnessing the reality of war, which takes a toll on his mental health and affects his relationships with loved ones.
The two films focus on one’s identity and the unwavering potential that cannot be underestimated. Elle Woods was really looked down upon by her boyfriend, but she makes a decision to prove him wrong by pursuing the things she never really imagined she would. Chris Kyle inAmerican Sniper, after witnessing bombing coverage, takes the step towards bringing change to the world by getting enlisted in the Navy. The two characters do get cheated on by their partners at some point in the movies, but their circumstances molded them into a better version of themselves who didn’t let go of their potential despite the challenges they faced in life. Apart from a bit of similarity in theme,Legally BlondeandAmerican Sniperare poles apart with distinct tone, cinematography, and narratives.
7Cinderella (2015) & Miracle At St. Anna (2008)
Coming directly from the pages of a folk tale and a 1950 animated feature,Cinderellais a fairytale about a girl named Ella, who is treated poorly by her stepmother and sisters after her father’s death. The cruel stepmother ruins her dress for a royal ball conducted by a handsome prince named Kit. A Godmother comes to rescue and transforms her regular dress into a magical gown.Miracle at St. Annais based on a novel written by McBride. From the brilliant mind of Spike Lee, the story takes place during the Italian World War II, where four Black soldiers are stuck behind enemy lines and have to find a way out to return to their allied territory.
Both films consist of a “savior” character who proves to be a ray of hope and makes us believe in humanity once again. Amidst the cruelty Ella faces in her home, the Godmother comes as an angel who shows compassion and understanding by transforming her into Cinderella. The godmother’s one kind action towards her changes Ella’s life forever when she gets married to a prince. If the Godmother hadn’t shown up to fix her dress problem, she might have never gone to the Ball and left her shoe behind. On the other hand, Hector Negron, a soldier, rescues a scared Italian boy named Angelo from a collapsing building and also protects him during the German attack. Angelo and Hector both develop a close bond, which demonstrates that even amidst a war situation, Hector didn’t let his humanity die and saved a guy he didn’t even know.
6Tangled (2010) & The Great Escape (1963)
Tangledis a classic-animated film directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard. It’s an enchanting fairytale about Rapunzel, who is known for her long hair and adventurous personality. In a wish to see the real world, she takes the help of a stranger, who helps her break out from the tower she is trapped in. As the name suggests,The Great Escape, is about hundreds of soldiers planning an escape from the German Camp during World War II. The film is helmed by John Sturges, who is renowned for projects likeThe Satan Bug, Mystery Street, MCQ, The Magnificent Seven,and others.
WhileTangledis a nostalgic movie reminding us all the story of Rapunzel,The Great Escapeis also a fictionalized shout-out to an historical event of mass escape by British Commonwealth prisoners at the time of World War II. The two films follow the “escape” narrative, where the main protagonists must find a way out to flee from their respective prisons; for Rapunzel, it’s her tower, and for the soldiers, it’s the escape-proof prison. Even thoughThe Great Escapehas various characters involved in bringing the prisoners out, the other movie just has one character, i.e., Flynn Rider. Both films showcase the essence of their own eras, likeTangledis a visually appealing movie that depicts how far technology has come in terms of animation. WhereasThe Great Escapehas a more like 60saesthetic and impressive cinematographydespite the lack of technology in that era.
5Kalashnikov (2020) & Cruella (2021)
Directed by Konstantin Buslov,Kalashnikovfollows the story of Tank Driver Mikhail Kalashnikov, whose severe war injuries prevent him from returning to the front line. He doesn’t let his injuries hold him back, and during his recovery, he starts making sketches of the world’s iconic weapon, AK-47.Cruellais about Estella, who has the talent and passion to become a big name in the fashion world. Despite being an orphan at a young age, her two thieves friends help her achieve her dream. Soon, she transforms herself into her cruel alter ego, “Cruella,” to seek revenge on those who wronged her through her rebellious and wicked fashion sense.
CruellaandKalashnikovshare a controversial nature. In the past, Disney has been accused of normalizing animal cruelty inCruella. Even though no animals were harmed in the making, the fact that Cruella was obsessed with dogs' fur for her clothes made many people upset.Kalashnikov, also known as the AK-47, is a real weapon associated with violence and war, which makes it controversial. The two films also showed us an “inventor” mindset; Cruella shows her rare flamboyant outfits in the latter part of the film, whereas Mikhail uses his brilliant mind to make the most famous weapon.
Related:How Christopher Nolan Recreated Oppenheimer’s Nuclear Bomb Explosion Without CGI
4The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017) & Enchanted (2007)
Inspired by real life events,The Zookeeper’s Wifeis about Jan and Antonia Zabinski, who saved the lives of many Polish Jews during World War II from the Nazi forces by hiding them in their zoo. The movie is directed by Niki Caro and written byWar Bridewriter Angela Workman.Enchantedis an amalgamation of animated and live action approaches starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey , and Susan Sarandon as the main cast. Giselle is sent to the real world by her lover’s ruthless stepmother, who doesn’t want any girl to claim her throne by marrying her son. The princess ends up falling in love with a lawyer she meets in the real world.
The commonality between the two films is that they show us thought-provoking themes in a fictionalized and real-life based world. Throughits musical performances,Enchantedteaches us lessons of kindness, compassion, and to value the relationships we create throughout our lives. The same goes withThe Zookeeper’s Wife, where the Zabinski family demonstrates selfless behavior in a situation where humans have become their own enemies. During such times and scenarios, Humanity becomes the most important relationship, which these movies have demonstrated in their own distinct narrative and context.
3All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) & Clueless (1995)
InAll Quiet on the Western Front, the reality of war hits Paul Bäumer and his friends when they enlist in the army to serve their nation during World War I. Soon, his eagerness to fight turns into fright when he sees the people near him die, but he has no option but to keep fighting. Thepopular teenage rom-com,Clueless, is about Cher, a rich and popular girl who is into matchmaking and making people famous business in high-school but soon ends up falling in love herself.
The main protagonists of the two films become familiar with the reality of adolescence and get overwhelmed by it. Cher faces problems related to belonging, identity, and relationships, whereas Paul Bäumer gets a reality check when he learns that war isn’t just about patriotic speech — it causes destruction and takes away several lives as well. The highlights of both films remain their women characters, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and Kat (Albrecht Schuch), who are confident, fearless, and speak their minds. Both films have a very different tone, asCluelessis more into the comedic and romance genres,All Quiet on the Western Frontdeals with war.
2Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) & The Hurt Locker (2008)
InConfessions of a Shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood, portrayed by Isla Fisher, is addicted to shopping. Due to this obsession, she is drowning in debt. In order to pay off her bills, she lands a job at a financial magazine. After becoming an overnight sensation, she needs to control her buying habits to avoid more debt. InThe Hurt Locker, William James (Jeremy Renner) is appointed as the new technician for the bomb disposal team. His maverick-like ways don’t sit well with the subordinates, which leads to tension and conflicts amidst a war situation.
The main protagonists of the two films have a “reckless” mindset that often creates trouble for them as well as hurts the people around them. InConfessions of a Shopaholic, Rebecca’s unhealthy obsession with shopping led to a lot of unnecessary debts, which made her broke. She also hurt her best friend when she gave away her bridesmaid dress, which she gifted her with love, showing how careless and selfish she is. Likewise, William James' risk-taking affinities and his love for adventure often puts his and his subordinates' lives in danger. Even though he is great at disarming bombs, to him, his thrill matters more than others' safety. His unorthodox approach makes his teammates sick to the stomach.
1Private Benjamin (1980) & Little Women (2019)
Shattered by her husband’s death, Judy, a high-society woman, is convinced to join the U.S. Army inPrivate Benjamin. She learns to mix well with other soldiers and also faces challenges in her newly started career. But she faces it all with courage and becomes a strong woman by the end. Meanwhile, one of the famous movies of Greta Gerwig isLittle Women. The film takes place during the 19th Century and is about the four March sisters. When one of them suffers a life-threatening disease, it brings together their family. In this difficult time, the family becomes supportive of one another and takes care of their sick sister.
One of the most important features of both films is their strong female characters. WhilePrivate Benjaminis all about Judy transforming from a stereotypical princess to an independent army woman,Little Womendeals with the story of four different women who have their own choices and challenges in life. Gerwig gave a more feminist approach to the characters; they are strong-willed, independent, and stick by each other in troubled times. Jo is a writer, Beth is a musician, Amy is an artist, and Meg is a wife and a teacher. What sets the films apart is their tone and aesthetic, which are on point and era-specific. The two movies arebeacons of women empowerment.
