Two films do not automatically make a double bill. The pairing becomes interesting when the second viewing changes something about the first. The works need not share a director or genre. A common space, a similar decision or contrasting ideas of homecoming can connect an evening. You should be able to explain the relationship briefly without revealing both plots.
Choose one connection rather than five
A useful starting point might be that both films follow someone entering an unfamiliar community. One could treat the encounter comically and the other with tension. This is more specific than two good films, while leaving room to notice differences. Adding several further requirements often makes selection unnecessarily restrictive.
Test the connection against one scene you know from each film. If it rests only on similar posters or titles, it may not sustain much discussion. Personal curiosity is also a legitimate reason for a pairing. It is better to acknowledge that curiosity than to invent a comprehensive theme afterwards.
Order changes attention
Consider what the first film prepares you to notice in the second. A work with clear spatial organisation might make a more complicated counterpart easier to approach. Alternatively, an unexpected opening choice may prevent the second film from merely confirming an established argument. There is no universally correct order; the intended relationship matters.
Add together the running times of the actual editions and allow a genuine interval. Include introductions and any discussion as well. If the programme exceeds the agreed finishing time, a short film followed by a feature may work better than two long works rushed together. Starting late should not leave the second film as something everyone endures through tiredness.
Leave room between the films
After the first film, two impressions or one unresolved question may be enough. An extended interpretation can steer attention too strongly during the second. Allow drinks, movement and a brief change of subject. The transition belongs to the plan just as much as the playlist does.
Afterwards, compare one specific similarity and a difference that surprised you. The BFI film-club offering demonstrates how selected films can provide a shared starting point for conversation; a private double bill does not need a lengthy lecture to do the same. If the connection looks different after the second film, the plan has not failed. That change may provide the most interesting part of the discussion.