Since the earliest days of film, filmmakers have pitted actors against a double version of themselves. Whether it’s twins, clones, robots, or some imaginary or internal voice that’s been given form, there are lots of reasons to use two versions of the same actor. Now YouTube user Burger Fiction has compiled many of those instances throughout film history into one supercut.
By watching the compilation, it becomes apparent how often the doubling is used for comedic purposes, whether it’s Eddie Murphy’s various Klump characters, Ash versus his evil self in Army Of Darkness, or Michael Keaton dealing with his bumbling clones in Multiplicity. But there are more solemn uses of the doubling effect, be it in Duncan Jones’ Moon, Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, Richard Ayoade’s The Double, or Denis Villeneuve’s Enemy. The supercut bridges decades along with genres, with stars ranging from Buster Keaton all the way up to Jean-Claude Van Damme taking part in the seeing double hijinks. It’s interesting to note how the same tool can be used to very different outcomes depending on the tone of the work and the director helming the project, with some just using it as a simple sight gag while others use it to show a deeper psychology at work.