Like The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity enjoyed great success as a film. It was released in 1943, was directed by Billy Wilder, and starred Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck. Raymond Chandler wrote the screenplay, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. It was favorably reviewed when it appeared and today remains a big draw at arts and repertory cinemas in many cities.

Film historians maintain that Double Indemnity was instrumental in easing the restrictions enforced by the censorship code, and many believe that it is the archetype of a whole host of later films in which the main characters are thorough villains.