Give each suggestion a reason for tonight
Two useful proposals sound like “an 82-minute comedy we can finish before nine” and “a mystery with a gentle ending when both of us want something quiet.” Neither person needs to defend every film they enjoy. The task is to choose an activity for this particular evening.
Set a decision time separate from the finish time
Suppose you sit down at 7:45 and agree to choose by 7:52. Use those seven minutes to verify the two options, including whether they are available. If one fits both people's limits, begin. If both fit, let the person who did not choose last time decide between them.
Leave with a plan even if neither title works
If both choices are rejected, use a fallback you agreed on earlier, such as a familiar episode or a board game. Set a time to stop browsing. The aim is to spend the evening together even if the film choices do not work.
A fallback should be ready to start, not another catalog to search. Before opening a service, agree on a familiar episode already available or put the card game on the table. Save an interesting third title to the list for next time instead of resetting the decision clock tonight.