A mode-switchable backlight and mode-switchable privacy display provide narrow-angle emitted light during a first mode and broad-angle emitted light in a second mode, the broad-angle emitted light being a combination of the narrow-angle emitted light and bidirectional emitted light. The mode-switchable backlight includes a first directional backlight and a second directional backlight. The first directional backlight is configured to provide the narrow-angle emitted light during both of the first mode and second mode, while the second directional backlight is configured to provide the bidirectional emitted light exclusively during the second mode. The mode-switchable privacy display includes an array of light valves configured to modulate the narrow-angle emitted light as a private displayed image during the first or privacy mode and to modulate broad-angle emitted light as a public displayed image during the second or public mode.