30 Best Movies to Watch on New Year’s Eve

For many of us, New Year’s isn’t just the culmination of a long holiday season, but also a time for reflection and anticipation of the future—sometimes with optimism, sometimes with dread. (Lately, mostly with dread.)

Films often reflect the simultaneously hopeful and dangerous nature of the New Year’s holiday season. It can be a time of reinvention, renewal, or sweeping change. This selection of New Year’s films explores the full spectrum of possibilities, including everything from romance and murder to comedy and tragedy, from intense sex to heartbreaking loneliness.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Made even more moving by the death of director Rob Reiner, When Harry Met Sally tells the story of Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) over 11 turbulent years, with two pivotal scenes set at New Year’s Eve parties: the first is a midnight kiss that foreshadows the beginning of a potential romantic relationship between them; the second is the film’s climax, when a decade of growing up, both separately and together, brings them to the same place at the same time, both literally and figuratively. Watch When Harry Met Sally on Prime Video .

Waiting to Exhale (1995)

This adaptation of Terry McMillan’s novel about the power of female friendship (which, ironically, is celebrating its 30th anniversary) boasts a stellar cast, led by Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon. Bassett’s character, Bernadine, experiences a profoundly profound revelation that leads to a memorable revenge scene on New Year’s Eve. Watch Waiting to Exhale on Hulu and Tubi, or rent it on Prime Video .

Entity (2024)

New Year’s resolutions, for better or worse, often include promises to take better care of our bodies in the coming months—though often, we simply want to find ways to look younger, slimmer, and more beautiful. In this dark arthouse horror film, Demi Moore plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a middle-aged celebrity fired from her aerobics show solely because of her age. She soon encounters the Mystery Substance, which allows her to create a younger version of herself with a mind of her own. It’s a grim warning about the potential costs of our endless thirst for youth, and it culminates, fittingly, during a New Year’s TV special that goes horribly wrong. Watch “Mystery Substance” on HBO Max or rent it on Prime Video .

Gold Rush (1925)

It’s easy to forget that one of the most memorable moments in early American cinema took place on New Year’s Eve: in Charlie Chaplin’s early classic, his gold-digging character meets Georgia (Georgia Hale), a dancer from the audience who dances with him to annoy an insistent admirer. She accepts his invitation to New Year’s Eve dinner but largely forgets about it. While she enjoys a large party, he is alone in his cabin, dreaming of company—and entertains his imaginary guests with a pair of dancing potatoes. (Don’t worry: Georgia soon realizes what an eligible bachelor Prospect is.) Watch The Gold Rush on HBO Max , Criterion Channel, and Prime Video .

Phantom Thread (2017)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s film features a relatively short (but crucial) scene set on New Year’s Eve. Its climax is arguably the film’s turning point: renowned fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) is in a relationship with waitress Alma Elson (Vicky Krieps) that seems poised to destroy his carefully constructed lifestyle. However, he refuses her invitation to a New Year’s Eve party, and when she goes alone, he follows her and nearly drags her away. This moment makes it clear that if this relationship has any chance of success, drastic changes will be necessary. Contemplating these impending changes is, indirectly, the essence of New Year’s Eve.Watch Phantom Thread on Netflix or rent it on Prime Video .

The Godfather Part II (1974)

The film’s climax and the most pivotal moment in Michael Corleone’s life occurs at a New Year’s Eve party in Cuba. That night, Michael (Al Pacino) learns of his brother Fredo’s (John Cazale) betrayal. The fateful kiss that follows is a deliberate inversion of the traditional midnight kiss, ensuring that neither Michael nor Fredo will have a particularly happy year. Watch The Godfather Part II on Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .

Rocky (1976)

Perhaps this film, with its many seasonal themes, will give you some holiday inspiration. Amateur boxer Rocky Balboa gets a chance to break into the sport when heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (the late, great Carl Weathers) needs an opponent for a scheduled fight. Not wanting to miss his chance, Rocky finds an energetic trainer and an even more energetic lover as he prepares for the big fight on New Year’s Day. While the outcome isn’t entirely in Rocky’s favor, it reminds us that sometimes we can win in defeat, dusting ourselves off to fight again (in some 80 sequels and spin-offs). Watch Rocky on Peacock or rent it on Prime Video .

Ghostbusters II (1989)

It may be a lesser film in the Ghostbusters series, but this sequel still has plenty to delight. The film builds to a climax on New Year’s Eve, when the machinations of Vigo Karpatsky and his gang bring the new year to a close. New York City is ultimately saved by an emotionally charged slime and a touching rendition of “Auld Lang Syne. ” Rent Ghostbusters II on Prime Video .

Apartment (1960)

Billy Wilder’s Oscar-winning Best Picture film takes place almost entirely between Christmas and New Year’s and is groundbreaking in its approach to sexuality (besides being one of the best American films of all time). Jack Lemmon plays Bud Baxter, an insurance clerk who rises through the ranks by lending his apartment to his superiors for their extramarital affairs. In the midst of these affairs, a tense relationship develops between Bud and Fran, the office building’s elevator operator, played by Shirley MacLaine. Fran is in a joyless affair with Bud’s boss (Fred MacMurray). A rather dull New Year’s Eve party gives way to something more hopeful when Fran realizes that love might be worth the risk. Watch The Apartment on Tubi or rent it on Prime Video .

Il Posto (1961)

In a similarly melancholy vein, the classic Italian satire “Il Posto” tells the story of Domenico (Sandro Panseri), a young man pressured by his family to immediately pursue a career, which he does by taking a job at a corporation that drains him of energy. At work, he meets Antonietta (Loredana Detto), a young woman in a similar situation, with whom he shares a few minutes at the office New Year’s Eve party. The film offers no real hope of escape from the endless grind of modern capitalism, but it serves as a timely reminder that work is meaningless and time spent with kindred spirits is far more valuable. Watch “Il Posto” on the Criterion Channel .

Snowpiercer (2013)

Bong Joon-ho’s post-apocalypse is fast approaching, as Snowpiercer is set in 2031. Here, survivors of a climate catastrophe live together on a giant train traveling across a frozen, lifeless world. An annual celebration takes place once a year, when the train completes a full circle around the Earth. It’s this New Year’s celebration on the train that the oppressed and tormented occupants of the rear section use as an excuse to rebel against the spoiled and arrogant passengers at the front. Honestly, not the worst New Year’s resolution. Watch Snowpiercer on Tubi or rent it on Prime Video .

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

A triumph of the golden era of disaster films, the original “The Poseidon Adventure” follows Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters, and Red Buttons (and many others) as they find themselves trapped on a cruise ship capsized by an underwater earthquake just after the launch of a New Year’s Eve ball and a huge party. On New Year’s Day, they all must claw their way back to the surface—a perfect hangover metaphor you’re unlikely to find in a movie about a capsized ship. Watch “The Poseidon Adventure” on Prime Video .

Insomnia in Seattle (1993)

In Nora Ephron’s romantic comedy-drama, New Year’s Eve symbolizes the past: architect Sam (Tom Hanks) has a sweet, yet fictional, conversation with his late wife during holiday celebrations. The future? Valentine’s Day, when Sam and Annie (Meg Ryan) find themselves atop the Empire State Building. Watch Sleepless in Seattle on Starz or rent it on Prime Video .

After the film “The Thin Man” (1936)

The easy, relaxed chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy is one of the highlights of the entire Thin Man series, and it’s still strong in this first sequel, as married detective couple Nick and Nora Charles anticipate a dull New Year’s Eve only to find themselves embroiled in a kidnapping and murder (in which Jimmy Stewart plays his first major film role). The previous film takes place at Christmas, so you might want to check that out too. Rent After The Thin Man on Prime Video .

Holiday (1938)

Would you rather spend New Year’s Eve with William Powell and Myrna Loy or with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant? Why choose? “The Holiday” and “After the Thin Man” are so short that you could watch both in less time than you could watch one Avatar film. Here, Grant plays Johnny Case, a self-sufficient millionaire (well, it was the Great Depression) who wants to take a vacation and enjoy his newfound wealth while also planning to marry Julia, who is certainly good-natured and fun, but ultimately can’t compare to her vivacious older sister, Linda (Hepburn). A series of memorable New Year’s Eve stunts sets them both on a journey of discovery, but George Cukor’s film doesn’t make it that easy. They each have to decide what they want from life and what they’re willing to do to get it before they can truly see each other. This film is somewhat underrated, though it’s one of the best in both actors’ careers. Rent “Vacation” on Prime Video .

New Year’s Evil (1980)

Is this film one of the best examples of the slasher genre? No. However, it’s quite charmingly absurd: a killer calls into a New Year’s Eve radio show and promises to kill people across the United States at midnight in every time zone. It probably wouldn’t work in broad daylight, but in a drunken stupor after midnight, it might be perfect. Plus, it has a really good theme song . Watch “New Year’s Evil” on MGM+ .

A Midnight Kiss (2019)

The feature-length film “A Midnight Kiss,” formally an episode of the Hulu anthology series “Into the Dark,” follows a group of gay friends (and their straight friend) who head to a picturesque desert location to fulfill an annual tradition: each of them randomly chooses someone to kiss at midnight. Old grudges resurface, fueled (unbeknownst to most) by a serial killer. It’s no spoiler to say that not everyone survives until New Year’s. Watch “A Midnight Kiss” on Hulu .

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Former movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) is a forthright character, and this is especially evident during her lavish New Year’s Eve party for two: her and Joe (William Holden), who, as we already know, will eventually die in Norma’s pool. Perhaps it is at this moment that we realize how delusional this diva was. On the other hand, New Year’s is a time for a little casualness, and while Swanson may seem like a throwback, she was only 50 years old at the time of filming, so perhaps we can give her some leeway. Watch Sunset Boulevard on Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .

Re-performance (1947)

What if we consider for a moment that the passing of the years might not be a time of blessed renewal, but an opportunity to return to the past and try to right the terrible wrongs of the past year? Given that we’re set in a film noir setting, don’t expect a resounding success. On New Year’s Eve 1946, Sheila Paige (Joan Leslie) stands over her husband’s body, wishing things had been different. And lo! She returns to the beginning of the year and tries to prevent the disintegration of her marriage with the help of her gay best friend (Richard Basehart). Watch “Repeat Performance” on Kanopy .

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

This beloved romantic comedy, the (perhaps unexpected) opening of a franchise, begins and ends with New Year’s Eve parties: Bridget (Renée Zellweger) is 32, a bit awkward, and worried about her weight (hence the phrase, “Girl, you look great”). Meeting an old acquaintance, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), she overhears his comments about her drinking too much, smoking too much, and dressing like her mother. Finding him rude but not entirely wrong, she embarks on a year-long quest to change her life for the better. Watch Bridget Jones’s Diary on Peacock and Paramount+ .

About Time (2013)

Another time-travel film with a key New Year’s Eve scene, but this time it’s considerably less gory. It stars Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson as Mary and Tim, a couple whose history is constantly being altered by Tim’s ability to travel through time—an ability that comes in especially handy when he wants to keep trying to find the perfect New Year’s kiss. Rent About Time on Prime Video .

An American in Paris (1951)

We love themed New Year’s parties, and there’s hardly anything better (or more thoughtful) than the black-and-white party at the center of Gene Kelly’s ” An American in Paris,” which won the Oscar for Best Picture that year. You can watch “An American in Paris” on Tubi or rent it on Prime Video .

Ocean’s Eleven (1960)

It’s less a carefully crafted film than an excuse for the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop) to hang out—but the cool, boozy chemistry works unexpectedly well. Sinatra plays Danny Ocean, who gathers his old army buddies to simultaneously rob five Las Vegas casinos on New Year’s Eve: the Sahara, the Riviera, the Desert Inn, the Sands, and the Flamingo. You can watch Ocean’s Eleven on Tubi or rent it on Prime Video .

Happy New Year (2014)

Inspired by the 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven , this Hindi action comedy tells the story of Shah Rukh Khan, playing a tough street fighter who plans a heist to exact revenge on the man who unjustly imprisoned his father. His target? The real Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. The catch? He and his team must infiltrate a dance competition, even though none of them know how to dance. The result, predictably, is brilliant.Watch Happy New Year on Netflix .

High School Musical (2006)

Don’t be intimidated by the fact that this heartwarming Disney Channel movie is old enough to send out college applications. Just enjoy the 2000s vibe, especially the opening scene. Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez (Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens) meet at a ski resort on New Year’s Eve to perform a seasonally appropriate duet called “Start of Something New.” Watch “High School Musical ” on Disney+ or rent it on Prime Video .

Rent (2005)

This film adaptation of the stage musical (featuring much of the original cast) begins on a chilly New Year’s Eve in New York City and asks the question we all ask ourselves at this time of year: how do we measure a year? Rent the film on Prime Video .

Are We There Yet? (2005)

This charmingly silly (and family-friendly) film, starring Ice Cube alongside Nia Long, Jay Mohr, and Tracy Morgan, revolves around a New Year’s Eve trip to the airport. It sounds simple, sure, but Nick (Ice Cube) is determined to impress the woman he likes by picking up her kids and bringing them to her on a plane to Vancouver. Suffice it to say, the kids don’t make it any easier. If you have even more time to spare on New Year’s Eve, there’s a sequel ( Are We There Yet? ) and a spinoff series, all available to stream now. Watch Are We There Yet? on Tubi or rent it on Prime Video .

Diner (1982)

In 1959, a group of close college-aged friends reunites just in time for Eddie’s (Steve Guttenberg) New Year’s Eve wedding, prompting them to reflect on their upcoming transition into adulthood. New Year’s is a time for reflection, so why not? The rest of the group includes Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, Daniel Stern, and Tim Daly. Rent “Diner” on Prime Video .

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Rosemary’s Baby celebrates not just any New Year, but a true New Year: the first year of a new Satanic era about to be (literally) born thanks to Mia Farrow’s Rosemary Woodhouse. At the time of the film’s New Year’s celebration, Rosemary is unaware of how deeply she, her body, and her pregnancy are being manipulated by people for whom she is merely a vessel, but her feelings of isolation among so-called friends—and the critics’ toast to “Year One!”—fuel her justifiable paranoia. Watch Rosemary’s Baby on Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .

Trading Places (1983)

Trading Places begins on Christmas Day and culminates in a New Year’s Eve train ride involving a heist, two gorillas (one real, one fake), and plenty of costume changes. The comedy is often silly, but Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd have great chemistry, and, unusually for the 1980s, the film contains some sharp commentary on corporate greed. Watch Trading Places on Paramount+ , Peacock , and Tubi, or rent it on Prime Video .

More…