Best Movies to Watch on New Years Eve
New Years Eve, a 2011 romantic comedy set hours before the New York City ball falls, is a horror movie. You probably know this because all the actors – with the exception of those who starred in a similar holiday movie with a Valentine’s Day ensemble cast – were in it. However, with massive stellar power and a heck of a tight budget, New Years Eve turned out to be a disaster. Why do the heroes of Lea Michelle and Ashton Kutcher live in such a beautiful building, but still manage to get stuck in the elevator for hours? Why doesn’t Sarah Jessica Parker’s character have a phone? And why is Jon Bon Jovi trying to act?
Readers, you deserve the best. Below are a few of our favorite movies to get you into the New Years Eve vibe, including one cheesy rom-com really worth watching, we swear, and one post-apocalyptic movie for the science fan in You.
Holiday (2006)
Nancy Meyer’s 2006 film Holiday has a lot of bad things about two lonely strangers changing homes during their vacations that could end so badly if it were in real life. The film is predictable, Jack Black feels misplaced alongside Kate Winslet. and Cameron Diaz plays our Type A archetypal heroine who resigns herself to love as a means of figuring out her life’s answers. But guys, the holiday is awesome. The score itself, written by Hans Zimmer, will make you cry. Winslet will make you cry. Everything about this movie is so bad, it’s good, so I recommend it if you want something sweet, juicy and so unrealistic that you will lose control of real reality.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
There is probably no greater love story set in the run-up to New Years than When Harry Met Sally . But I recommend this movie because this movie is better when viewed as a love story for New York. It makes life in New York City feel like a dream born of ayahuasca highs. If you want to convince your parents that moving to New York is a safe and dignified solution, show them this movie. Or just watch this for Carrie Fisher. (And for those interested, I prefer Nora Efron’s classic Sleepless in Seattle , which also takes place on New Years Eve, but to each his own.)
Snowpiercer (2013)
In case you haven’t seen Snowpiercer , here’s the play: The world is frozen and the only people left are on the train that circles the globe. The front of the train, where the rich and the elite are, is deliberately separated from the back, where stragglers and poorer citizens remain stranded. You might be thinking to yourself, how many activities can really take place on a train? Well, a hell of a lot. It’s technically unclear if the movie takes place during the holidays, but the battle cry during a key fight scene suggests that the new year has already arrived. See if you are worried about rom-coms but Chris Evans with a beard isn’t.
Carol (2015)
The critically acclaimed Carol is excellent, especially with Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Without spoiling it – but assuming you at least heard about the movie during awards season a few years ago – the movie takes place in the 1950s during a vacation and explores the romance between Blanchett and Mara’s characters. Exactly one scene takes place on New Year’s Eve, and it is undoubtedly one of the most memorable in the film. Check it out if you’re in the mood for something heavier on the subject and a damn good game.
Forrest Gump (1994)
There is no point in telling why Forrest Gump is a classic; this is Tom Hanks at his best. Regardless, you may have missed one scene that takes place on New Years Eve, in which Forrest and Lieutenant Dan celebrate a day in New York (and ends with a thwarted sex act). Although the scene is short, the entire movie is worth watching. Check it out for a classic film from recent film history.