For many of us, New Year's Eve represents not just the climax of a long holiday season, but also a time to simultaneously reflect, and to look forward to what's ahead—sometimes with optimism, sometimes with sheer dread. (Lately, mostly dread.)
Movies have frequently recognized the simultaneously hopeful and perilous nature of the time. It can be a period of reassessment, or renewal, or massive change. This selection of choice New Year's Eve movies reflects that range of possibilities, including everything from romance and murder, to comedy and tragedy, to wild sex and heartbreaking loneliness.
When Harry Met Sally(1989)
Taking on an added poignance following the death of director Rob Reiner, his classic collaboration with Nora Ephron follows Billy Crystal's Harry and Meg Ryan's Sally over the course of 11 tempestuous years, with two major scenes set at New Year's Eve parties: The first involves a midnight kiss that signals the beginning of a potential romantic relationship between the two; the second comes at the climax of the film, when a decade's worth of growth, apart and together, sees the two in the same place at the same time, both literally and metaphorically.RentWhen Harry Met Sallyfrom Prime Video.
Waiting to Exhale(1995)
This Terry McMillan adaptation about the power of female friendships (which is, impossibly, celebrating its 30th anniversary) has an all-time great cast led by Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon. Bassett's character, Bernadine, has a singularly powerful revelation, leading to a memorable revenge sequence, on New Year's Eve.StreamWaiting to Exhaleon Huluand Tubi or rent it from Prime Video.
The Substance(2024)
New Year's resolutions, for better or worse, frequently include promises to take better care of our bodies in the months to come—though we often just mean we want to find ways to look younger, skinnier, and prettier. In this lurid arthouse horror flick, Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a middle-aged celebrity fired from her aerobics show solely because of her age. She's soon introduced to the titular Substance, which allows her to generate a younger version of herself with her own consciousness. It's a dire warning about the potential costs of our endless hunger for youth, and the climax appropriately comes during a New Year's Eve telecast that goes horrifically askew.StreamThe Substanceon HBO Maxor rent it from Prime Video.
The Gold Rush(1925)
You might be forgiven for forgetting that one of early American cinema's most memorable moments was centered around New Year's Eve: In Charlie Chaplin'e early classic, his Prospector character meets Georgia (Georgia Hale), a dance hall girl who dances with him to irritate an obnoxious suitor. She accepts his invitation to a NYE dinner, but mostly forgets about it. While she's having a blast at a big party, he's alone in his cabin, dreaming of company—and entertaining his make-believe guests with a pair of dancing potatoes. (Not to worry: Georgia soon comes to see what a catch the Prospector is.)StreamThe Gold Rushon HBO Max, The Criterion Channel, and Prime Video.
Phantom Thread(2017)
There's a relatively brief (but crucial) scene in Paul Thomas Anderson's film set on New Year's Eve. Its climax is arguably the moment on which the entire film turns: Renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) has been in a relationship with waitress Alma Elson (Vicky Krieps), one that seems poised to break through his carefully constructed routine. He refuses her request to go to a NYE party, though, and, when she goes on her own, he follows her and very nearly drags her away. The moment makes clear that, if this relationship has any chance of succeeding, drastic changes will need to happen. The contemplation of such coming change is, in a roundabout way, what New Year's Eve is all about.StreamPhantom Threadon Netflixor rent it from Prime Video.
The Godfather Part II(1974)
The climax of the film, and the single most pivotal moment in Michael Corleone's life, comes during a New Year's Eve party in Cuba. It's the night that Michael (Al Pacino) learns of his betrayal by his brother, Fredo (John Cazale). The fateful kiss that ensues is a deliberate inversion of the traditional midnight kiss—one that ensures that neither Michael nor Fredo will be having a particularly happy year.StreamThe Godfather Part IIon Paramount+or rent it from Prime Video.
Rocky(1976)
A little New Year's inspiration, perhaps, offered up by a film with multiple seasonal themes. Journeyman boxer Rocky Balboa is given a chance at the big time when heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (the late, great Carl Weathers) finds himself in need of an opponent for a planned fight. Unwilling to blow his big chance, Rocky finds a scrappy trainer and a scrappier love interest while working toward the big fight on New Year's Day. While the outcome isn't fully in Rocky's favor, he reminds us that sometimes we can win by losing, dusting ourselves off to fight again (in approximately 80 sequels and spin-offs).StreamRockyon Peacockor rent it from Prime Video.
Ghostbusters II(1989)
It might be a lesser film in the Ghostbusters canon, but there's still plenty of fun to be had with this sequel. The entire film builds towards a New Year's Eve climax, with the machinations of Vigo the Carpathian and company moving toward the turning of the year. New York City is saved, ultimately, by some emotionally charged slime and a moving rendition of "Auld Lang Syne."RentGhostbusters IIfrom Prime Video.
The Apartment(1960)
Set almost entirely between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Billy Wilder’s Best Picture winner was groundbreaking in its approach to sexuality (aside from being among the finest American movies, pretty much ever). Jack Lemmon plays Bud Baxter, an insurance clerk who’s climbed the corporate ladder by loaning out his apartment to the higher-ups to use for their extramarital affairs. In the midst of that, a fraught affection develops between Bud and Shirley MacLaine’s Fran, the office building’s elevator operator, a woman who’s been in a joyless affair with Bud’s boss (Fred MacMurray). A fairly miserable New Year's Eve party gives way to something a bit more hopeful when Fran realizes that love might just be worth taking a chance on.StreamThe Apartmenton Tubior rent it from Prime Video.
Il Posto(1961)
Along similarly wistful lines, the Italian classic satireIl Postofollows Domenico (Sandro Panseri), a young man pressured by his family to jump right into a career, which he does by signing on with a soul-sucking corporation. At work, he meets Antonietta (Loredana Detto), a young woman in a similar boat, with whom he steals a few moments at an office New Year's party. The film offers no tangible hope of an escape from the endless grind of modern-day capitalism, but it does serve as a timely reminder that the work is meaningless, and time spent with kindred spirits is far more valuable.StreamIl Postoon The Criterion Channel.
Snowpiercer(2013)
Bong Joon-ho's post-apocalypse is coming up quick, what withSnowpiercerbeing set in 2031. Here, the survivors of climate catastrophe live together on one giant train that travels the frozen, lifeless globe. The annual celebration here comes once a year, when the train has completed a full circle of the world. It's one such celebration of the train's new year that the oppressed, maltreated residents of the train's tail end use as an opportunity to stage a revolt against the entitled and pampered passengers at the front. Not the worst New Year's resolution to make, honestly.StreamSnowpierceron Tubior rent it from Prime Video.
The Poseidon Adventure(1972)
An all-star triumph from the golden age of disaster cinema, the originalPoseidon Adventurefinds Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters, and Red Buttons (among others) trapped on a cruise liner that's been capsized by an undersea earthquake, one that happens within moments of the ball drop and big party. They'll all have to spend New Year's Day clawing and scraping their way back to the surface—which is as good a hangover metaphor as you're likely to find in an upside-down boat movie.StreamThe Poseidon Adventureon Prime Video.
Sleepless in Seattle(1993)
New Year's Eve represents the past in Nora Ephron's romantic comedy-drama, as architect Sam (Tom Hanks) has a sweet but imagined conversation with his late wife set during holiday festivities. The future? Valentine's Day, as Sam and Annie (Meg Ryan) are drawn toward a meeting at the top of the Empire State Building.StreamSleepless in Seattleon Starzor rent it from Prime Video.
After the Thin Man(1936)
The breezy, boozy chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy is a highlight of the entireThin Manseries, and it's still running strong in this first sequel, when married sleuths Nick and Nora Charles are expecting a dull New Year's Eve, only to find themselves in the middle of a kidnapping and murder (involving Jimmy Stewart in his first major film role). The previous movie is set at Christmas, so you might as well watch that one, too.RentAfter the Thin Manfrom Prime Video.
Holiday(1938)
Would you rather spend New Year's Eve with William Powell and Myrna Loy or with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant? Why choose—HolidayandAfter the Thin Manare short enough that you can watch both in less time than a singleAvatarmovie. Here Grant plays Johnny Case, a self-made thousandaire (hey, it was the Depression) who wants to take some time off and enjoy the bit of money he's made while also planning to marry Julia, who's fine and fun and all, but ultimately can't compare to her vivacious older sister Linda (Hepburn). A series of memorable New Year's Eve somersaults set them both on the road to discovering each other, but George Cukor's film doesn't make it nearly that easy. Each needs to decide what they want out of life, and what they're willing to do to get it, before they can really see one another. It's just the tiniest bit under-appreciated for being one of the very best films from either lead.RentHolidayfrom Prime Video.
New Year's Evil(1980)
Is it among the best of the slasher genre? It is not. It's pretty charmingly goofy, though, with a killer calling into a NYE radio show promising to kill people across the United States as midnight arrives in each time zone. In the harsh light of day, it probably won't fit the bill—but it might be perfect in that boozy post-midnight haze. It's also got a very solid title track.StreamNew Year's Evilon MGM+.
Midnight Kiss(2019)
Technically an episode of Hulu'sInto the Darkanthology series, the feature-lengthMidnight Kissfinds a bunch of gay friends (and their straight female friend) heading out to a gorgeous place in the desert for an annual tradition: They'll each pick someone at random to kiss at midnight. Old resentments bubble to the surface, egged on (unbeknownst to most of them) by a serial killer. It's no spoiler to suggest that they won't all make it to New Year's Day.StreamMidnight Kisson Hulu.
Sunset Boulevard(1950)
One-time movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) is a mess, frankly, and it's never more clear than during her elaborate, catered New Year's party for two: her, and Joe (William Holden)—who we already know will wind up dead in Norma's pool. This might be the moment when we realize just how delusional the diva had become. On the other hand, NYE is a time for a little bit of sloppiness, and, though treated as an ancient relic, Swanson was only 50 when this was filmed, so maybe we can cut her some slack.StreamSunset Boulevardon Paramount+or rent it from Prime Video.
Repeat Performance(1947)
What if we consider, for just one moment, that the changing of years might not be a time of blessed renewal, but instead an opportunity to travel back in time and try to undo some of the stuff you royally fucked up in the prior year. Given that we're solidly in noir territory here, don't expect overwhelming success. On New Year's Eve 1946, Sheila Page (Joan Leslie) stands over the dead body of her husband, wishing that she could do things differently. Et voila! She's back at the beginning of the year and trying to stop the disintegration of her marriage with some help from her gay bestie (Richard Basehart).StreamRepeat Performanceon Kanopy.
Bridget Jones's Diary(2001)
Kicking off a (perhaps) unlikely franchise, this beloved rom-com is bookended by New Year's Eve gatherings: Bridget (Renée Zellweger) is 32, dorky, and worried about her weight (about which: Girl, you look great). Meeting old acquaintance Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) at a party, she overhears his comments about how she drinks too much, smokes too much, and dresses like her mother. Finding him rude but not entirely off the mark, she begins a year-long quest to change her life for the better.StreamBridget Jones' Diaryon Peacockand Paramount+.
About Time(2013)
Another time-travel movie with a key New Year's Eve sequence, this one's significantly less murder-y. Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson star as Mary and Tim, a couple whose story is constantly in flux thanks to Tim's ability to move through time—an ability that comes in particularly handy when he wants to keep trying a New Year's kiss until it's just right.RentAbout Timefrom Prime Video.
