New Year is normally associated with glitz, glam, and bombast, whether it’s sky-rending fireworks, wave-making party dresses, or the countdown-signaling ball in Times Square, New York. And indeed, when we’re asked about our plans to commemorate New Year, we all like to have a fun, interesting answer – one that usually involves setting off a Roman candle or concocting an end-of-2023 cocktail. It’s New Year’s Eve, after all, and an opportunity that only comes along – well, once a year.
However, New Year’s Eve can be a relaxed, subdued event too, as we’re about to suggest; think of it as a second Christmas, spent with your loved ones, wearing comfy pajamas, and watching a collection of classic movies into the early hours of the morning. Unlike Christmas, which has a host of perennial favorites to choose from, there aren’t many movies we can definitively say are ‘New Year-themed.’ Still, there are a number of titles with iconic New Year’s scenes, that take place around midnight on December 31, and that have an aspirational, valedictory tone. It’s those movies we’re going to introduce to you now, in the name of helping you to plan the best movie marathon you’ve had all year.
So brew up the microwave popcorn, make some room on the couch, and load up a disc or streaming service, because this feature presentation is about to begin!
Ghostbusters II (1989)
This spooky sequel sees Ray (Dan Aykroyd), Egon (Harold Ramis), Winston (Ernie Hudson), and Venkman (Bill Murray) attempting to stop the resurrection of Vigo the Carpathian, a 17th century tyrant. Meanwhile, underneath the city of New York, a bubbling river of ectoplasm is forming, and it can only be stemmed by the positive influence of the Statue of Liberty – and a rousing rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”!
Trading Places (1983)
This earlier Aykroyd movie sees him as a wealthy stockbroker that um, trades places with a poor street hustler (Eddie Murphy) as part of a social experiment. The events of this clever comedy, which also stars Jamie Lee Curtis, take place from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, making it a solid recommendation for almost any holiday party.
An Affair to Remember (1957)
Nickie (Cary Grant) and Terry (Deborah Kerr) fall for each other while on board a transatlantic ocean liner on New Year’s Eve, but because they’re both romantically involved with someone else, they agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months’ time – should they have succeeded in ending their respective relationships. Don’t be surprised if watching this Golden Age classic makes you want to plan your own tryst on a skyscraper observation deck.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Indeed, that romantic rendezvous in An Affair to Remember is so touching that it inspired Nora Ephron, the rom-com queen, to replicate the moment in this ‘90s film. Sam (Tom Hanks) is a recently widowed architect that agrees to meet Annie (Meg Ryan), a journalist, on the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. On New Year’s Eve, and in one of the most poignant scenes, Sam imagines sharing a beer with his late wife, to the tune of Nat King Cole’s “Stardust.” Excuse us, we’re not crying – we’ve just got a little mud in our eye…
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)
Here’s a premise we can all relate to: Charlie Brown is trying to complete his book report on War and Peace, but he’s continuously distracted by talk about Peppermint Patty’s upcoming party – and the thought that the Little Red-Haired Girl could be attending. We won’t spoil the finale, but things don’t end too well for Charlie Brown this time, unlike in the other Peanuts holiday specials!
Yes Man (2008)
This underrated comedy doesn’t feature any New Year’s Eve scenes, but it does have an appropriately positive and energetic tone. Carl (Jim Carrey) is a recently divorced banker that, upon attending a motivational seminar convened by wellness guru Terrence (Terence Stamp), feels obliged to say ‘Yes!’ to everything, landing him in some awkward situations. While Carl ultimately learns that it’s okay to say ‘No’ sometimes, we agree that it’s important to seize the day in 2024!
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Nora Ephron’s second screenplay credit on this list is among the finest romantic comedies of all time. Like the very best love stories, Rob Reiner’s critically acclaimed movie ends with a last-minute dash across town – to the New Year’s Eve party where Harry (Billy Crystal) confesses his feelings for ‘friend’ Sally (Meg Ryan). Hopefully, by the end of the night, and of this film, you’ll be able to turn to your spouse and have a new appreciation for “the little crinkle above [their] nose when [they’re] looking at you like you’re nuts.”
Snowpiercer (2013)
If the weepy reunions and heady meditations on love have left you exhausted, then why not throw something completely different into the mix: the little-known sci-fi movie, Snowpiercer? Set in a dystopian future where humanity has been forced to live on board a constantly moving train, Curtis Everett – played by Chris Evans – leads a revolution against the new class system. In this world, New Year’s Eve is celebrated each time the locomotive successfully circumnavigates the earth!
New Year’s Eve (2011)
Of all the movies in this New Year’s Eve countdown, none meets the criteria quite as precisely as this romantic comedy. Directed by holiday fanatic Garry Marshall – also responsible for Mother’s Day (2016) and Valentine’s Day (2010) – the biggest draw here is the ensemble cast, which includes Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, and Jon Bon Jovi. Think of it as a follow-up to Love Actually (2003), which you probably watched a few days earlier!
The Holiday (2006)
If you’re suffering from cabin fever at this point of the holiday season and wouldn’t mind conducting your own house swap, then The Holiday is absolutely worth a rewatch, allowing you to live vicariously through Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz). Dissatisfied with their love lives, the pair agree to spend Christmas in each other’s houses – which brings them into the orbit of would-be suitors Miles (Jack Black) and Graham (Jude Law). Will New Year’s Eve – the day on which the story ends – also bring with it two new relationships?
Eat Pray Love (2011)
Speaking of unfulfilled female characters: Eat Pray Love is a 2010 drama based on a memoir of the same name, and finds Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Gilbert (Julia Roberts) at a crossroads in her life, unsure of what she wants from her career and marriage. New Year is typically a time when we take stock, reflecting on the year that’s passed and setting new goals for the year ahead. Because of that, Liz’s journey of self-discovery – which leads her to India, Italy, and Bali – may prove particularly resonant on New Year’s Eve.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Admittedly, as the clock ticks closer to midnight, Ocean’s Twelve (2004) may be an even more appropriate suggestion for your New Year’s movie marathon; with that said, the original movie is still thrilling to watch at any time of the day or night. The clandestine schemes and starry cast (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts) are the main attractions here, and should prove a nice palate cleanser for those burnt out on romantic comedies.
An American in Paris (1951)
You may not be attending any wild New Year’s Eve parties this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sing and dance in the comfort of your own living room. When it comes to having an instructor, then, you can’t beat Gene Kelly, who here plays, funnily enough, an American World War II veteran living in Paris. This award-winning musical comes to an end at an extravagant black-and-white masquerade ball – which as you might have guessed, takes place on New Year’s Eve.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Everyone’s familiar with the concept of Groundhog Day: Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is trapped in a time loop of which only he is aware. Forced to relive February 2 over and over again – to the sound of “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher, no less – the cynical Phil is first emboldened, then depressed, and eventually softened by his experiences. While New Year doesn’t feature in the movie at all, the prospect of fresh starts, and of learning not to take life for granted, is an important one at this time of year.
Inside Out (2015)
New years bring with them lots of changes – and it’s change, essentially, that eleven-year-old Riley is grappling with in Pixar’s emotional masterpiece. The morale of this story is that in order for us to appreciate Joy, we must also know Sadness, and that both are necessary for someone to be a well-rounded, healthy individual. Just don’t mention Bing Bong to us, or we’ll have to write the rest of this list blinking through tears…
The Pursuit of Happyness (2007)
If you’ve ever woken up in a cold sweat, fearful that you might have left an expensive bone-density scanner on a train or in a taxi, well, you may still be traumatized by the events of The Pursuit of Happyness. Chris Gardner (Will Smith) and Christopher Jr. (Jaden Smith) are the father-son duo trying to make ends meet in 1980s San Francisco. It’s a heart-wrenching watch, but the fist-pumping conclusion is a triumphant note to end the year on.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
In another life-affirming Jim Carrey rom-com from the 2000s, he and Kate Winslet star as a recently estranged couple that decide to have their memories of each other erased. This experimental movie contains some unique sci-fi elements, which have only helped it to acquire a cult following in the years since its release. Again, there aren’t any New Year’s Eve scenes here, but the wholesome message – about accepting both the good and bad in our lives – is similar to that of Inside Out, and is worth keeping in mind when you’re reflecting on your experience of 2023.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
It’s tradition to kiss someone at midnight on New Year’s Eve, but we’re sure that Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) embrace of Fredo (John Cazale) in The Godfather Part II isn’t what you had in mind. The New Year’s Eve scene here sees Michael admit that he’s aware of Fredo’s deception and betrayal, and while it’s an intense, dark moment, it’s also one of the most memorable in the entire trilogy.
About Time (2013)
British screenwriter Richard Curtis is responsible for the last two movies in this New Year’s movie rundown. The first of these, About Time, sees Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discover, on his 21st birthday, that every man in his family has the ability to reverse time; he then uses this power to woo Charlotte (Rachel McAdams). When Tim realizes that even time travel can’t fix every problem – even if you can use it to stage a perfect New Year’s Eve kiss – we hope you’ll understand, too, that it’s better to live every year like it’s your last.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Perhaps one of your New Year’s resolutions this year could be to keep, like Bridget Jones, a diary. You don’t necessarily have to document your flirtatious encounters with Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) or passionate confrontations with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), but if you wanted to chronicle your attempts to quit bad habits and take up new hobbies, you could do that, too. Bridget Jones’s Diary is bookended by New Year’s Eve scenes, and thus it’s the perfect way to round out this list.
You may have noticed by now that the theme of ‘time’ is a common thread across several of these movies – whether it’s Domhnall Gleeson reliving events from his past, Bill Murray reliving events from his, um, present, or Charlie Brown wishing he had more time to complete his assignment. Once you’ve made your way through our list of New Year movies, then, ask yourself: how will you spend your time in 2024? If you’d like some advice on getting started, check out our articles on “15 Life-Changing Ways to Start the New Year Off Right” and “New Year, New You: New Year’s Resolution Ideas.” Or, if you’ve decided that a glitzy, show-stopping party is what you really want after all, then browse our New Year’s Eve invitations, décor, and party supplies!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
