Kick Off 2024 From the Comfort of Your Couch With These New Year's Movies
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You can’t leave 2023 behind without a proper farewell, for better or for worse. Though, the thought of going out on a cold December night after all the parties and events of socializing during the holiday season, is a little daunting. If you plan to spend this New Year’s Eve on the couch in your comfiest pajamas, we won’t judge, and we’re here to help ensure the evening still feels festive. Of course, you’ll want to tune in to watch the ball drop, but you’ll need some entertainment in the mean time if you plan on staying awake to ring in the new year. That’s why the perfect activity for a New Year’s Eve spend at home is watching one or two films for New Year’s Eve.
Whatever kind of movies you're into, we have a New Year's movie for everyone. From classic flicks like Rosemary's Baby or Godfather Part II to new favorites like The Age of Adaline or New Year's Eve. Better yet, round out the year of Barbie with Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird. Whatever you choose, kick up your feet and get cozy. Gather up your favorite movie snacks, a special cocktail, and leftover Christmas cookies and settle in for a long night of cinema gold. Challenge for the evening: not falling asleep before it turns midnight! Goodbye 2023, hello 2024, Happy New Year!
A Midnight Kiss
A family of party planners land the gig of the century: planning a New Year's Eve Party for a big tech entrepreneur. But, the catch is they only have one week to prepare, and nothing seems to go their way.
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The Age of Adaline
Blake Lively's Adaline hasn't aged a day in decades. Through the years she attends countless New Year's Eve parties (the day also happens to be her birthday). While ringing in the new year, she meets Ellis, but how can they make their love work when everyone is affected by aging except her.
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Into the Dark: New Year, New You
Though this is technically a TV show, this 90-minute episode can stand on it's own as one of the greatest pieces of New Year's entertainment ever made. Old friends reunite on New Year's Eve. An innocent game of 'Never Have I Ever' turns sinister in a hurry.
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Sleepless in Seattle
Tom Hanks plays a widower who—in one heartbreaking scene— dreams of talking to his late wife on New Year's Eve. Don't worry: He finds love again with Meg Ryan.
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While You Were Sleeping
The plot of this sweet Sandra Bullock rom-com kicks off on Christmas Day, but reaches its peak on New Year's Eve
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When Harry Met Sally
We dare you not to cry as two unlikely friends (played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan) fall in love. The whole thing culminates in an emotional moment at a New Year's Eve party.
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Rent
Much of Rent take place between Christmas and New Year's, but more importantly, the musical is a great film to watch either to end or start the year. It's a good opportunity for reflection in the way the characters "remember a year in the life of friends," as one might say.
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New Year's Eve
Taking cues from Love Actually, this cute flick features interconnected arcs about love—a perfectly pleasant (and aptly titled) picture about New Year's.
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Waiting to Exhale
This movie features an awesome cast, including Whitney Houston and Angela Basset. It starts and ends on New Year's and follows the four women over the course of the year, so it's a perfect way to either end 2022 or start 2023.
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Lady Bird
Ring in 2003 with Lady Bird and her family in Greta Gerwig’s award winning coming of age comedy about a girl in her senior year of high school, eager to shake off the trappings of her west coast town for the sophisticated life she dreams of in New York City. A movie about mother-daughter relationships, friendship, first love, and that time in your life when everything is ahead of you.
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About Time
The Richard Curtis drama is bound to make you feel all the emotions and features a truly romantic New Year's Eve kiss.
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Forrest Gump
While only one scene takes place on New Year's (and it's stressful to say the least), we still think starting off your new year by watching one of the greatest movies ever is not a bad idea.
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Phantom Thread
Although most of the movie doesn't take place on New Year's, there is an extravagant New Year's Eve party that will dreamily transport you to London in the 1950s.
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Carol
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara star in this film that follows two women from completely different worlds who fall in love in a life-changing affair. The first time they kiss happens at a New Year's Eve party, because there's no better time for a first kiss, really.
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Two Lovers
This emotional film follows Joaquin Phoenix's Leonard after he meets two women and must make an difficult decision. The dramatic final scene takes place on New Year's Eve, because why wouldn't it?
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Four Rooms
It's Tim the Bellhop's first night on the job and it just so happens to be New Year's Eve. The star-studded cast gets into all sorts of ridiculous trouble in this anthology comedy that takes place in—you guessed it—four rooms.
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Are We There Yet?
On New Year's Eve, Nick (Ice Cube) must drive his girlfriend's reluctant children from Portland to Vancouver as they try to sabotage him every step of the way.
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High School Musical
Even though it's only one scene in the movie, the New Year's Eve duet that kicks everything off will have you singing along (admit it!).
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The Holiday
It's hard to find a rom-com that's sweeter and more beautifully shot than Nancy Meyers's The Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as two women who unexpectedly find love where they least expect it. The New Year's Eve scene is small and at the end of the film, but it's definitely one of the best parts.
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Someone Like You
After being dumped and continually disappointed by her boyfriend (including a sad New Year's Eve moment), Jane Goodale (Ashley Judd) takes matters into her own hands.
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Under the Tuscan Sun
Okay, we're fully aware that this movie doesn't have any New Year's scenes, but it is all about new beginnings and reinvention, which could be a nice kick-start to your resolutions. And if you live in a cold area, 113 minutes of unbelievable Tuscan scenery is just what you need.
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Rosemary's Baby
Hey, not all New Year's movies need to be lighthearted. If you're in the mood for a horror film instead, Rosemary's Baby has a small—but poignant—scene set during an ominous New Year's Eve party.
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About a Boy
The meet-cute in this Hugh Grant movie takes place on New Year's Eve.
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Ocean's 11
No, not the modern, star-studded version starring George Clooney and company. We mean the original heist with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, which takes place on New Year's Eve.
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Mermaids
In this coming of age story, Winona Ryder plays a repressed teenager against the backdrop of her colorful and eccentric mother. In a classic scene, Cher, who plays the mom, shows off her New Year’s Eve party costume to her daughters before they all fall together into the bathtub in laughter. This underestimated film is full of humor and heart.
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An Affair to Remember
You can thank Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant for shaping your (possibly unrealistic) perception of the perfect New Year's kiss.
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Bridget Jones's Diary
The charming British rom-com begins and ends on New Year's Eve, each time with a blank diary and finally, with an incredible kiss.
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Holiday Inn
Each and every holiday is honored in this classic musical starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Virginia Dale, and Marjorie Reynolds.
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The Godfather Part II
If mafia movies are more your style, here's an offer you can't refuse on New Year's Day. Instead of a loving peck at midnight, Al Pacino's character gives the brother who betrayed him the "kiss of death."
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After the Thin Man
Iconic on-screen couple William Powell and Myrna Loy join forces for the sixth time in this murder-mystery set on New Year's Eve.
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Trading Places
Start the new year off laughing with this comedy featuring funnymen Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy and the iconic Jamie Lee Curtis.
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The Gold Rush
The Tramp makes his way to the Yukon to find love, wealth, and a better life. And of course, there are hijinks around every corner. Hear the quintessential New Year’s favorite, Auld Lang Syne, sung in a raucous New Year’s Eve scene, complete with dancing and shotguns.
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Ghostbusters 2
Revelers' rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" plays a part in saving the city from the supernatural.
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The Poseidon Adventure
A shipwreck on New Year's Eve sends passengers into survival mode. Make a day of it with the 1979 sequel, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, as well as the 2006 remake, Poseidon.
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Sex and the City: The Movie
A sweet New Year's montage in this popular show's big screen debut proves the holiday isn't just about romantic love—it's about friendship too.
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Sunset Boulevard
So this isn't exactly a happy New Year's movie—but the film noir sure is iconic.
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The Apartment
In the final New Year's Eve scene of the 1960 Best Picture winner, Jack Lemon and Shirley MacLaine give us the famous line, "Shut up and deal."
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A Long Way Down
Four strangers meet on New Year’s Eve while trying to jump off the same building. Forming an unlikely bond, they manage to find connection, adventure, and a reason for living.
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An American In Paris
Director Vincent Minnelli brings George Gershwin’s music to life, in this musical comedy about a ex-GI who tries to make a living as an artist on the streets of Paris. Torn between a wealthy art patroness and the woman he loves, he must decide whether he will follow his heart or his career and money. Incredible dancing and singing by Dean Martin and the movie culminates at an incredible New Year’s Eve party.
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Boogie Nights
If you're looking for an adult movie to ring in the new year with, this dramatic look at the adult film industry kicks off with an intense New Year's Eve party.
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