21 rockin' New Year's Eve movies to watch before the ball drops

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in 'When Harry Met Sally'; Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon in 'The Apartment'; Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in 'Trading Places'. Photo:
Columbia/Everett Collection; Mary Evans/AF Archive/Everett Collection; Paramount/Everett Collection

Ah, New Year's Eve. A time of reflection, resolution, broad declarations of love, and the idealistic hope that next year will be better. In other words, Dec. 31 is the perfect day for drama, which is why so many films have set at least part of the action around the holiday. It's certainly a prime setting for romance, as seen in such films as When Harry Met Sally (1989) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993). It's also a day when many people are out, connections are forged, and there's plenty of opportunity for conflict, like in Ocean's 11 (1960) or New Year's Eve (2011).

Here are our favorite New Year's Eve-themed movies we'd recommend to help you celebrate for auld lang syne.

200 Cigarettes (1999)

Christina Ricci and Casey Affleck in '200 Cigarettes'. Everett Collection

Set during New Year's Eve 1981, this quirky nostalgia piece stars a who's who of the late-'90s: Ben and Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Christina Ricci, Dave Chappelle, Janeane Garofalo, Martha Plimpton, Paul Rudd, Gaby Hoffmann, and Courtney Love.

About a Boy (2002)

Hugh Grant and Rachel Weisz in 'About a Boy'. Laurie Sparham

Perennial man-child Will Freeman (Hugh Grant) has some serious growing up to do. Good thing, then, that he gets seated next to emotionally mature Rachel (Rachel Weisz) at a New Year's dinner party.

About Time (2013)

Jenny Rainsford and Domhnall Gleeson in 'About Time'. Universal

The central love story in Richard Curtis' rom-com doesn't blossom until later, but Tim's (Domhnall Gleeson) journey truly begins on his 21st New Year's Eve, which ends in disappointment — the first time he experiences it, anyway. No time like a brand new year to learn you possess the power of time travel!

An Affair to Remember (1957)

Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in 'An Affair to Remember'. Everett Collection

Terry (Deborah Kerr) falls for the always adorable Nickie (Cary Grant) in this 1957 weeper. The two share a sweet kiss on New Year's Eve, but they're both engaged to other people. They decide to meet six months later at the top of the Empire State Building (assuming, of course, they're still interested). What happens? C'mon. Didn't you see Sleepless in Seattle?

After the Thin Man (1936)

Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Joseph Calleia in 'After the Thin Man'. Everett Collection

William Powell and Myrna Loy are Nick and Nora Charles for the second time (of six, eventually) in this Dec. 31-set murder mystery. Come for the '30s glamour and witty repartee, stay for a very, very young Jimmy Stewart as a desperate, rejected lover (and on New Year's, no less!).

The Apartment (1960)

Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in 'The Apartment'. Everett Collection

It takes a truly disastrous NYE party to make Shirley MacLaine's Fran realize her love for Jack Lemmon's Bud in this 1960 romantic dramedy about an office worker who lends his apartment out to company executives — and their many mistresses.

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Renée Zellweger in 'Bridget Jones's Diary'. Miramax

You're single, a little sad, and bracing for a booze-soaked New Year's Eve blowout. It could be worse: You could have to face your mom tomorrow at a turkey curry buffet. This Renée Zellweger romp is perfect NYE material: It's all about fresh starts, clean slates, and Colin Firth.

Entrapment (1999)

Catherine Zeta-Jones in 'Entrapment'. Everett Collection

No plans this evening? Why not pull off a major bank heist? Before you do, though, watch this Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery film that centers around a crime that takes place mere minutes before the arrival of the new millennium.

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Al Pacino in 'The Godfather Part II'. PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Who said a midnight kiss had to be romantic? Take a trip to Havana and ring in the new year with the Corleones, as Michael (Al Pacino) delivers the kiss of death to (spoiler?) his traitorous brother, Fredo (John Cazale).

The Holdovers (2023)

Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Paul Giamatti in 'The Holdovers'.
Seacia Pavao/FOCUS FEATURES

Alexander Payne's bittersweet comedy-drama spans that strange limbo period between Christmas and the new year, centering on a teacher (Paul Giamatti), student (Dominic Sessa), and school cook (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), all with nowhere else to go during the break, who develop an unexpected bond. The motley crew celebrates the arrival of 1971 toward the end of the film, lighting an M-80 firecracker in the kitchen. —Kevin Jacobsen

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Tim Robbins in 'The Hudsucker Proxy'. Warner Bros.

Tim Robbins and Jennifer Jason Leigh star in this New Year's Eve-set film, directed by the Coen brothers and costarring the divine Paul Newman. Be prepared to break out the hula hoops.

New Year's Eve (2011)

Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele in 'New Year's Eve'. Andrew Schwartz

An all-star ensemble that includes *deep breath* Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Hilary Swank comes together to celebrate New Year's Eve in NYC. While not a critics' favorite, we raise our glass to that level of star wattage.

Ocean's 11 (1960)

Richard Conte and Henry Silva in 'Ocean's 11'. Everett Collection

Step aside, Clooney. Vegas on New Year's Eve sets the scene for the original Ocean's 11, a Rat Pack classic starring Frank Sinatra as the mastermind of the epic heist, with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford rounding out his team of 11.

Phantom Thread (2017)

Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps in 'Phantom Thread'. Laurie Sparham/Focus Features

Paul Thomas Anderson's twisted relationship drama reaches a high point with a charged scene set at a New Year's Eve party, to which the stubborn Reynolds (Daniel Day-Lewis) has followed the equally willful Alma (Vicky Krieps). As they exchange a meaningful stare, we come to understand how two people can simultaneously be so wrong yet so right for each other.

Poseidon (2006)

Kurt Russell (center) in 'Poseidon'. Claudette Barius

No matter how bad your night is, at least you're not stuck on a rapidly-sinking cruise ship with Josh Lucas and Fergie. Boom, boom, POW!

Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)

Sarah Jessica Parker in 'Sex and the City: The Movie'. Warner Bros.

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) rushes to Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon) apartment for a New Year's bonding session. She even (gasp!) takes the subway. Now that's a good friend.

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Bill Pullman and Meg Ryan in 'Sleepless in Seattle'. TriStar Pictures

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are at the top of their game in this romantic comedy. But, the sweetest scene comes when Hanks' grieving Sam Baldwin imagines a New Year's Eve conversation with his deceased wife (played by the ethereal Carey Lowell). "Here's to us."

Someone Like You (2001)

Ashley Judd in 'Someone Like You'. 20th Century Fox

New Year's Eve rolls around and our hero, Jane (the plucky Ashley Judd), gets stood up by her bad-news ex-boyfriend/colleague, Ray (Greg Kinnear). Platonic pal/co-worker/womanizing roommate Eddie (the hunky Hugh Jackman) makes sure Jane is okay before a staff meeting. After drinks and some late-night confessions about relationship fears, the roommates fall asleep next to each other. Feelings become complicated as Jane tries to avoid getting hurt again.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Gloria Swanson and William Holden in 'Sunset Boulevard'. Everett Collection

New Year's Eve is all about looking ahead — even for a fading silent movie star who's trapped in the past. This 1950 gem (starring Gloria Swanson as the past-her-prime legend Norma Desmond and William Holden as her reluctant boy toy) perfectly captures the melancholy misery of forced optimism.

Trading Places (1983)

Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Eddie Murphy, and Denholm Elliott in 'Trading Places'. Everett Collection

Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, and Jamie Lee Curtis (with her Swedish meatballs) board a New York-bound party train for New Year's in this comedy classic. Bonus: The movie's anti-fat-cat-banker sentiment feels just as relevant today as it was in 1983.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in 'When Harry Met Sally'. Everett Collection

Possibly the greatest New Year's Eve scene of all: After years as friends with (occasional) benefits, Harry (Billy Crystal) finally declares his love for Sally (Meg Ryan). The best quote? "It's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve," Harry says after party-crashing. "I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."