Top Ten Best New Year’s Eve Movies To Watch (And Where to Stream)

Looking for a way to celebrate but not sure which New Year’s Eve movies are even available? We’ve got just the thing to make selecting the perfect film simple. We compiled a list of the top 10 movies, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes rating, to ring in the new year. Plus, explore even more options within our holiday movie guide! Check out our picks before the ball drops to reflect on years past and prepare for the year ahead.

How to Stream the Top New Year’s Films

As you countdown the days until the end of the year, make sure you’re able to enjoy all your favorite festive films. Streaming is simple as long as you have a reliable, fast, secure Internet connection, so make sure you have the connectivity to enjoy all of the movies and live content this holiday season. Our list will help you determine which streaming services, like Disney+, Netflix, and Peacock, to subscribe to in order to watch all your favorites no matter where you are.

The Best New Year’s Movies to Check Out This Year

10. Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1986) - No Rating

An animated special where Charlie Brown plans to read "War and Peace" over the holiday break but ends up at Peppermint Patty's New Year's Eve party instead. The Peanuts gang reflects on the past year and looks forward to the future.

Cast: Bill Melendez, Melissa Guzzi

Streaming: Available on Apple TV.

9. New Year’s Eve (2011) - 7% Rating

Although the rating is unimpressive, you can’t have a New Year’s Eve movie list without including this film. This romantic comedy intertwines the lives of several characters in New York City on New Year's Eve. The cast includes a slew of celebrities, including Halle Berry, Ashton Kutcher, and Sarah Jessica Parker, and explores love, hope, and new beginnings as each character navigates the holiday.

Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, and Robert De Niro

Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max.

8. Sex and the City: The Movie (2008) - 50% Rating

The film adaptation of the popular TV series follows Carrie Bradshaw (Parker) and her friends as they face life-changing events. A significant part of the plot unfolds during New Year's Eve in New York City.

Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis

Streaming: MAX, Amazon Prime Video, VUDU, YouTube

7. The Holiday (2006) - 50% Rating

Two women, British Iris (Kate Winslet) and American Amanda (Cameron Diaz), swap homes for the holidays to escape their troubled love lives. While not entirely focused on New Year's, the film features a heartwarming New Year's Eve scene where the characters find renewed hope and connection.

Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet

Streaming: Available on Hulu and AMC+.

6. Ghostbusters II (1989) - 55% Rating

In this sequel to the iconic 1984 original, the Ghostbusters return to save New York City from supernatural threats and paranormal activities. Can the team save the city from a malevolent force brewing beneath, which is set to culminate in a climactic showdown on New Year's Eve?

Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, and Sigourney Weaver

Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, fubo, VUDU

5. An Affair to Remember (1957) - 67% Rating

A classic romantic drama featuring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr who meet and have a whirlwind romance while on a trans-Atlantic cruise then plan to reunite six months later atop the Empire State Building. The iconic scene occurs on New Year's Eve, adding depth to their poignant love story.

Cast: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr

Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, VUDU, YouTube

4. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) - 80% Rating

Bridget (Zellweger), a London-based single woman, navigates the ups and downs of her love life while striving for personal growth as a New Year’s resolution. The movie culminates in a New Year's Eve sequence where Bridget reevaluates her choices and sets new resolutions.

Cast: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant

Streaming: Available on Paramount+

3. Trading Places (1983) - 88% Rating

A comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, where two wealthy brokers make a bet and swap the lives of a successful investor (Aykroyd) and a street hustler (Murphy) for their personal entertainment and to settle an argument. The film concludes with a New Year's Eve scene that ties up the story's comedic twists.

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Dan Akroyd

Streaming: Starz

2. When Harry Met Sally (1989) - 91% Rating

The film follows the lives of college acquaintances Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) over a span of several years, highlighting their evolving relationship. The story culminates in a New Year's Eve celebration in New York City, where they confront their feelings for each other.

Cast: Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan

Streaming: MAX, Amazon Prime Video, VUDU

1. The Apartment (1960) - 93% Rating

A romantic comedy-drama following C.C. Baxter, an insurance clerk who lends his apartment to his superiors for extramarital affairs in exchange for career advancement. The story reaches a turning point during a New Year's Eve party, leading to resolutions and personal growth.

Cast: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine

Streaming: Roku, Kanopy, Amazon Prime Video, VUDU

Honorable Mentions

There are a few other movies with NYE themes that we recommend checking out to celebrate the holiday.

• Forrest Gump (1994) : his Oscar-winning film follows the life of Forrest (Tom Hanks), a man with a low IQ but a huge heart, as he navigates various challenges as well as love and loss.
• About Time (2013) : Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson star in this romcom about Tim (Gleeson) who learns he can time travel and change the outcomes of his own life.
• New Year’s Evil (1980) : If horror movies are more your thing, this might be the film for you. A DJ (Diane Sullivan) hosts the New Year’s Eve musical countdown then receives a phone call saying someone will be murdered when midnight strikes in each time zone - with her being the final victim.

Stay Connected with SmartMove

There are plenty of great movies to enjoy not only during December and on New Year’s Day but throughout the year. We’ll help make sure you have the connectivity you need to enjoy the TV shows, movies, and other online activities you love. Find the right service with SmartMove.