As the world bid farewell to 2025 and welcomed the dawn of 2026, millions faced the perennial question: How best to celebrate New Year’s Eve? For many, the answer wasn’t a glittering party or braving the cold among crowds in Times Square, but rather, a cozy night in with a good movie. This year, a flurry of streaming guides and heartfelt tributes to cinematic classics offered viewers a rich selection of films to ring in the new year, blending nostalgia, comfort, and a touch of bittersweet reflection.
According to Decider, New Year’s Eve movies may not be as abundant as Christmas films, but those that do spotlight the holiday often capture the emotional complexity of bidding one year goodbye and greeting another. The streaming landscape in 2025 was especially vibrant, offering a diverse range of New Year’s-themed movies across platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and more. From romantic comedies to stirring dramas, and even a dash of horror, there was truly something for every taste.
Perhaps no film encapsulates the spirit of New Year’s Eve quite like When Harry Met Sally (1989), which Decider and Esquire alike hailed as the ultimate movie for the occasion. The film, directed by the late Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron, culminates in a moving New Year’s Eve confession, with Billy Crystal’s Harry finally telling Meg Ryan’s Sally that he loves her. In a 2024 interview with CNN, Reiner revealed that the original ending was changed due to his own personal transformation during the making of the film. “I’d been single for ten years, and I couldn’t figure out how I was ever going to be with anybody, and that gave birth to When Harry Met Sally... I met my wife Michele while we were making the film, and I changed the ending.” This backstory, as recounted by Esquire, added a poignant layer to this year’s viewings, especially in light of Reiner’s recent passing.
For those seeking a different kind of emotional resonance, Forrest Gump (1994) was another popular choice. Streaming on Netflix, Paramount+, Tubi, and Kanopy, the film’s New Year’s Eve scene—featuring a despondent Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise) and an ever-hopeful Forrest (Tom Hanks)—perfectly captures the loneliness that can sometimes accompany the holiday, even amid raucous celebrations. As Decider noted, the scene’s contrast between the revelry and Dan’s isolation is striking, with a sex worker’s cheery “Don’t you just love New Year’s? You get to start all over” met by Dan’s dead-eyed stare. Digital Trends echoed this sentiment, highlighting the film’s broader message: “Though we’re not sure what we’re gonna get in the New Year, Forrest Gump reminds its viewers to embrace life, no matter how random or challenging it is.”
Those in search of cinematic sophistication had the option of Phantom Thread (2017), streaming on Netflix (but only through December 31, 2025, as Decider warned). Paul Thomas Anderson’s period drama, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps, features an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party that marks a turning point in the film’s twisted romance. As Digital Trends put it, “Their codependent relationship reaches an emotional climax at an iconic New Year’s Eve party, but it only gets more toxic from there, and I do mean that literally.” The film’s departure from Netflix at midnight added a sense of urgency for cinephiles hoping to catch it before the year’s end.
For viewers craving lighter fare, Decider recommended classics like The Apartment (1960), a romantic comedy starring Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon, and While You Were Sleeping (1995), featuring Sandra Bullock in a web of mistaken identity and family drama. Both films revolve around New Year’s Eve parties that serve as catalysts for personal growth and new beginnings—timeless themes for the holiday.
On the other end of the spectrum, those seeking something more unconventional could turn to The Substance (2025), a body horror film streaming on HBO Max. Starring Demi Moore as an aging Hollywood star who creates a younger clone of herself (played by Margaret Qualley), the movie’s wild premise and New Year’s Eve setting offered a bracing alternative to the usual sentimental fare. “New Year’s Eve Show, tonight, 9pm!” the film’s tagline beckoned, inviting viewers to a celebration unlike any other.
Ensemble pieces also had their moment in the spotlight. New Year’s Eve (2011), available on Hulu and Starz, boasted a sprawling cast including Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Robert De Niro, and Zac Efron. While the film may not have reached the heights of Love, Actually, it remained a perennial favorite for those seeking a feel-good, star-studded celebration of the holiday, as noted by Decider.
For families or those nostalgic for their youth, Digital Trends suggested Stand by Me (1986), a coming-of-age classic directed by Rob Reiner. The film’s exploration of friendship, loss, and the passage of time resonated especially deeply this year, following the deaths of Reiner and his wife Michele. “It may be hard for some to grow up with each year, but this film reminds us that we’re not alone in that struggle,” Digital Trends reflected.
Other notable recommendations included Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025), the latest installment in Rian Johnson’s popular whodunit series, which, though not explicitly about New Year’s Eve, was praised for its themes of renewal and forgiveness—apt for the holiday. Groundhog Day (1993) also made the cut, with its time-loop premise serving as a metaphor for the repetitive feeling some experience as one year blends into the next. As Digital Trends observed, “His arc in Groundhog Day reminds us to make the most out of each day, which should inspire viewers going into 2026.”
Across the various streaming guides, one theme was clear: New Year’s Eve is more than just a party. It’s a time for reflection, for measuring the minutes and moments that make up a year, and for finding comfort—whether in the arms of a loved one or in the glow of a favorite movie. As Decider put it, referencing the musical Rent (2005): “By the end of the film, you’ll know to measure your year (all 525,600 minutes of it) not in daylights, sunsets, midnights, or cups of coffee, but in love.”
With so many films to choose from and so many streaming options at our fingertips, this New Year’s Eve offered a cinematic celebration as varied and heartfelt as the holiday itself. For those who stayed in, the movies provided not just entertainment, but a way to mark the passage of time, honor those we’ve lost, and look ahead—hopefully—to the year to come.
