TAGGED AS: classics, movies, New Year's, New Year's Eve

(Photo by 20th Century Fox Film Corp./courtesy Everett Collection. The Poseidon Adventure)

20 Movies to Watch on New Year’s Eve

It may be a new year but we’ve still got the same love for movies, and we’re ringing in 2026 by looking back at some of our favorite films and scenes that took place on New Year’s Eve. Whether you’re looking for a movie centered on the holiday itself (Four Rooms, New Year’s Eve, Y2K) or you just want to watch an iconic NYE scene (Forrest Gump, When Harry Met Sally, Ocean’s 11), we’ve compiled this list of 20 movies to watch as we close out 2025, and we’re ranking them by Tomatometer.

The list below contains a solid mix of films, including beloved sequels (The Godfather Part II, Ghostbusters II), light-hearted romcoms (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Holidate), Oscar nominees (Phantom Thread, Sleepless in Seattle), and Fresh classics (Sunset Boulevard, The Poseidon Adventure).

When Ronald Neame’s The Poseidon Adventure hit theaters back in 1972, critics praised it as “the best disaster flick of the ’70s” with “compelling characters and extraordinary special effects.” The mystery/thriller follows the surviving passengers of the S.S. Poseidon as it’s overtaken by a tidal wave on New Year’s Eve. “[It] remains one of the gold standards in the disaster genre,” a critic wrote. The film is currently available to stream on Fandango at Home and holds an 82% on the Tomatometer.

Also included in this list is Rob Reiner‘s BAFTA-winning romcom When Harry Met Sally…. Who could forget that New Year’s Eve scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal? Reiner’s critically-acclaimed Sleepless In Seattle, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, is also listed below, due to its pretty memorable NYE ending.

So, before you press play on 2026, be sure to explore the list of movies below. And if you don’t have time to watch them all, keep scrolling for some throwback trailers and movie clips.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

98%

Critics Consensus: Arguably the greatest movie about Hollywood, Billy Wilder's masterpiece Sunset Boulevard is a tremendously entertaining combination of noir, black comedy, and character study.

Synopsis: An aging silent film queen refuses to accept that her stardom has ended. She hires a young screenwriter to help set up her movie comeback.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson

Directed By: Billy Wilder

The Godfather, Part II (1974)

96%

Critics Consensus: Drawing on strong performances by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, Francis Ford Coppola's continuation of Mario Puzo's Mafia saga set new standards for sequels that have yet to be matched or broken.

Synopsis: The compelling sequel to "The Godfather," contrasting the life of Corleone father and son. Traces the problems of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in 1958 and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro

Directed By: Francis Ford Coppola

Phantom Thread (2017)

91%

Critics Consensus: Phantom Thread's finely woven narrative is filled out nicely by humor, intoxicating romantic tension, and yet another impressively committed performance from Daniel Day-Lewis.

Synopsis: Renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock and his sister Cyril are at the center of British fashion in 1950s London -- dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, Camilla Rutherford

Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

90%

Critics Consensus: Rob Reiner's touching, funny film set a new standard for romantic comedies, and he was ably abetted by the sharp interplay between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

Synopsis: In 1977, college graduates Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a contentious car ride from Chicago to New York, during which... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby

Directed By: Rob Reiner

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

83%

Critics Consensus: As fast-paced, witty, and entertaining as it is star-studded and coolly stylish, Ocean's Eleven offers a well-seasoned serving of popcorn entertainment.

Synopsis: Dapper Danny Ocean is a man of action. Less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, the wry, charismatic thief is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

79%

Critics Consensus: Zellweger's Bridget Jones is a sympathetic, likable, funny character, giving this romantic comedy a lot of charm.

Synopsis: At the start of the New Year, 32-year-old Bridget (Renée Zellweger) decides it's time to take control of her life -- and start keeping a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones

Directed By: Sharon Maguire

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

75%

Critics Consensus: Sleepless in Seattle is a cute classic with a very light touch and real chemistry between the two leads -- even when spending an entire movie apart.

Synopsis: After the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) moves to Seattle with his son, Jonah (Ross Malinger). When Jonah calls in to a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger

Directed By: Nora Ephron

Forrest Gump (1994)

75%

Critics Consensus: Tom Hanks' rigorously earnest performance keeps Forrest Gump sincere even when it gets glib with American history, making for a whimsical odyssey of debatable wisdom but undeniable heart.

Synopsis: Slow-witted Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) has never thought of himself as disadvantaged, and thanks to his supportive mother (Sally Field), he leads anything but a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead (2018)

86%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Colin Burstead hires a lavish country manor for his extended family to celebrate New Year. Unfortunately for Colin his position of power in the family... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Neil Maskell, Sam Riley, Doon Mackichan, Hayley Squires

Directed By: Ben Wheatley

#10

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

81%

Critics Consensus: The Poseidon Adventure exemplifies the disaster film done right, going down smoothly with ratcheting tension and a terrific ensemble to give the peril a distressingly human dimension.

Synopsis: En route from New York City to Greece on New Year's Eve, majestic passenger ship the S.S. Poseidon is overtaken by a tidal wave. With... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons

Directed By: Ronald Neame, Irwin Allen

#11

Mermaids (1990)

71%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Flax (Winona Ryder) is tired of her wacky mom (Cher) moving their family to a different town any time she feels it is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cher, Winona Ryder, Bob Hoskins, Michael Schoeffling

Directed By: Richard Benjamin

#12

Strange Days (1995)

71%

Critics Consensus: Strange Days struggles to make the most of its futuristic premise, but what's left remains a well-directed, reasonably enjoyable sci-fi fantasy.

Synopsis: Former policeman Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) has moved into a more lucrative trade: the illegal sale of virtual reality-like recordings that allow users to experience... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow

#13

High School Musical (2006)

67%

Critics Consensus: High School Musical is brazenly saccharine, but it makes up for it with its memorable show tunes, eye-popping choreography, and appealing cast.

Synopsis: Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), the star athlete at a small-town high school, falls for nerdy beauty Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) at a holiday karaoke... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel

Directed By: Kenny Ortega

#14

I Hate New Year's (2020)

60%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Experiencing writer's block, rising music star Layne Price reluctantly visits a mysterious fortuneteller whose flamboyant advice she misconstrues. Heading home to Nashville, Tenn,, for New... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dia Frampton, Ashley Argota, Candis Cayne, Andrew Brennen

Directed By: Christin Baker

#15

Ghostbusters II (1989)

55%

Critics Consensus: Thanks to the cast, Ghostbusters 2 is reasonably amusing, but it lacks the charm, wit, and energy of its predecessor.

Synopsis: After saving New York City from a ghost attack, the Ghostbusters -- a team of spirit exterminators -- is disbanded for demolishing parts of the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis

Directed By: Ivan Reitman

#16

Sex and the City (2008)

49%

Critics Consensus: Sex and the City loses steam in the transition to the big screen, but will still thrill fans of the show.

Synopsis: Four years after the earlier adventures of Carrie Bradshaw and her best gal pals, she and her intermittent lover, Big, are in a committed relationship.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Chris Noth, Kristin Davis

Directed By: Michael Patrick King

#17

Holidate (2020)

45%

Critics Consensus: Holidate's self-aware approach to rom-com formula is refreshing, but it's offset by a questionable premise and unnecessarily vulgar jokes.

Synopsis: Fed up with being single on holidays, two strangers agree to be each other's platonic plus-ones all year long, only to catch real feelings along... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth, Frances Fisher

Directed By: John Whitesell

#18

Y2K (2024)

43%

Critics Consensus: Y2K earns points for ambition and sheer audacity, even if it struggles to keep the laughs coming while maintaining a messy tonal blend.

Synopsis: On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Years Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, The Kid LAROI

Directed By: Kyle Mooney

#19

Four Rooms (1995)

13%

Critics Consensus: Four Rooms comes stocked with a ton of talent on both sides of the camera, yet only manages to add up to a particularly uneven -- and dismayingly uninspired -- anthology effort.

Synopsis: Working New Year's Eve at a hotel in Hollywood, Calif., the new bellhop, Ted (Tim Roth), has no idea what's in store for him. Left... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tim Roth, Valeria Golino, Jennifer Beals, Antonio Banderas

Directed By: Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino

#20

New Year's Eve (2011)

Critics Consensus: Shallow, sappy, and dull, New Year's Eve assembles a star-studded cast for no discernible purpose.

Synopsis: Intertwining stories promise love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and more for a number of New Yorkers on the celebrated night. A rock star and his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin

Directed By: Garry Marshall