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Once Christmas is over, you can begin planning how you will ring in the New Year. New Year’s Eve is a lot of people’s favorite holiday. Some people like the idea of a party to beat all parties; others like to surround themselves with family and hang out at home. Quite a few like to consider what the new year will bring for them and if they’ll keep their resolution.
If you’re someone that plans on staying home, it might be a good idea to pop some wine or champagne a little early and put on a few of these flicks to get you in the holiday spirit. There are plenty of quality movies out there across all the different streaming services that are sure to tickle your fancy.
Into the Dark: New Year, New You (2018)
This episode from the anthology series Into the Dark goes in a slightly different direction than your typical holiday film. Since it’s an anthology series, you’re free to watch this episode without seeing any others in the series.
New Year, New You is about a group of friends gathering for a girl’s night on New Year’s Eve. Eventually, old memories and grudges arise during a game of “Never Have I Ever,” and the night turns sinister. Fans of horror and mystery will enjoy this twist on your usual happy-go-lucky New Year’s films. You’ll be able to find this dark tale on Hulu.
Ocean’s 11 (1960)
Okay, we’ve probably all seen the remake of Ocean’s 11 with George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts, but have you seen the original with a different star-studded cast? That’s right, the original from 1960 with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and more.
The original has a similar plot: Danny Ocean decides to rob five casinos in one night with ten friends. The night in question? New Year’s Eve. December 31st is the perfect time to give it a watch if you’re a fan of older movies and haven’t seen this one yet. If you aren’t a fan of classic movies, the new Ocean’s 11 is still a great heist movie to check out.
Four Rooms (1995)
If you’re a fan of black comedy and Quentin Tarantino, check out this anthology film, Four Rooms. If you’re expecting something akin to Tarantino’s Django or Reservoir Dogs, look elsewhere. This film is based on short writings by Roald Dahl, the beloved writer.
Four Rooms is about a new bellhop working at a hotel in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. The movie is essentially broken into four segments where the bellhop encounters four different guests in their rooms. Fans of anthology shows and movies will definitely enjoy this one, especially the final two parts directed by Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez.
200 Cigarettes (1999)
If you’re into that 80s New York City vibe, you have got to check out 200 Cigarettes this New Year’s Eve. The film features a number of great actors and actresses like Ben and Casey Affleck, Dave Chappelle, Courtney Love, Paul Rudd, and Christina Ricci.
The film follows these actors’ characters as they travel around New York City on New Year’s Eve before ending up at the same party hosted by their friend. It’s a great comedy and even has a cameo from Elvis Costello. It will surely make you laugh and give you a great start to the New Year.
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Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1986)
The Peanuts are a classic, and their New Year’s film from 1986 is even more classic. I’m sure we’ve all seen their Christmas special and the Halloween special, but how many of us have seen this one?
The film follows the titular character as he struggles to write a book report on War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy over the Christmas break. Charlie Brown also is struggling with a recent love interest, a little red-haired girl. Will he get the girl? Will he finish the report on time? Knowing Charlie Brown, almost certainly not, but you’ll have to watch to find out.
New Year’s Eve (2011)
Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Hilary Swank? That’s a cast you never thought you’d see together, but in New Year’s Eve, they make it happen. This is the second film in an unofficial trilogy of holiday movies, the others being Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, but you don’t need to watch those to laugh and understand this romantic comedy.
The film follows several different people and their interconnected stories on New Year’s Eve. It’s filled with single people finding love, relationship drama caused by stressful holidays, and more. If you’re a fan of romcoms, there’s no better New Year’s Eve movie than a movie literally called New Year’s Eve.
The Apartment (1960)
Fans of classic films from the 50s and 60s will surely enjoy The Apartment. This film is even directed and written by Billy Wilder, who also directed the critically acclaimed Some Like It Hot, arguably one of the most popular films from the late 50s. This romcom takes place during the holidays and ties up the story at a New Year’s Eve party where things really pop.
This film centers around a low-level clerk, Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon), at an insurance giant that hopes to climb the corporate ladder by letting senior execs use his apartment for extramarital affairs. Yes, it’s abhorrent, but the film itself focuses on Bud and his romantic interest with an elevator operator in his building, Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine). Unbeknownst to him, Fran is having an affair with his own boss.
New Year’s Evil (1980)
Created almost in the middle of the golden age for slasher films, New Year’s Evil is a great horror holiday flick you should watch if you’re still itching for more terror two months after Halloween. It’s not exactly the best slasher film, but it ties in great with the New Year spirit.
New Year’s Evil is about a killer who calls into a radio station and promises to commit a murder at the stroke of midnight in every US timezone, culminating with his final victim, a woman named Diane. As he calls in again and again with the screams of his victims, time is running out for Diane and the police as they try to catch the killer before the final timezone.
Are We There Yet?
After his run with N.W.A., Boyz n the Hood, and Friday, Ice Cube starred in the holiday comedy Are We There Yet? which eventually even got a sequel. This film isn’t the best piece of cinema you’ll watch in your lifetime, but it’s definitely a great cheesy movie to laugh at and watch with family.
Ice Cube plays Nick Persons, a bachelor that hates kids but falls for Suzanne, played by Nia Long. Suzanne has two kids, Lindsey (Aleisha Allen) and Kevin (Phillip Daniel Bolden). As they try their hardest to ensure Nick’s life is hell, Nick tries to get them across the country to their mother for New Year’s. This flick is great for families with children or adults that are just trying to have something play in the background while they drink wine and eat fancy cheeses.
