Best movies to watch on new year’s eve 2025 for a perfect year-end movie night

Here's a special list of 20 movies to watch on New Year’s Eve as people get ready to welcome 2026, looking back at films with New Year’s Eve scenes or strong holiday vibes, as listed by Rotten Tomatoes. The list has movies that are fully about New Year’s Eve and also movies that have famous New Year scenes. This gives viewers many choices to pick from.

The movies are ranked by the Tomatometer score, which comes from critic reviews. The list includes many types of movies, like sequels, romantic comedies, Oscar-nominated films, and classic movies. Rotten Tomatoes says this list helps people end 2025 and welcome 2026 by watching good movies, even if they watch just one or two.

Here’s the list of the movies to watch this new year

1. Sunset Boulevard (1950) with a 98% score, which critics call “Arguably the greatest movie about Hollywood.”
2. The Godfather Part II (1974) with 96%, praised for setting new standards for movie sequels.
3. Phantom Thread (2017) with 91%, known for its strong acting and emotional story.
4. When Harry Met Sally… (1989) with 88%, the romcom classic, famous for its unforgettable New Year’s Eve scene.
5. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) with 83%, loved for its stylish and fast-paced story.
6. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) with 79%, starting right at the New Year with fresh resolutions.
7. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) with 75%, which made the list because of its emotional New Year’s ending.
8. Forrest Gump (1994) with 75%, featuring a memorable New Year’s Eve moment in its long life story.
9. Happy New Year, Colin Burstead (2018) is No. 9 with 86%, focusing on family drama during a New Year’s celebration.
10. The Poseidon Adventure (1972) with 81%, which takes place on New Year’s Eve during a deadly ship disaster.

Lower on the list are films like “Mermaids,” “Strange Days,” and “High School Musical”, all featuring New Year moments or themes. Romantic and modern picks like “I Hate New Year’s,” “Sex and the City,” and “Holidate” also made the list despite lower scores, as stated by Rotten Tomatoes

Though the movie business is in general in an assumed crisis, New Year releases are still expected to do well as audiences still have an appetite for it. Films like “Y2K” (2024) still are a smash hit, despite critics giving Luke warm views. “Four Rooms” and “New Year’s Eve”, with the lowest Tomatometer scores, are still a rage among viewers, as Rotten Tomatoes continues to recommend to viewers that trailers and clips should be seen by viewers before deciding on their New Year Caper.

FAQs

Q1. What is the best movie to watch on New Year’s Eve?

Sunset Boulevard ranks highest on the Rotten Tomatoes New Year’s Eve movie list.

Q2. Which is the best romantic movie to watch this New Year?

When Harry Met Sally… is the best choice because it has a famous New Year’s Eve scene and a classic love story perfect for the holiday.