Top five New Year's Eve movies to kickstart your 2026
A movie marathon on New Year's Eve is the perfect way to spend the day if you're not stepping out.
Image: Freepik
As the sun sets on the final day of the year, there’s a specific kind of magic in the air.
While some are gearing up for massive street bashes or beach parties, there is an ever-growing club of us who find the ultimate joy in the "big stay-in."
Whether you’re avoiding the roadblocks, dodging the Cape Town wind, or just want to enjoy your snacks in peace, ringing in the New Year from your couch is a top-tier vibe.
To help you count down to midnight, we’ve curated a list of five movies that capture the spirit of New Year's Eve.
New Year’s Eve
This is the ultimate ensemble film for the holiday. Set in New York City, it weaves together several different stories of people whose lives intersect on New Year's Eve. It’s got everything from a high-stakes ball drop at Times Square to a couple competing for a "New Year’s Baby" cash prize. It’s light, festive, and reminds us that no matter how messy life gets, midnight always brings a clean slate.
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Hilary Swank, and Halle Berry.
Holidate
If you’ve ever felt the pressure of being single during the South African wedding season or family braais, this one is for you. It follows two strangers who agree to be each other's "plus-one" for every holiday throughout the year. It all culminates in a high-energy New Year’s Eve party where they have to decide if their "fake" relationship has real legs.
Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, and Kristin Chenoweth.
About Time
This is arguably one of the most heartwarming films of the last decade. It starts at a disastrous New Year’s Eve party where Tim discovers he can travel back in time. While he initially uses his gift to fix an awkward NYE countdown kiss, the movie eventually evolves into a beautiful lesson about living every day as if it’s your last. It’s a tear-jerker, so keep the tissues near the biltong.
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, and Margot Robbie.
About Fate
A classic "wrong place, right time" rom-com. Two strangers are both planning to propose to their respective partners on New Year’s Eve, but through a series of chaotic events (and some very funny misunderstandings), they end up spending the night together. It’s light, breezy, and focuses heavily on the idea that New Year’s Eve is the ultimate night for destiny to play its hand.
Starring: Emma Roberts, Thomas Mann, and Madelaine Petsch.
The Holdovers
For those who prefer something a bit more grounded and "indie," this recent masterpiece is a must-watch. It follows a grumpy teacher and a student stuck at a boarding school over the holidays. The New Year’s Eve scene, a small, melancholy party, is incredibly moving. It captures that quiet, reflective feeling of NYE that often gets lost in the noise of fireworks.
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa.