The Most Iconic New Year’s Eve Scenes from Classic Movies
As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the anticipation of a new year is palpable. The New Year’s holiday is a special time of year that brings with it a sense of hope, renewal, and joy. From the traditional countdown to the midnight fireworks, there is something magical about the anticipation that comes with the start of a new year. It can be spent with family, friends, that special someone, or hundreds or thousands of strangers, and all of us are experiencing the same feeling of looking back on the past year and looking forward to the future.
It’s no wonder that the emotions of the collective celebration, reflection, and anticipation have been captured in movies, and the week leading up to New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to snuggle up on the couch and watch some of your favorite flicks. There is no better way to take on the start of a new year and get in the mood to celebrate than by watching some classic films with our favorite iconic New Year’s Eve scenes. From romantic moments to comedic ones, and from tragic to uplifting, these classic movie scenes are sure to get you in the spirit of the new year.
Read More »When Harry Met Sally (1989)
The iconic New Year’s Eve scene in the classic romantic comedy movie When Harry Met Sally is one of the most recognized and beloved scenes in all of film. The scene starts with Harry realizing that he is in love with Sally, so he races through the street of New York to find her at a crowded party at midnight on New Year’s Eve and confesses that he “came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” They share a passionate kiss as the clock strikes 12. This romantic moment is then followed by a montage of their relationship throughout the years, showing how their friendship blossomed into love. This iconic New Year’s Eve scene captures the spirit of the holiday and is a reminder of how even the most unlikely of couples can find love.
Watch the iconic New Year’s Eve scene from When Harry Met Sally.
New Year’s Eve (2011)
As the title suggests, this movie is set on New Year’s Eve and features a star-studded cast. This romantic comedy follows the intertwining stories of multiple characters as they navigate their way through the night’s events leading up to midnight. The movie culminates in an epic New Year’s Eve scene that features all of the main characters meeting up at Times Square and sharing a group hug as they watch the ball drop and celebrate the start of a new year. The group is united not only by their mutual love for one another but also by their shared hope and excitement for the future, making this scene a feel-good moment that captures the joy of the holiday.
Watch the memorable “Auld Lang Syne” scene from New Year’s Eve.
The Apartment (1960)
The Apartment is a classic 1960 romantic comedy that features another classic New Year’s Eve scene. Jack Lemmon stars as an office worker who allows his bosses to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. On New Year’s Eve, Lemmon’s character is alone in his apartment as he reflects on his life, when Shirley MacLaine’s character, who Lemmon has a crush on, unexpectedly shows up at his door. The two share a tender moment as they ring in the New Year together, setting the stage for the rest of the movie. The New Year’s Eve scene in The Apartment is both heartwarming and bittersweet, perfectly encapsulating the film’s themes of loneliness and the hope for a better future.
Watch the classic New Year’s Eve scene from The Apartment.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
“I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart.” One of the more chilling New Year’s Eve scenes that ever made it to screen, the Godfather Part II’s infamous New Year’s Eve scene is a stark reminder of the consequences of betraying a family. In this iconic scene, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) confronts his brother Fredo (John Cazale), who had betrayed him and is now paying the ultimate price. The intensity of this moment is heightened by the fact that it is set during a family New Year’s Eve celebration, making the scene all the more heartbreaking.
Watch the infamous New Year’s Eve scene from The Godfather Part II.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Continuing with another dark yet iconic New Year’s scene in cinema history, the New Year’s Eve scene in Boogie Nights follows the downward spiral of Little Bill (William H. Macy) as his marriage disintegrates due to his infidelity. Little Bill is left alone at a New Year’s Eve party, and the camera slowly pans out as he reflects on how his life has changed. Throughout this scene, there are several powerful contrasts between the festive atmosphere of the party and Little Bill’s increasing despair—and then culminating in a final passionate murder-suicide just as the clock strikes 12:00 AM, making this a hard-to-forget but classic New Year’s Eve movie moment.
Watch the powerful New Year’s Eve scene from Boogie Nights.
The Holiday (2006)
Shifting back to the cozy romantic comedy, The Holiday features yet another festive and fun New Year’s Eve scene. This movie follows two women—Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz)—who swap homes for the holidays, leading to a series of romantic misadventures as they both find love in unexpected places.
Watch the festive New Year’s Eve scene from The Holiday.
Sleepless In Seattle (1993)
The iconic New Year’s Eve scene in Sleepless in Seattle is perhaps one of the most iconic and romantic scenes in all of film. The scene starts with protagonist Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) standing alone on the observation deck of the Empire State Building, surrounded by couples counting down to midnight. His son Jonah then calls him from Seattle to tell him that he has found true love for his father – a woman he has never met. As the clock strikes midnight, Sam realizes that true love can be found anywhere and sends a message of hope to his new love interest. This New Year’s Eve scene is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face, as it reminds us all of the power of love and how it can bring us together.
Watch the heartwarming climax from Sleepless in Seattle.
Forrest Gump (1994)
There are a number of memorable scenes from Forrest Gump, and the New Year’s Eve sequence is one of them. Forrest (Tom Hanks) and his former superior officer in Vietnam, Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise), travel to New York City on New Year’s Eve. At New Year’s party, Forrest reveals to Lt. Dan that he is going to buy a shrimping boat, and Lt. Dan half-jokingly blurts that if Forrest ever gets into the shrimping business, then Lt. Dan will be his first mate. It’s a bittersweet moment but it ultimately solidifies a long friendship between these two characters. The sequence then transitions to Jenny (Robin Wright) whose series of misfortunes lead her to leave the abusive man in her life.
Watch the bittersweet New Year’s Eve scene from Forrest Gump.
A Lot Like Love (2005)
Speaking of bittersweet, the New Year’s Eve scene in A Lot Like Love is a memorable one because it marks the moment when two of the protagonists, Oliver (Ashton Kutcher) and Emily (Amanda Peet), meet at the same party Emily’s ex is attending. When she catches her former beaux kissing another woman, she is devastated. But Oliver is there to make her feel better. It’s a flirty and fun moment that makes the characters that much more endearing.
Check out the flirty New Year’s Eve scene from A Lot Like Love.
Holiday Inn (1942)
In this classic holiday movie, Bing Crosby sings “Let’s Start the New Year Right” as the clock strikes midnight, ushering in the new year. The scene is filled with joy and excitement as everyone celebrates the start of a new year. The jubilant singing and dancing of the cast make for a memorable moment in the film. The song and the scene have been used in numerous films and TV shows, making it an enduring classic. The scene is an uplifting and heartwarming way to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one.
Watch Bing Crosby ring in the New Year in Holiday Inn.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
In this classic New Year’s Eve movie scene, Mark (Colin Firth) is seemingly off to the United States but returns to Bridget (Renee Zellweger) and ultimately chooses to stay with her. It’s a romantic moment that surprisingly turns on its head when Mark gets a peak at Bridget’s diary and reads all of the not-so-nice things she had to say about him before their relationship turned romantic. Bridget races out into the snow to chase him down and apologize—in her pajamas. It culminates in a romantic New Year’s eve kiss as the snow falls all around them.
Here are the astrological energies for the long Christmas holiday weekend. Kick back and enjoy the company of others as we wrap up 2022.
Watch Mark’s romantic New Year’s Eve scene from Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Ring in the New Year with the Classic New Year’s Eve Movie Scenes
Moviegoers have been ringing in the new year with these classic New Year’s Eve movie scenes for decades. Whether it’s a romantic kiss, a heartwarming moment between friends, a bittersweet exchange, or a total tragedy, these moments are sure to delight and awe and remind you of the power of this annual climactic moment. So go ahead and grab some popcorn, put on your favorite movie, and watch one of these classic New Year’s eve movie scenes and get ready to start the new year off right.
