New Year's Eve is fast approaching. But I, like many movie lovers, would rather curl up on the couch and watch a movie than go out and party like it's going out of style. I mean, 2016 has been such a glorious mess thus far — do you really want to tempt fate by going out on its last night? If the answer is no, like it is for me, then you're going to need some films to watch instead when the ball drops, and these 11 New Year's Eve movies streaming on Netflix will do the trick just fine.
A bit of a disclaimer before you go down the list: New Year's Eve movies tend to be of two kinds. Either they are heartbreaking reflections on life and the years past and ahead, or they are wild and a bit crazy. And, in general, New Year's Eve movies tend to be few and far between. It's rare that a film focuses entirely on the holiday, and so you must settle for movies that deal with end-of-year themes or feature a particularly memorable New Year's Eve scene to fulfill the desire for a holiday-centric movie. You can decide if these 11 New Year's Eve movies streaming on Netflix fit the bill.
1. A Long Way Down
A group of strangers become family when they meet on New Year's Eve. The twist? They meet on a rooftop where they are each ready to kill themselves. A Long Way Down isn't the mindless fun we tend to associate with NYE, but it's unique, and that's not easy.
2. Fruitvale Station
Calling Fruitvale Station a New Year's Eve movie is kind of like calling Titanic a Christmas movie, or Jaws a 4th of July movie. It's accurate, but also a bit misleading. Fruitvale Station, a movie about the life and death of Oscar Grant, an unarmed black man who was shot and killed by police in the early hours of New Year's Day in 2009. The entire film takes place over the course of one day, and it will certain ensure that you never think of NYE the same way again.
3. 54
If you want to watch a movie this New Year's Eve, but also kind of want to go out and party, compromise by watching 54, a movie about a night club full of drugs, debauchery, and, yes, a NYE party.
4. Sunset Boulevard
New Year's Eve plays a big role in the classic Sunset Boulevard, despite the fact that it's not really a New Year's Eve movie. Still, the film noir drama is more than worthy of a New Year's Eve watch.
5. Holidays
A little horror for your journey into 2017. Holidays is a dark comedy/horror film from director Kevin Smith that matches each major holiday with a scream-worthy story.
6. Rent
Look back at the year with Rent, the musical movie that should depress you and inspire you at the same time. (Seriously, don't forget the tissues.)
7. An Affair To Remember
An Affair to Remember is probably one of the best Christmas/New Year's Eve romances ever created. Watch it, and you'll believe that something good can actually come from New Year's Eve.
8. Under The Tuscan Sun
Under the Tuscan Sun is the pick-me-up you need at the end of this long year. Get inspired to reinvent yourself come 2017 — or at least, get inspired to go to Italy.
9. Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump does feature a New Year's Eve party and, as it takes place over a lifetime, is all about looking back at your life, or your year.
10. Serendipity
Serendipity is more of a Christmas movie than a New Year's Eve movie, but the themes of love at first sight and fate are pretty solid New Year's Eve themes, if you ask me.
11. Boyhood
Passage of time got you down this New Year's Eve? Boyhood will either make your existential crisis worse, or make you appreciate the undeniable truth that time moves forward whether you like it or not.
This New Year's Eve, I'm going to wish for more New Year's Eve movies. (That's how NYE works, right?)
