NEW Year’s Day is often celebrated outdoors as a continuation of the Christmas shopping frenzy. Some want it grand, while others prefer to spend it quietly with their family. However you choose to celebrate, the first day of 2025 can be enjoyed right from your couch or bed, simply watching movies.  

Welcoming the new year doesn’t have to be expensive to set the tone for the months ahead. If you’re looking for a calm yet meaningful start, here are seven films to binge-watch to savor the first day of the year—and, unfortunately, the final day of the holiday season.

Holidate 

The film chronicles the journey of two strangers who, tired of spending holidays alone, agree to be each other’s platonic dates for every celebration throughout the year. However, their lighthearted arrangement takes an unexpected turn when real feelings start to blossom.

Tick, Tick… Boom!

Inspired by the autobiographical musical by playwright Jonathan Larson, this story follows an aspiring composer in New York City as he grapples with self-doubt, questioning his career choices while balancing the pressures of love and friendship.

About a boy

This comedy-drama stars Hugh Grant as Will, a wealthy, carefree Londoner in his thirties who, in pursuit of single women, pretends to be a single father and starts attending parenting support groups. Through one of these encounters, he meets Marcus, an awkward 12-year-old struggling with school and family issues. As their unlikely friendship develops, Will helps Marcus navigate social challenges, while Marcus, in turn, teaches Will the value of responsibility and emotional maturity.

The Holdovers

Set at a New England prep school during Christmas break, the story follows a gruff and cantankerous instructor tasked with supervising a small group of students who have nowhere else to go. Amid the quiet of the empty campus, he unexpectedly forms a bond with a sharp-witted yet troubled student and the school’s head cook, a grieving mother coping with the loss of her son in the Vietnam War.

Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne 

Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne is a 2021 animated special and the 46th installment in the Peanuts series. When Lucy’s grandmother cancels her Christmas visit, Lucy decides to throw a New Year’s Eve party to lift her spirits, enlisting Charlie Brown’s help in exchange for assisting him with a resolution. Meanwhile, Snoopy’s siblings visit for the holidays, and Spike struggles to bring them together for a family photo. As Charlie Brown reflects on his unmet resolutions, Lucy shows a more vulnerable side, offering a heartfelt exploration of growth, friendship, and holiday cheer.

About Time

When Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) turns 21, he learns an extraordinary family secret from his father (Bill Nighy): the men in their family can travel through time. Determined to use this gift to improve his life, Tim sets out to win the heart of Mary (Rachel McAdams). With time-travel and a touch of cleverness, he succeeds, but soon discovers that even with his unique ability, he can’t escape the challenges and heartbreaks of ordinary life.

New Year’s Eve

Set against the backdrop of New Year’s Eve in New York City, this ensemble romantic drama weaves together stories of love, hope, and second chances. A rock star (Jon Bon Jovi) clashes with his ex-lover (Katherine Heigl) at a glamorous party, a singer (Lea Michele) gets stuck in an elevator with a cynical stranger (Ashton Kutcher) on her way to a performance, and a devoted nurse (Halle Berry) comforts a dying patient (Robert De Niro) determined to witness the Times Square ball drop one final time.