As the year winds down, spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s getting cozy and settling in for some holiday-ish films. These movies give you an excuse to snuggle up in pajamas and soak in your holiday decorations before the season fades away. They’re just the thing to bridge the gap between holiday celebrations and the promise of a fresh start.
Shutterstock: Marian WeyoLittle Women (2019)
The March sisters wish it were Christmas or New Year’s every day — and who doesn’t? Greta Gerwig’s lovely adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel is full of holiday cheer and family gatherings. Its timeless story of sisterly bonds and struggles feels even more poignant this time of year, making it a cozy comfort movie for those days between December 25 and January 1.
Where To Stream: Hulu
The Holdovers (2023)
A much-disliked prep school teacher and his abandoned student connect and have a makeshift family holiday with the school’s grieving head cook when they all find themselves on campus for Christmas break. What starts as a trying relationship turns into a meaningful bond. They even ring in the New Year together with a mostly low-key celebration, though there may be some indoor fireworks …
Where To Stream: Prime Video
Bachelor Mother (1939)
A single salesgirl finds herself in the middle of a mix-up when she’s mistakenly believed to be the mother of an abandoned baby. This romantic comedy unfolds against the hustle and bustle of a department store at Christmastime. Naturally, the romance dials up on New Year’s Eve. The Technicolor movie musical remake “Bundle of Joy” (1956) starring Debbie Reynolds is also a festive watch.
Where To Stream: Tubi and Prime Video
After the Thin Man (1936)
Detective Nick Charles and his wife Nora have their New Year’s Eve turned upside down by a murder mystery. The case, however, is more of a convenient plot device than the star of the show. Instead, the witty banter and stylish lifestyle of the detective and his socialite wife are the main attractions. Haven’t seen “The Thin Man” (1934)? Start with that Christmassy mystery and make it a double feature.
Where To Stream: Prime Video
The Apartment (1960)
Ring out the old year, ring in the new with this Billy Wilder classic. Ring a ding ding. With a standout New Year’s Eve sequence, this bittersweet romantic dramedy captures the loneliness and hope that can come with turning the calendar to a new year. It’s about an insurance clerk who lends his apartment to his bosses for their extramarital affairs, only to become caught up in one of the relationships himself.
Where To Stream: Prime Video
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)
Margaret’s family doesn’t celebrate religious holidays, but her mom does send out New Year’s cards. In the film’s winter portion, their house stands out as the lonely one on the block, surrounded by homes decked out for Christmas and Hanukkah. As Margaret tries to figure out who she is, she explores faith and identity, attending a Christmas Eve service as part of her ongoing religious exploration.
Where To Stream: Starz
Holiday (1938)
Toast the New Year with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in this sparkling romantic comedy. It begins when a socialite brings home her fiancé for Christmas. As he gets to know her family — including her black sheep sister — he starts to see that he and his fiancé want very different things out of life. The film builds toward a New Year’s Eve party full of realizations and romantic sparks.
Where To Stream: Prime Video
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Spanning the week between Christmas and New Year’s, this romantic comedy is about the complications that ensue when a lonely transit worker saves the life of one of her regulars — a handsome businessman. At the hospital, she’s mistaken for his fiancé and embraced by his family. She doesn’t know how to untangle the misunderstanding while he’s in a coma, especially as she falls in love with his family.
Where To Stream: Disney+
An American in Paris (1951)
Among the most extravagant New Year’s Eve parties ever captured on film is the black-and-white ball in this classic Vincente Minnelli movie musical. Filmed in glorious Technicolor, the artsy ball sets a high bar for cinematic New Year’s Eve bashes. Believe it or not, the big party isn’t even the grandest sequence in the movie — that distinction belongs to Gene Kelly’s 17-minute dream ballet that concludes the film.
Where To Stream: Prime Video
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
If you’ve ever wondered what “Auld Lang Syne” means by “Should old acquaintance be forgot”, you’re in good company with Harry. Following the ups and downs of Harry and Sally’s friendship, this classic romantic comedy comes to a head on New Year’s Eve. Packed with Nora Ephron’s signature witty dialogue, the film’s observations on love and friendship feel just right this time of year.
Where To Stream: Pluto TV and Prime Video
A Cinematic Countdown to the New Year
It’s that time of year when you lose track of what day it is. Why not embrace the in-between with some holiday-ish movies? These handpicked films are the perfect way to unwind after the busy lead-up to Christmas. They’re all about connections and new beginnings, reminding us why the holidays are so meaningful. So, grab your coziest blanket and let these stories carry you through the final days of the holiday season.
