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New Year’s Eve is finally here, and there’s no better way to kick it off than to watch a feel-good movie with your loved ones. Entering 2025, you want to feel hopeful, warm, and inspired, so whether you intend to have some quiet time or a blast with your friends and family, a great movie can really elevate the experience.

Will Smith as Chris Gardner and Jaden Smith as Christopher Gardner Jr. sharing a laugh in the movie Pursuit of Happyness.

But it’s such a drag to go on Netflix and browse through thousands of options for God knows how long. So, save yourself some time and go through this curated list of movies that would be perfect to stream this New Year, trust us!

5Klaus: a heartwarming animation for the holidays

Klausis a stunning animated film that chronicles the origins of Santa Claus. Even though Christmas is gone, the spirit of the festival never truly leaves until you take the lights and decorations off in January. If you want a wholesome experience by the year’s end, you’ll loveKlausfor its comedy, hearty humor, and beautiful visuals.

In the movie, we follow Jesper, a young man who’s kind of a brat, and he is sent to a remote town as a punishment. There, he becomes a friend of Klaus, a recluse who keeps to himself and builds toys in his workshop. They get along and start a gift-giving tradition that eventually leads to our favorite Santa Claus legend.

Jesper, holding his cap, standing amidst snow.

The reason that we’ve pickedKlausfor this list is its message of kindness and community. Amidst all the chaos of the holiday season, it’s important that we’re always reminded of just how powerful generosity and simple gestures can be.

4It’s a Wonderful Life: a timeless classic

If you plan to watch a film with the elder members of your family, especially your grandfather or grandmother, they would be more than happy to see you put onIt’s a Wonderful Life. The Frank Capra directorial has been one of the most watched movies during New Year’s Eve for decades now. It has a sweet yet effective story about George Bailey, a man who gives up on his dream to help his small town.

He faces a financial collapse and everything he’s ever built is threatened, so George begins to consider suicide. But a guardian angel assigned to the virtuous man shows him what the world would be like if he never existed. George is touched by the impact of his kindness, as we see just how different everything would’ve been without his kind actions.

Men liftin up a woman and celebrating

It’s a Wonderful Lifeis a great choice for New Year because it has a universal message of hope, self-worth, and how important community is. It truly reminds us to step back and see how we have shaped the lives of people around us and impacted them in positive ways.

3The Intouchables: a heartfelt friendship

The Intouchablesis the best thing to watch if you want to feel inspired as it is based on the true story of Philippe, an aristocrat who has an accident while paragliding and becomes a quadriplegic. To meet his own needs and have someone take care of him, he hires Driss, who’s a young man from a rough neighborhood.

Soon, they form this unlikely friendship, even when their worlds are poles apart. The beauty of this film lies in the way they bring two very different worlds together. It teaches us that when it comes to human connections, boundaries cease to exist.

François Cluzet in a wheelchair after the accident.

The chemistry between François Cluzet and Omar Sy is incredible, and the film’s uplifting message about the power of friendship and laughter is perfect for the New Year. Watching these characters break down barriers and find joy in the simplest things serves as a reminder of the transformative power of positivity, something we can all carry with us into the next year.

2The Pursuit of Happyness: hope and resilience

If 2024 was tough on you, and you need that jolt of motivation to keep going, there’s no better movie thanThe Pursuit of Happyness. It starsWill Smithwho gave a career-defining performance as Chris Gardner. He plays a struggling homeless salesman who is trying his best to provide for his son.

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Along the way, Chris comes across many setbacks but he finds the strength in his child. The rawness of the film will move you to tears, and you’ll learn the importance of having hope in the face of adversity. Moreover, the bond between father and son feels so heartfelt, mainly due to their performances. The film’s final moments will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take on whatever the New Year throws your way.

1The Peanut Butter Falcon: a heartwarming adventure of friendship

The Peanut Butter Falconis a one-of-a-kind film, and it tells the story of Zak, who’s a young man with Down Syndrome. He escapes from a nursing home because he wants to chase his dream of getting into professional wrestling. Along the way, he meets Tyler, who’s a man on the run and the duo form an unlikely friendship.

The film is such a magnificent exploration of friendship, independence, and what it means to truly go after one’s dreams.The Peanut Butter Falconpreaches that we must live our lives to the fullest, overcome obstacles, and never give up on our dreams, no matter what our circumstances are.

Will and Jaden Smith talking to each other in The Pursuit of Happyness

You’ll also get to see some great performances by Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf, andDakota Johnson. The way their characters come together and add layers of depth to the story makes you connect with their aspirations and missions. It’s moving to watch Zak’s journey and the way he believes in himself. Watching this would undoubtedly be an uplifting start to 2025, and an important reminder of why you should do things that make you happy, even when life gets tough.

As we enter the new year together, let’s aspire to say goodbye to 2024 by watching something that ignites hope and joy within us. Each of these movies will take you on a beautiful journey of emotional triumphs. Pick what resonates the most with you, grab your popcorn, and settle in!

Sonika Kamble

Articles Published :1196

Sonika Kamble is an entertainment writer at Fandomwire, covering everything from timeless classics to newly released movies. With over 1000+ articles published, she delves into breakdowns, think pieces, speculations, and more.She enjoys connecting the dots and covering newfound angles about characters, scenes, and themes from movies directed by Scorsese, Fincher, Tarantino, Linklater, and other exceptional filmmakers.

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