Whether you prefer to spend New Year’s Eve dressed to the nines and out on the town, or in your comfiest PJs at home, most of us can agree that New Year’s Day is a day of reset. This could mean any number of things, from vegging out to building your 2026 vision board. Might we suggest a way to do both simultaneously?
Why not draw inspiration for the new year from movies that connect with your resolutions? From feel-good films to informative thought-provokers, there’s something for everyone. Watch the ones that correspond with goals you’ve already made, or stream them all and see which ones speak to you most. Consider it a kind of brainstorming session … with snacks and cozy blankets.
If you’re feeling more practical or want to reserve January 2 for the how-to of your goals, these non-fiction watches will give you the information you need to stick with your resolutions. For now, sit back and let the vibes roll over you as you piece together your virtual vision board of New Year’s inspiration from this list of movies. Be your best self and have a movie marathon? You’re already winning at life.
New Year’s resolution: Try something new
This inspiring, heart-squeezing dramedy plays out against a backdrop of all the glitz and glamour you’d expect from a small-town Texas pageant, complete with a Parton-powered soundtrack. Willowdean “Will” Dickson (Danielle Macdonald) has never had much in common with her beauty queen momma, Rosie (Jennifer Aniston). Instead, she preferred the company of her late Aunt Lucy (Hilliary Begley), who was full of sage advice and love for Dolly Parton. So when Will discovers Aunt Lucy once had ambitions to join the Miss Teen Bluebonnet Pageant — the same pageant Rosie won back in the day and has helped organize ever since — she and her best friend, Ellen (Odeya Rush), sign up as a sort of protest. Unintentionally, they galvanize other outsider contestants, Hannah (Bex Taylor-Klaus) and Millie (Maddie Baillio), to follow suit. With Aunt Lucy’s spirit and a couple of knowledgeable drag queens to guide her, Will is on a path to impress everyone — but mostly herself.
New Year’s resolution: Finish a home project
If Christina Milian can renovate a whole hotel, then you can finally hang those pictures.
Gabriela Diaz (Milian) is having a rough time when her San Francisco design firm goes out of business the same week she breaks up with her noncommittal boyfriend, Dean (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman). So, when she enters a “Win an Inn” contest and actually wins, she figures, why not fly to the New Zealand countryside and give her life a little reboot? Unfortunately, the Bellbird Valley Farm does not look like its photos. And nobody said anything about the goat. Refusing to be deterred by its crumbling facade or unusual house guest, Gabriela commits to a complete eco-renovation. To that end, she’ll be working with restoration expert Jake Taylor (Adam Demos), a handsome Kiwi contractor who’s also a volunteer firefighter. But getting in the way of their big restoration plans is Charlotte (Anna Jullienne), the owner of the town’s only B&B, who wants the Bellbird for herself. Full of pretty spaces, pretty places, and pretty faces, this movie makes for a perfectly lovely New Year’s viewing.
New Year’s resolution: Get your dating life in order
If you’re open to downloading dating apps again, this film might help you pull the trigger. After a Christmas spent at the kids’ table, Sloane (Emma Roberts) is trying to convince her family (and herself) that she’s perfectly happy as a single woman. Not buying it, her Aunt Susan (Kristin Chenoweth) introduces her to the concept of a holidate: “You know, a date solely for the holiday. No commitment. At another Christmas miles away, Jackson (Luke Bracey) has just realized the girl he thought he’d been seeing casually has been taking their relationship quite seriously. Soon after, Sloane and Jackson meet, and the holidate concept comes up. After some hesitation, they strike a deal — starting on New Year’s Eve they’ll be each other’s holidates, aka platonic plus-ones for every holiday (even Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day). Will they make it through a whole year without catching feelings?
New Year’s resolution: Be more active
Looking for inspiration to step up your fitness game? Then hit the court with this sports drama starring Adam Sandler and produced by LeBron James. Stanley Sugerman (Sandler), a longtime international scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, has grown tired of life on the road and is looking forward to a new assistant coach role that’ll keep him home with his wife, Teresa (Queen Latifah), and daughter, Alex (Jordan Hull). But after butting heads with his new boss (Ben Foster), he’s sent off again with the task of finding basketball’s next superstar. Enter Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangómez), a Spanish big man who might have what it takes. Skillswise, Bo is ready. It’s his mental game that needs some work, as trash-talking rivals on the court easily rattle him. So Stanley takes it upon himself to coach Bo and prepare him for the NBA draft that will determine both of their futures. Basketball lovers will enjoy the movie’s many big-name cameos, but you don’t have to be a sports fanatic to find inspiration in Hustle’s hustle.
New Year’s resolution: Add some stamps to your passport
This comedy from producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay has plenty of laughs. Harper (Gillian Jacobs) mixes business with pleasure when she heads to Spain for a work meeting accompanied by her two hard-partying best friends, Nikki (Vanessa Bayer) and Leah (Phoebe Robinson). During their first night out in Barcelona, Harper meets Leo West (Richard Madden), a flirty and famous DJ with whom she shares an instant spark. Unfortunately, before they can explore their connection further, Leo’s off to Ibiza for his next gig. But then — plot twist — Harper’s boss calls to say the meeting time has moved, so she and the girls follow him to Ibiza. If you want something to spark your wanderlust (and actual lust), stop scrolling and start streaming.
New Year’s resolution: Learn more about history
While there are plenty of documentaries to learn from, Joy is a movie about an essential part of scientific history. Today, in vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a viable option for people having trouble conceiving, but in 1968 it was a little-known and underfunded part of the medical world. The film tells the true story of nurse Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie), who’s hired as a lab manager by scientist Dr. Robert Edwards (James Norton) at the University of Cambridge. Edwards is leading a study on fertilization, and he and Purdy are soon joined by obstetrician and surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy). As the team progresses in their research, they come under harsh scrutiny and are accused of playing God. Over the next decade, they have their work cut out for them as they perfect their procedures and endure criticism from the media and their loved ones.
New Year’s resolution: Make time for yourself
Sonny (Kevin Hart) and Huck (Mark Wahlberg) have spent every birthday together since they were 5 years old — that is, until a skydiving incident at Huck’s 29th scares Sonny away from attending another bash for the next 15 years. Nowadays, Sonny is a stay-at-home dad in suburban California living with his two kids and wife, Maya (Regina Hall). Meanwhile, Huck is still as single and chaos-prone as ever. Ahead of “the big 44,” Huck asks Sonny to reconsider attending this year’s birthday celebration. Initially, Sonny turns him down. He’s looking forward to some “me time” for the first time in years, since Maya and the kids will be off visiting Maya’s parents. Pretty soon, though, Sonny’s “me time” gets boring, and he decides to meet up with Huck. From there, things get... well, you’ll just have to see for yourself. Because, yes — blocking off your calendar to watch this movie counts as “me time” in our book.
New Year’s resolution: Spend more time with family
If you are searching for ways to spend more time with your family in the coming year, watching this together is a great way to start. Eighteen-year-old Katie Mitchell (voiced by Abbi Jacobson) has been accepted into the film school of her dreams in this animated film — but to get there, she has to survive a cross-country road trip with her technology-averse dad, Rick (Danny McBride); big-hearted mom, Linda (Maya Rudolph); dino-loving brother, Aaron (Mike Rianda); and scene-stealing dog, Monchi (Doug the Pug). Considering that Katie and her dad frequently butt heads, one might expect the trip to come with a few bumps — but then there’s also the minor issue of a robot apocalypse. When an AI virtual assistant known as PAL (Olivia Colman) learns her creator’s new line of robots will render her obsolete, she goes rogue and seizes control of the world’s technology. The Mitchells will have to get past their familial issues to save each other — and everyone else. Featuring an incredible cast (the stacked lineup also includes Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Eric Andre, Blake Griffin, and Conan O’Brien.
New Year’s resolution: Get in touch with your artistic side
Make this the year you dip your toes into whatever creative pursuit resonates with you the most. If you wish to paint, write, or take up music, a movie about the artistic process is sure to inspire. Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague is a love letter to a significant era in cinema history. It’s also a movie about a young filmmaker determined to create in entirely his own way. In 1959, 30-year-old Jean-Luc Godard (Guillaume Marbeck) is a film critic at Cahiers du Cinéma. He’s watched his friends become filmmakers as part of a growing avant-garde movement and is eager to show the world what he can do. He convinces producer Georges de Beauregard (Bruno Dreyfürst) to give him a small budget, casts Jean-Paul Belmondo (Aubry Dullin) and American actor Jean Seberg (Zoey Deutch) as the leads, and dives into what turns out to be a 23-day film shoot. Godard faces resistance from all sides for his unconventional filmmaking practices: writing the script on the fly, using a handheld camera, filming on location rather than on a set, and editing with frequent jump cuts. Breathless is considered the quintessential film of the French New Wave movement, and watching Godard’s process proves that art is all about staying true to yourself.
New Year’s resolution: Chase a life goal
Whatever you’re facing in the new year— new beginnings, challenging hurdles, that One Big Thing you just know you want to achieve — let a screening of NYAD encourage you to dive right in. This film zeroes in on a remarkable chapter in the life of athlete Diana Nyad (played by Annette Bening), who at the age of 60 sets out to complete a lifelong dream: to swim from Cuba to Florida, across more than 100 miles of open ocean, three decades after her first attempt failed. Determined to become the first person to complete the feat without a shark cage, Nyad embarks on a four-year journey with her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster) and a dedicated sailing team in her corner. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the inspiring story is a testament to setting your sights on a goal and running (or, in this case, swimming) straight toward it.
New Year’s resolution: Rock out at a concert
There’s nothing like live music, but this electrifying concert special is the next best thing.
Grammy-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo holds nothing back during her hometown performance in Los Angeles, and you have an up-close and personal view of all of it — not to mention backstage access to Rodrigo and her ultra-talented team. Whether you’re seeing the show for the first time or reliving an epic night, this watch is a blast. The global arena tour features hit after hit from Rodrigo’s debut album, SOUR, and her second release, GUTS. Expect singing, dancing, cheering, screaming, crying, laughing, and a surprise duet performance of “Hot to Go!” with Chappell Roan.
New Year’s resolution: Enforce better work-life boundaries
Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell) are two tired New York City assistants who are both at their wits’ end. So when Harper jokes that both of their bosses need to get laid — reasoning that if they were busy being in love, they’d have no time to overwork their assistants — it doesn’t take long for her and Charlie to turn quip into quest. They arrange a meet-cute for Harper’s boss, Kirsten (Lucy Liu), the icy editor-in-chief of an online sports journalism empire, and Charlie’s boss, Rick (Taye Diggs), a high-strung venture capitalist. But Harper and Charlie soon find that matchmaking is a full-time job, as their efforts are thwarted again and again. Even when Kirsten and Rick do start up a relationship, it’ll take all of Harper and Charlie’s best scheming to keep things running smoothly. And that means spending a lot of time together (hint, hint).
New Year’s resolution: Move on from a breakup
Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) and Nate (LaKeith Stanfield) were wildly and hopelessly in love for nine years... until they just weren’t anymore. Now, ahead of a cross-country move from New York to San Francisco for the music writing job of her dreams, Jenny is determined to close the book on her and Nate’s love story. Here to help are best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow), who agree to Jenny’s plan to get them all concert tickets to a pop-up concert called Neon Classic as a much-needed distraction and final farewell to her life in the city. But turns out these tickets are hard to come by and will take a whole day of hilarious adventuring to secure. With a gorgeous fall-in-NYC backdrop, clever writing, and A-plus acting across the board, Someone Great is an excellent way to spend your time. It also serves as a reminder that losing someone else can mean finding yourself.
New Year’s resolution: Pursue your dreams
Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and named one of the best films of 2021 by the American Film Institute, this semi-autobiographical musical dramedy tells the story of Jonathan Larson, the composer who would go on to change the world of musical theater with the smash hit Rent. Set in early ’90s New York City, Jon (Andrew Garfield, who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance) is a waiter slash struggling composer who’s prepping for a workshop of his latest musical, while also staring down the ticking clock of his approaching 30th birthday. While Jon dreams of Broadway, his dancer girlfriend, Susan (Alexandra Shipp), just dreams of stability. And Jon’s best friend, Michael (Robin de Jesús), has already left the theater world for a high-paying advertising career and urges Jon to do the same. As the workshop and his birthday draw closer, Jon hears a countdown in his head. Featuring a supremely talented cast (Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens, and Bradley Whitford), the film will leave you contemplating which big ambitions you want to chase in the new year.
New Year’s resolution: Boost your brain
If you’re looking to stay sharp and give your brain a workout, here’s an intricate mystery to chew on. In Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out mystery, the indomitable Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is presented with a perplexing new case. This time, it concerns a young priest, Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), who recently joined a small-town parish in upstate New York presided over by the iron-fisted Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). When Wicks dies in an alcove off the pulpit on Good Friday, the finger is pointed at Father Duplenticy. Local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) calls upon Blanc to help investigate the seemingly impossible crime. If Benoit Blanc finds the case difficult, your brain will undoubtedly be working hard.
New Year’s resolution: Reconnect with old friends
Despite Rebecca (Rachel Dratch) insisting she wants a low-key celebration for her 50th birthday, her friend Abby (Amy Poehler) plans an epic weekend getaway in California’s Napa Valley. The guest list includes Naomi (Maya Rudolph), Catherine (Ana Gasteyer), Val (Paula Pell), and Jenny (Emily Spivey), their longtime friends from days as waitresses at Antonio’s Pizzeria. Abby becomes obsessed with forcing everyone to adhere to a strict schedule, while her friends deal with their own issues under the surface. Astute observations about female friendships and growing older sit right alongside the over-the-top antics these veteran comedians pull off with ease.
