The selection of Christmas films is enormous, but what about New Year’s Eve films? Firecrackers who don’t feel like watching the umpteenth repetition of Dinner for One or the numerous New Year’s Eve shows on TV may be looking for cinematic alternatives to end the year.
If you also belong to this group of people, we have it right away two great streaming tips ready, which are currently available in the flat rate of Amazon Prime Video and which are both perfect for New Year’s Eve. We’re talking about the 80s romantic comedy Harry and Sally and the Swedish silent film The Wagoner of Death from 1921.
The combination of the two films may sound a bit strange at first. But we’ll tell you why you should get involved in this weird double feature on New Year’s Eve. With this wild journey through film history you can have the perfect cinematic start to 2025.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Harry and Sally: The RomCom classic is worth watching every time
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan embody the eponymous Harry and Sally shared history over a period of twelve years is told. Although they initially met several times by chance as strangers who couldn’t stand each other, a friendship soon developed. But will this also become love? And what would that mean for their relationship?
The film, directed by Rob Reiner (The Bullseye) and written by Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle), is a Classic romantic comedies. The clever dialogues and of course the fake orgasm scene have long been cult, even if Meg Ryan’s children are terribly ashamed of the said film moment today. Even after watching it several times, Harry and Sally don’t get bored.
The RomCom fits New Year’s Eve so well not only because the film’s finale takes place on the last day of the year, but also because of the story of the two title characters is told in retrospect with all its ups and downs. Similarly, many of us go inside on the last day of the year to reflect on the past twelve months.
Harry and Sally symbolizes the bitter and beautiful moments that a whole year often brings with it. And the film shows that despite all the regrets, it can still be worth feeling hope.
The Wagoner of Death has lost none of its impact even after over 100 years
Also available in the Amazon Prime Video streaming flat rate is the Swedish silent film The Driver of Death from 1921. At first glance, this may not have much in common with Harry and Sally, but in fact there is Parallels between both films.
It tells the story of the alcoholic David (director Victor Sjöström), who dies on New Year’s Eve and then receives a visit from the eponymous carter. As the last person to die in the old year, David is now supposed to take on his task: Collect the souls of all the dead for a yearin order to then transfer the function to the next person. First, however, the coachman lets the cold-hearted David travel through his sinful past, which evokes painful memories in him.
The film adaptation of Selma Lagerlöf’s novella of the same name was named the best Swedish film of all time in 2012. Directing legends like Ingmar Bergman and Stanley Kubrick were inspired by the silent film masterpiece that technical pioneering work in terms of double exposure and montage performed.
But the horror piece also impresses with its complex narrative and dense atmosphere, which still leaves a great impression even more than 100 years later. The Driver of Death is set on New Year’s Eve and, like Harry and Sally, inspires self-reflection, albeit with a dark rather than humorous undertone.
If you want to end the year on a somber note, then you should watch Harry and Sally first and then The Carter of Death. However, we recommend the reverse order.
What time do I have to start the New Year’s Eve movie marathon?
You can now stream the slightly different New Year’s Eve film marathon with Harry and Sally and The Driver of Death at the flat rate from Amazon Prime Video. By the way, if you want to finish the marathon in time for the turn of the year so that you can admire fireworks through the window glass, then you have to do it in 196 minutes Start watching 3 hours and 16 minutes beforehand – at 8:44 p.m.
*. If you purchase through these links or take out a subscription, we receive a commission. .