The year-end and New Year holiday season is a special time to enjoy moments with family and friends, as well as quiet time alone to unwind and reflect. In this article, we’ve carefully curated a selection of movies and international TV series perfect for the holidays—from family-friendly films everyone can enjoy together, to thoughtful, adult-oriented movies best savored solo, and binge-worthy series you can finish in no time.
This guide focuses on major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+. If you’re unsure what to watch during the New Year holidays, we hope this list helps you find the perfect title for your mood and schedule.
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🎬📺 Movies and International TV Series to Watch Over the Holidays｜List of Titles
| Category | Title | Format | streaming service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family-friendly | How to Train Your Dragon | movie | Netflix |
| Family-friendly | Paddington in Peru | movie | Amazon Prime Video |
| Family-friendly | The Garfield Movie | movie | Amazon Prime Video |
| Family-friendly | In Your Dreams | movie | Netflix |
| Family-friendly | The Twits | movie | Netflix |
| Family-friendly | A Minecraft Movie | movie | U-NEXT |
| For adults | Forrest Gump | movie | ※Streaming services may vary by season |
| For adults | Palmer | movie | Apple TV+ |
| For adults | Lion | movie | ※Streaming services may vary by season |
| Binge-watching dramas | Atypical | Drama | Netflix |
| Binge-watching dramas | Shrinking | Drama | Apple TV+ |
| Binge-watching dramas | Surely Tomorrow | Drama | Amazon Prime Video |
| Binge-watching dramas | Maxton Hall | Drama | Amazon Prime Video |
| Binge-watching dramas | Lock & Key | Drama | Netflix |
| Binge-watching dramas | Russian Doll | Drama | Netflix |
※Streaming services are based on information available at the time of publication. Streaming availability may change during the year-end and New Year holidays, so please check the latest information with each service.
📽️Movies to Watch Over the New Year Holidays
Family-Friendly Movies Everyone Can Enjoy Over the Holidays
🎬 How to Train Your Dragon
🐉A classic family anime depicting adventure and growth
A timeless masterpiece depicting the friendship between a dragon and a boy, warming the heart no matter how many times you watch it. Its appealing charm lies in its brisk pace and the ease with which both children and adults can connect emotionally.
Recommended for days like this
- A night the whole family can enjoy together
- I want to enjoy the balance of adventure and emotion.
▶︎Watch "How to Train Your Dragon" on U-NEXT
🎬 Paddington in Peru
🧸Wrapped in Kindness: A Holiday Season Staple
The Paddington series is packed with humor and kindness. It's a film that can be enjoyed by all ages and leaves you feeling warm inside after watching.
Recommended for days like this
- A relaxing evening at my parents' house
- When I want to choose a movie that will make me smile
▶︎Watch on Prime Video
Watch movies, TV shows, live TV, and sports with [Amazon Prime Video]
🎬 The Garfield Movie
🐱Movies you can enjoy without thinking, perfect for watching while doing other things
A comedy starring Garfield, the world's most famous lazy cat. Its charm lies in its lightheartedness—you can watch it while eating or chatting.
Recommended for days like this
- While having a lively time with the family
- When I want to watch something lighthearted and funny
▶︎Watch on Prime Video
Watch movies, TV shows, live TV, and sports with [Amazon Prime Video]
🎬 In Your Dreams
🌈 On days when you want to switch things up with fantasy
A fantasy film brimming with imagination, set in the world of dreams. Step away from reality and savor the extraordinary atmosphere perfect for the year-end and New Year holidays.
Recommended for days like this
- I like fantasy.
- A day off to switch gears
▶︎Watch "In Your Dreams" on Netflix
🎬 The Twits
😈 A bit edgy, a family movie adults can enjoy too
A darkly humorous work based on Roald Dahl's original story. Though aimed at children, it contains plenty of scenes that will make adults chuckle.
Recommended for days like this
- When you're tired of ordinary family movies
- I want to see something a little different.
▶︎Watch "The Twits" on Netflix
🎬 A Minecraft Movie
⛏Kids' favorite! The game world comes to life on the big screen
A live-action movie recreating the world of the wildly popular game "Minecraft." You can enjoy it even if you don't know the game, but knowing it will definitely make it even more exciting!
Recommended for days like this
- I want to choose movies with my child in mind.
- Holidays where I want to prioritize that feeling of excitement
▶︎Watch on Prime Video
Watch movies, TV shows, live TV, and sports with [Amazon Prime Video]
Movies for Adults to Watch Alone During the New Year Holidays
🎬 Forrest Gump
🌱A masterpiece that makes you want to look back on your life
This film teaches us how precious the accumulation of everyday life truly is. It's the perfect movie for the year-end and New Year season, a time for reflection.
Recommended for days like this
- I want to quietly engage with the film.
- I want to watch a timeless masterpiece that will stay with me forever.
Watch "Forrest Gump" at ▶︎
Netflix／/U-NEXT／/Hulu／/Amazon Prime Video
🎬 Palmer
🕊 A story of rebirth that quietly touches the heart
Recommended for days like this
- I want to watch it alone and concentrate.
- A night to calm my mind
🎬 Lion
🧭 Unparalleled immersion. A moving film that leaves you speechless after watching.
Based on a true story, this is a tale about family and memory. Quiet yet intensely resonant, it's a film that deeply strikes a chord during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Recommended for days like this
- I want to fully immerse myself in a movie
- When I want to cherish my alone time
▶︎Watch "Lion"
U-NEXT／/Amazon Prime Video
📺 Foreign TV Shows to Watch Over the Holidays
Overseas Dramas to Binge-Watch Over the New Year Holidays
📺 Atypical
🧩Heartwarming, gentle binge-worthy dramas
A heartwarming drama depicting the daily life of Sam, a high school student with autism spectrum disorder, and his family. Sam's unwavering sincerity and the interactions with his family and friends who support him in various ways will make you chuckle and feel comforted.
Recommended for days like this
- When you're feeling a little emotionally drained
- I want to watch a heartwarming movie that isn't too heavy.
📺 Shrinking
💬 A drama for adults that makes you laugh and feel a little better
A comedy-drama depicting an unconventional therapist and the people around them. Its appeal lies in the lively pace of the dialogue and the ability to watch it with a relaxed mindset.
Season 3 will begin streaming on Apple TV+ on January 28, 2026.
Recommended for days like this
- I want to enjoy it without overthinking.
- A day off to reset my feelings
▶︎Watch "Shrinking" on Apple TV+
📺 Surely Tomorrow
💙A bittersweet, quiet reunion romance for adults
A story about reuniting in your late thirties with your first love, whom you parted ways with in your twenties—now as a journalist and the wife of someone embroiled in a scandal. This Korean romance, which delicately portrays emotional fluctuations and moments of silence, is perfect for a leisurely viewing over the New Year holidays.
Recommended for days like this
- When I want to watch a drama quietly by myself at night
- I like adult romance
▶︎Watch on Prime Video
Watch movies, TV shows, live TV, and sports with [Amazon Prime Video]
📺 Maxton Hall
💙 A青春 romance drama where heart-fluttering moments and inner conflict collide
A romantic drama set at a prestigious school, depicting the encounters and growth of young people from different backgrounds. Its brisk pace makes it easy to binge-watch, perfect for light viewing over the New Year holidays.
Recommended for days like this
- When you want a little thrill
- Looking for a drama I can breeze through
▶︎Watch on Prime Video
Watch movies, TV shows, live TV, and sports with [Amazon Prime Video]
📺 Locke & Key
🔑 A Key-Centric Mystery Fantasy × Mystery
A fantasy drama depicting mysteries surrounding a mysterious key and a mansion. The key the children found holds all sorts of magic, and before you know it, you'll be binge-watching this captivating story (lol).
Recommended for days like this
- I want to get away from reality for a little while.
- Looking for something the whole family can enjoy
▶︎Watch "Lock & Key" on Netflix
📺 Russian Doll
⏳Thoughts Run Wild: Adult Sci-Fi Drama
A sci-fi black comedy depicting a protagonist who endlessly repeats the same day. Though a short season, it's densely packed and perfect for a late-night marathon.
Recommended for days like this
- I want to watch while thinking
- I like works with a bit of quirkiness.
▶︎Watch "Russian Doll" on Netflix
Summary｜During the year-end and New Year holidays, make sure to cherish your "time to watch" as well.
The year-end and New Year season is a special time to step away from the hustle and bustle and reclaim "time for yourself" and "time with loved ones."
This article features a carefully curated selection of movies and dramas perfect for the year-end and New Year holidays—from family-friendly films everyone can enjoy together, to sophisticated adult-oriented works best savored alone, and even binge-worthy foreign dramas ideal for quick viewing.
Whether you're looking for lighthearted laughs, timeless classics that linger in your heart, or gripping dramas you can't stop watching, our lineup lets you choose based on your mood and how you want to spend your time. As we wrap up this year and welcome the new one, find your favorite film and enjoy some relaxing time.
Related Articles :
- 15 Must-See ”Adult Films” for the New Year Holidays｜Quiet Masterpieces to Immerse Yourself in Life, Love, and Afterglow
- 2025 Overseas Drama Rankings TOP 10｜This Year's Most Talked-About Shows
- 2025 Movie Rankings: TOP 10 Best Films of the Year
- 【2025 Edition】12 Movies to Watch This Winter｜Heartwarming Classics and New Releases
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"How to Train Your Dragon" © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. "Paddington: The Secret of the Lost Golden Land" © 2024 STUDIOCANAL FILMS LTD. – KINOSHITA GROUP CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. "Garfield" © 2024 Project G Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved. "In Your Dreams: If Wishes Could Come True," "The Twits," "Unique Life," "Lock & Key," "Russian Doll: The Mystery of the Time Loop" © Netflix, Inc. "Minecraft: The Movie" ©2025 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. "Forrest Gump" TM & COPYRIGHT (c) 2021 BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "Palmer," "Shrinking" © 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. "LION" ©2016 Long Way Home Holdings Pty Ltd and Screen Australia "Tomorrow Will Surely Come" © SLL Joongang Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. "Maxon Hall" © 1996-2025 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates
※The information on this page is current as of December 2025. Please check the official website for the latest distribution status.
