Hot Gallery: It’s the Smoochiest Night of the Year! Count Down to 2015 with These TV and Movie New Year’s Eve Kisses

When Harry Met Sally ... (1989)

In proving his theory that men and women can never really be friends because the sex part always gets in the way, Harry (Billy Crystal) mucks things up with friend-turned-more Sally (Meg Ryan). Until one New Year’s Eve, when he finally realizes, among other things, “I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.” They get married three months later.

Watch What Happens Live!: Andy’s New Year’s Party (2010)

Bravo reality guru/reunion-show mediator Andy Cohen toasted the New Year with the likes of NeNe Leakes, Lisa Vanderpump, and Kim Zolciak (who performed her song “Tardy for the Party”—personally, we prefer Jimmy-Fallon-as-Neil-Young’s version). But it was Real Housewives of Orange County überblond Tamra Barney who stole an awkward kiss from the party host.

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

There’s a kiss, and then there’s... the kiss. Of death. Which is just what Michael (Al Pacino) delivers to Fredo (John Cazale) at a New Year’s Eve celebration. His brother betrayed him and betrayed the family; it takes a while to play out, but Michael eventually returns the favor.

The X-Files, “Millennium” (1999)

They kissed! They finally really kissedl! Despite the FBI partners’ undeniable chemistry, it took seven seasons to happen. After a typically dark case involving necromancy and the Apocalypse, Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) welcome the New Year—and the new millennium—with a kiss. And the world doesn’t come to an end!

Holiday (1938)

It’s restrained attraction at its best: In this elegant 1938 classic, Johnny (Cary Grant) and Linda (Katharine Hepburn) dance, exchange loaded bons mots and share a chaste New Year’s kiss on the cheek that they want to be so much more. The desire and regret are palpable—and irresistible.

The O.C., “The Countdown” (2003)

“I love you.” Three little words, yet oh, so much drama. When Marissa (Mischa Barton) says them to Ryan (Ben McKenzie) for the first time, he responds with, uh... “Thank you”? Not good. But all is not lost, as Ryan swoops in at the last second on New Year’s Eve, steals Marissa from her uninspiring date, plants a kiss on her, and finally tells her that he loves her. Marissa’s response? You guessed it...

Strange Days (1995)

At the end of their virtual-reality crime fighting and the beginning of the new millennium, Lenny (Ralph Fiennes) and Mace (Angela Bassett) part ways with a friendly hug and a longing glance—until Lenny turns around, chases after Mace’s car, pulls her out, and gives her a good, hard, looong kiss.
Fun Fact: A sample of Angela Bassett as Mace was used for the title lyrics of Fatboy Slim’s hit “Right Here, Right Now”!

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (2010)

Jenny McCarthy was cohosting the perennial New Year’s Eve countdown show when she seemed to have smooched a random guy she’d found on the streets of New York—albeit one who was “totally hot.” She later revealed that he was, in fact, her boyfriend at the time, sports agent Paul Krepelka.

3rd Rock from the Sun, “Happy New Dick!” (1998)

How does a brilliant, overachieving alien professor celebrate the New Year? By berating himself for how little he’s accomplished, of course. Fortunately for Dick (John Lithgow), a snowy, romantic dance and kiss with Mary (Jane Curtin) redeems the year that’s passed and launches a happy new one.

Alice, “What’re You Doing New Year’s Eve?” (1978)

When “kiss my grits!” gal Flo (Polly Holliday) finds herself without a date on New Year’s Eve, Alice, Vera, Mel, and a dozen guys show up at the diner to celebrate with her. As the clock strikes midnight, the delighted Flo dashes from fella to fella to kiss them each in turn.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss

A whole movie about the pursuit of a New Year’s Eve kiss? Yup. Wilson (Scoot McNairy) puts out an ad on Craigslist for a last-minute date—and ends up with the quirky Vivian (Sara Simmonds). Hilarity, drama, and Los Angeles traffic ensue, and the result is a surprisingly sweet kiss in this indie gem.

All My Children (2003)

The eagerly anticipated and much-hyped first-ever lesbian kiss on a daytime soap—between Bianca (Eden Riegel) and Lena (Olga Sosnovska)—occurred months before. But the couple had been kept apart, this being the way of soaps, until they kissed again on New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve Live (2010)

Exhibiting her typical over-the-top antics (which we cannot get enough of), Kathy Griffin attempted to undress—and lick—her cohost Anderson Cooper during 2011's show. Griffin will once again be by Cooper’s side to ring in 2015. (We can’t wait to see what she has in store for Coop this time around!)

Friends, “The One with the Monkey” (1994)

Various combinations of the Friends friends locked lips over the show’s 10-year run. But it took a very special occasion—a New Year’s Eve when they all made a pact to be dateless—for Joey to plant one on Chandler.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

So it’s not technically a New Year’s kiss, but when Bridget (Renée Zellweger) and Mark (Colin Firth) finally lock lips for the first time—in the snow, on the street, with her wearing “genuinely tiny knickers” and no pants—the payoff is oh so good.