When to Press Play on 9 Movies to Watch Iconic Scenes at Midnight
While many people will watch the Times Square Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve, others will be watching movies when the clock strikes midnight. For a bit of drama to ring in the new year, you can time when you press play so that iconic scenes are on the screen at midnight. Here’s how to time out nine classic movies so that you celebrate the new year with their most famous moments.
Elphaba’s battle cry in ‘Wicked’
In Wicked, Elphaba sings “Defying Gravity,” the musical’s most famous song, at the climax. After learning the truth about the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) chooses to fight against him. The song has a triumphant battle cry that even those who haven’t seen the film have likely heard.
According to research from VegasInsider.com, this moment happens at the 2:30:19 point in the film, so viewers hoping to hear it at midnight should press play at 9:29:41 pm.
Jay Gatsby’s toast in ‘The Great Gatsby’
In Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 version of The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) raises a glass of champagne as he toasts the lavish party around him. The moment has become a popular GIF and has been used endlessly in memes.
To toast to the new year with Jay Gatsby, you should start the film at 11:29:57 pm.
Rocky reaching the top of the stairs in ‘Rocky’
In the 1976 film Rocky, boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) decides to fight Apollo Creed. This decision prompts a training montage, which has become one of the most iconic scenes in film history. At its conclusion, he climbs the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Rocky reaches the top of the stairs at the 1:29:18 mark, so viewers should start the movie at 10:30:42 pm.
The New Year’s Eve party in ‘When Harry Met Sally’
When Harry Met Sally concludes at a New Year’s Eve party. Sally (Meg Ryan) is about to leave when Harry (Billy Crystal) rushes in to declare his love for her. Fittingly, they kiss at midnight.
To watch the romantic moment at midnight, you should press play at 10:30:27 pm.
Harry and Voldemort’s final battle in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2’
After eight films of conflict, the Harry Potter series concludes with a final showdown between Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). They battle it out at Hogwarts.
Their showdown begins at 01:49:55, meaning that fans should press play at 10:10:05 pm to watch the scene at midnight.
‘The Winner Takes It All’ in ‘Mamma Mia!’
In Mamma Mia!, Donna (Meryl Streep) and Sam (Pierce Brosnan) begin to rekindle their romance after years apart. Ahead of her daughter Sophie’s (Amanda Seyfried) wedding, Donna addresses her fears about getting back together with Sam while singing ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All.”
The dramatic musical moment begins at 01:20:40, so viewers should start the movie at 10:39:20 pm to start the new year with angst and ABBA.
The Battle of Helm’s Deep in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’
In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Saruman’s (Christopher Lee) forces begin their assault on Helm’s Deep, kicking off a pivotal battle. Théoden (Bernard Hill), the King of Rohan, utters the iconic line “so it begins…”
For his words to also kick off the new year, viewers should press play on The Two Towers at 9:13:19 pm.
Neo flying in ‘The Matrix’
In the final scene of The Matrix, Neo (Keanu Reeves) speaks directly to the Matrix, vowing to show humanity a world of limitless possibilities. After he hangs up the phone, he triumphantly takes flight.
The scene happens at the 02:09:15 mark, so viewers should press play at 9:50:45 pm.
The building collapse in ‘Fight Club’
At the end of Fight Club, Marla (Helena Bonham Carter) and the unnamed narrator (Edward Norton) hold hands and watch as buildings in the skyline collapse. Throughout the iconic scene, Pixies’ song “Where Is My Mind” plays.
This is the film’s final moment, and viewers should press play at 10:35:00 pm to watch it at midnight.
