Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- exuberant
- witty
- sentimental
- bollywood movie night
- dance film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as a lavish, star-powered Bollywood entertainer whose dance spectacle and comic energy were undermined by a weak, overlong script.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Charlie’s team enters a dance competition because it provides access and cover for their diamond robbery and revenge plan.
The film builds its identity around elaborate dance numbers, ensemble comedy, action set pieces, and Shah Rukh Khan’s star persona.
Charlie recruits apparent losers including Nandu, Jag, Tammy, and Rohan, turning their weaknesses into cooperative strengths.
The diamonds motivate the team’s infiltration of the competition and their confrontation with the traitor Charan Grover.
Films like Happy New Year, and why
Chennai Express
shared Bollywood ensemble energy, comic heist plotting, dance spectacle, and revenge-driven motivation
Dhoom 3
shared glamorous Hindi action-comedy style, star-driven humor, international locations, and elaborate criminal schemes
ABCD: Any Body Can Dance
shared dance-centered comedy, underdog teamwork, broad humor, and celebratory musical spectacle
Players
shared caper structure, mismatched criminals, comic set pieces, and high-spirited ensemble dynamics
Movie Details
- Director
- Farah Khan
- Release Date
- 2014-10-24
- Runtime
- 180 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (308)
Cast
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Deepika Padukone
- Abhishek Bachchan
- Sonu Sood
- Boman Irani
- Vivaan Shah
- Jackie Shroff
- Anupam Kher
- Daisy Irani
- Sarah-Jane Dias
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Happy New Year about?
- A motley team turns a Dubai dance competition into the glittering cover for a diamond heist and a long-awaited revenge scheme.
- What is Happy New Year like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Happy New Year as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Happy New Year violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Happy New Year as moderate.
- What did critics think of Happy New Year?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as a lavish, star-powered Bollywood entertainer whose dance spectacle and comic energy were undermined by a weak, overlong script.
- Which films are like Happy New Year?
- Films with a similar feel include Chennai Express, Dhoom 3, ABCD: Any Body Can Dance, and Players.
- How long is Happy New Year?
- Happy New Year runs 180 minutes.
- Where can I watch Happy New Year?
- In United States, Happy New Year streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
