The 1999 film that follows several intertwined stories set on New Year's Eve in New York City is “200 Cigarettes.”
Directed by Risa Bramon Garcia, the film takes place during New Year's Eve in 1981. Its ensemble cast includes Casey Affleck, Ben Affleck, Kate Hudson, Christina Ricci, Paul Rudd, and Martha Plimpton. The plot follows young people moving through Manhattan parties, relationships, missed connections, and plans to celebrate the new year.
The title refers to the cigarettes consumed or sought during the night and reflects the film's period setting. It is structured as a group comedy-drama rather than a single protagonist's countdown story.
A common mix-up is “New Year's Eve,” the 2011 romantic comedy with an ensemble cast. That film is also set around the holiday, but “200 Cigarettes” is the earlier film set specifically on New Year's Eve 1981.