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People We Meet on Vacation

Play trailer 2:24 Poster for People We Meet on Vacation PG-13 2026 1h 57m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Free-spirited Poppy (Emily Bader) and routine-loving Alex (Tom Blyth) have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else -- could they actually be the perfect romantic match?
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People We Meet on Vacation

People We Meet on Vacation

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Critics Consensus

People We Meet on Vacation is a breezy adaptation that boasts charming leads in Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, delivering a romantic endeavor worth staying for.

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Critics Reviews

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Caroline Siede AV Club Jan 15
C-
While recent winners like All Of You have proven there’s still juice in the classic friends-to-lovers template, watching People We Meet On Vacation feels more like ordering a sparkling tropical cocktail and getting served tap water. Go to Full Review
Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Jan 14
3/4
A strong supporting cast — Lukas Gage, Molly Shannon, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil and Lucien Laviscount – ups the entertainment value. Since rom-coms have been a bit blah of late, this one will satisfy that itch even if it’s no gamechanger. Go to Full Review
Linda Holmes Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR Podcast) Jan 12
If you put this on, on a weekend afternoon, you will be fine. It is pleasant to watch. But the things that made the book special, I think, are almost impossible to preserve in a two-hour movie. Go to Full Review
Hayley Croke Loud and Clear Reviews Mar 9
3/5
While the film successfully brings Henry’s charming and vibrant world to life, it struggles to make itself memorable beyond its runtime. Go to Full Review
Nuha Hassan Nuha Hassan (Medium) Jan 30
People We Meet on Vacation portrays the feeling of exploring the world with people we love and dealing with the painful part of falling in love. It’s scary, but it’s all worth it in the end. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jan 26
2.5/4
...a mostly affable romcom that receives plenty of mileage out of Bader and Blyth’s terrific, charismatic efforts... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jessica S @RT27550087 19h I don't care about cinematography or any of that crap. This movie "spoke to me". Just watch it - the acting was pretty good, too. It really made the book come alive in a way I didn't think it would. Funny, witty, romantic, but so heartfelt. Just watch it! See more Mélanie B @RT79440511 4d Hilarious movie! A great movie for a date night. Not to serious and not to girly. See more Robert T @Thorntonis2 Apr 30 Wow. Just wow. Emily Bader is going to be a big star. This romcom with a sweet story and obvious ending could be her launching point. The chemistry between Bader and her costar Tom Blyth is what carries this movie and really helps knock it out of the park. Is Emily Bader a Hollywood beauty, a cute Lily Collins type or a sex kitten like Ana de Armas. Yes. She’s all those things but most of all she’s an incredible actor. The movie is worth watching just for Emily Bader and Tom Blyth. But it’s a feel good movie that makes you want to see more… and more. See more Christian M @chriss17eu Apr 28 I watched 'People We Meet on Vacation' reluctantly, as part of my effort to step outside my comfort zone. While it didn’t impress me, I don’t regret it—it works as easy, somewhat hollow entertainment. As expected from the genre, it follows a very familiar romantic formula, without offering anything new. The chemistry between Tom Blyth and Emily Bader helps keep it afloat, portraying a believable dynamic that evolves through repeated cycles of connection and conflict. Some scenes stand out, especially the nightclub sequence, which feels lively and genuine, while others feel like filler. Despite not being slow, the film feels longer than it should due to its repetitive emotional beats. Technically, it’s solid, with good cinematography and decent music choices. In the end, it leaves me indifferent: functional and watchable, but emotionally flat and forgettable. See more Juan M @Juanesc Apr 26 Loved it!… That’s how true love really grows. See more matthias S @Thescreenasvor Apr 22 I give *People We Meet on Vacation* 3.5 stars—just shy of a four. I was genuinely enthusiastic about this adaptation, and surprisingly, I found it even better than the book. It amplifies what already worked: the humor is sharper, funnier, and more engaging than before. While the novel was already very funny, this version pushes it further. It also adds a noticeable layer of depth, improving on the emotional complexity of the source material. Visually, it feels exactly like the book brought to life. Some of the book’s minor flaws remain, though less distracting. Still, it’s a refreshing, non-generic romantic comedy I truly enjoyed. See more Read all reviews
People We Meet on Vacation

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Movie Info

Synopsis Free-spirited Poppy (Emily Bader) and routine-loving Alex (Tom Blyth) have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else -- could they actually be the perfect romantic match?
Director
Brett Haley
Producer
Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner
Screenwriter
Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, Nunzio Randazzo
Distributor
Netflix
Production Co
Sony Pictures Releasing, Temple Hill Entertainment, 3000 Pictures, Netflix Studios
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 9, 2026
Runtime
1h 57m
Aspect Ratio
Digital 2.39:1