People We Meet on Vacation

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People We Meet on Vacation

PG-13

2026

1h 57m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

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68 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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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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Denise Zubizarreta

LatinaMedia.Co

3d

C+

What unfolds is a layered timeline of summers past and present, of glances held too long, of almosts and maybes.

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Ridge Harripersad

CGMagazine

May 20

8/10

"I felt like I was vicariously vacationing with Poppy and Alex, and maybe those who watch it on Netflix will feel that too. The cinematography and colour grading edits spectacularly showcased every location to appear in its best way possible."

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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.

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Drew F

@Dna13 Jul 3

The first ten minutes of this movie I wasn’t sure that I was even going to be able to finish the film as the main character was erratic and unlikable. The movie started to at least capture my attention enough for me to complete the entire film, but I wouldn’t watch it a second time. The ending was predictable and it lacked creativity. The lead actress almost ruins the entire film, but the lead actor is likable enough that you keep watching for him. Not the worst movie I’ve ever seen, but it’s definitely not at the top of my list of films to watch this year.

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Onni S

@RT95398449 Jul 1

This movie time skips so quick and the main character is so unlikeable and annoying that it made this movie unwatchable. It’s only good to that certain demographic that thinks it ends with us is peak fiction. Overall awful/10 that girl shouldve ended up alone

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Jillian S

@Jillian382 Jun 29

This is a classic lame Netflix movie of a great book. The book is way better, couldn’t put it down and not normally a romance genre person. Alex and Poppy have great chemistry and dialogue in the book, and it just isn’t the same in the movie. They don’t set up their relationship in the same way in the movie, which made me question if they would even end up together because it was such different vibes than the book. They pull some memorable quotes from the book, but otherwise there is such little dialogue between them, it almost seems as if they aren’t a match.

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Louiza R

@RT70397524 Jun 28

that was so cringy oh my god i felt my skin crawl everytime poppy opened her mouth to deliver the most performative manic pixie dream girl line possible.

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Widnie D

@Wiwi17 Jun 24

I absolutely loved that movie, I thought their dynamic was so endearing and I haven’t seen such a cute romance movie in a while. I’ve watched it 3 times since it came out and this is my first time writing a review for a movie, but I wanted to add to its good reviews. A must see!

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Soaraia B

@RT17644618 Jun 23

OMG i didn´t read the book but this made want to read it. This year the book girlies AKA me, are being fed.

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Brett Haley

Director

Emily Bader

Poppy

Tom Blyth

Alex

Sarah Catherine Hook

Sarah

Lucien Laviscount

Trey

Miles Heizer

David

Meg Ryan is THE Rom-Com Leading Lady

0:44

Recreating the Cover of People We Meet on Vacation

1:03

The Stars of ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ on Filming on a Nude Beach

15:25

People We Meet on Vacation: Trailer 1

2:24

People We Meet on Vacation: Teaser Trailer

1:11

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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