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People We Meet on Vacation
People We Meet on Vacation is a 2026 American romantic comedy film directed by Brett Haley from a screenplay by Yulin Kuang and Amos Vernon & Nunzio Randazzo, based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Emily Henry. It stars Tom Blyth and Emily Bader.
The film was released on January 9, 2026.
Plot
Poppy, a discontented NYC travel writer, learns of her friend David's Barcelona wedding and sees it as a chance to reconnect with Alex, her estranged best friend. She lies about being there for work to attend. Flashbacks reveal their history: meeting at college, bonding during a road trip, and later committing to annual vacations after camping together post-breakup.
In Barcelona, they awkwardly reunite and recall past trips, including a New Orleans "honeymoon" and Alex visiting Poppy in NYC when she fell ill. At the rehearsal dinner, Alex confronts Poppy about her lie, and she admits wanting to revive their friendship after their falling out.
Two years ago, during a Tuscany trip with their partners, Alex and Poppy nearly kissed after he helped her with a pregnancy test. Poppy denied her feelings, and Alex proposed to Sarah the next morning. Poppy objected to their Linfield settlement plans, leading Alex to end their friendship.
Now, Poppy presses Alex about his breakup with Sarah, and he admits it was due to his feelings for Poppy. They confess love, sleep together, and attend the wedding. At the reception, Alex demands clarity about their future, but Poppy hesitates, sparking a fight over their lifestyles.
At the airport, Poppy meets Sarah, who explains the breakup wasn’t solely about Poppy but her own life confusion. Poppy resigns from her job, travels to Linfield, and confronts Alex, admitting her fears and reaffirming her commitment to him.
Sometime later, Alex moves to New York City to build a life with Poppy, and they resume their vacations together.