Directed by Brett Haley.
People We Meet on Vacation was released globally on January 9, 2026.
Distributed exclusively by Netflix.
People We Meet on Vacation (2026) Review
People We Meet on Vacation (2026) is a warm and easy-to-watch romantic movie about two longtime friends, Poppy and Alex, who take trips together every year.
Over time, their friendship slowly turns into love.
The movie feels light, emotional, and relatable, especially for people who enjoy calm love stories.
The actors share natural chemistry, making their relationship believable and sweet.
Beautiful travel scenes and soft music add to the relaxing mood.
While the story follows familiar rom-com patterns, it remains charming and heartfelt.
Overall, it’s a simple, feel-good movie perfect for a cozy and relaxing watch.
CR Rating – 6.3/10
People We Meet on Vacation Actors
Emily Bader as Poppy Wright
DOB: November 8, 1996.
Bio: American actress who rose to wider attention with her breakout lead role in My Lady Jane (2024).
With a background in theater training and a natural flair for expressive, character-driven performances, she has quickly become associated with emotionally open, charming leads.
Role: Poppy Wright is the free-spirited, impulsive half of the story’s central duo.
A travel writer at a personal and professional crossroads, Poppy lives by spontaneity and emotional instinct.
The film follows her attempt to reconnect with Alex after years of tradition-bound vacations and one devastating falling-out.
Interesting facts: Bader trained in theatre (Geffen Playhouse) and described wanting to honor reader expectations while bringing her own spontaneity to Poppy.
Notable works: My Lady Jane (2024), Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021).
Tom Blyth as Alex Nilsen
DOB: February 2, 1995.
Bio: English actor who built his career through a mix of independent film, television, and prestige studio projects.
He gained international recognition for his leading role in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), following earlier acclaim for emotionally restrained performances in period and dramatic roles.
Role: Alex Nilsen is a thoughtful, routine-loving homebody and devoted reader, the emotional counterweight to Poppy’s spontaneity.
Over a decade of shared annual vacations, Alex buries his deeper feelings beneath politeness, nostalgia, and careful restraint.
Interesting facts: Blyth said he welcomed the chance to play a lighter, romantic role after heavier projects; he and Bader worked to build a lived-in chemistry that sells the “friends to lovers” arc.
Notable works: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), Billy the Kid (TV series), Benediction (2021).
Sarah Catherine Hook as Sarah
DOB: April 21, 1995.
Bio: American actor and trained vocalist who studied opera and acting at SUNY Purchase.
She first gained wide attention through her breakout television work in The White Lotus (Season 2), where her performance drew notice for its emotional precision and understated intensity.
Role: Sarah is Alex’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, the sensible, stable alternative to Poppy’s unpredictability.
She represents emotional security and adult normalcy, quietly intensifying the unresolved tension between Alex and Poppy.
Interesting facts: Hook’s singing background and stage training helped in scenes that require grounded realism and emotional nuance.
Notable works: The White Lotus (Season 2), Cruel Intentions (2024), First Kill (Netflix).
Lucien Laviscount as Trey
DOB: June 9, 1992.
Bio: British actor who began his career on UK television before gaining international recognition through high-profile streaming series.
He’s known for his natural charm, relaxed comic timing, and ease within ensemble casts.
Role: Trey is part of the extended friend group that appears across vacations and key flashbacks.
He helps flesh out the social world surrounding Poppy and Alex, contributing to the sense that their relationship exists within a wider, evolving circle of friends rather than in isolation.
Interesting facts: Laviscount’s rom-com cred and international profile made him an obvious choice to broaden the film’s appeal.
Notable works: Emily in Paris, Snatch, This Time Next Year.
Miles Heizer as David (David Nilsen)
DOB: May 16, 1994.
Bio: American actor known for emotionally nuanced performances in both film and television.
He gained recognition for 13 Reasons Why and Love, Simon, often portraying sensitive, relatable characters.
Role: David Nilsen is part of Alex’s extended circle of family and friends, providing context for his small-town upbringing and grounding the central romance.
Heizer portrays David with quiet empathy, adding subtle emotional stakes in both present-day and flashback sequences.
Interesting facts: Heizer’s sensitive portrayals of queer characters have earned him particular praise; here he deepens the film’s emotional palette.
Notable works: 13 Reasons Why, Love, Simon, The Stanford Prison Experiment.
Jameela Jamil as Swapna Bakshi-Highsmith
DOB: February 25, 1986.
Bio: British presenter, activist, and actor who rose to international recognition on The Good Place.
She has expanded into both TV and film, bringing sharp wit, charisma, and outspoken social commentary to her roles.
Role: Swapna Bakshi-Highsmith is a friend and colleague within Poppy and Alex’s social circle.
Her confidence, worldview, and playful candor contrast with the leads’ personalities, adding humor and perspective to group dynamics.
Interesting facts: Jamil has discussed enjoying roles that challenge expectations and allow her to bring her voice and personality into the character.
Notable works: The Good Place, activism and media work.
Tommy Do as Nam
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Tommy Do is a character actor and writer recognized for scene-stealing comedic turns on TV, including Hacks and I Think You Should Leave.
Known for his timing, improvisational skills, and ability to bring humor to small supporting roles.
Role: Nam is a character Poppy and Alex encounter during one of their trips.
Though a small part, Nam adds local color and comic energy to the travel sequences, giving the story moments of levity and charm.
Interesting facts: Do’s improvisational background helped the crew create organic moments in location scenes.
Notable works: Hacks, I Think You Should Leave, various TV guest appearances.
Lukas Gage as Buck
DOB: May 28, 1995.
Bio: Lukas Gage is a fast-rising American actor known for standout TV roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus, and You.
He’s recognized for his scene-stealing charm, comic vulnerability, and the ability to bring nuance to both dramatic and comedic parts.
Role: Buck is a free-spirited traveler the leads encounter during one of their trips.
He brings spontaneity, unpredictability, and a playful energy to the group dynamic, shaking up routines and creating memorable interactions.
Interesting facts: At the film’s premiere, Gage praised Emily Bader and noted the project as a potential breakout moment for her.
Notable works: Euphoria, The White Lotus, Companion.
Alice Lee as Rachel
DOB: April 12, 1989.
Bio: Alice Lee is a stage-trained American actor and singer who transitioned into TV and film.
She is best known for Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and her voice work in animated projects.
Role: Rachel is one of the young women encountered in various storylines, including friendship and romantic circles.
Lee brings warmth, comic timing, and authenticity, giving the role relatability and charm in ensemble scenes.
Interesting facts: Lee’s musical background helps in scenes that call for performative beats or quick emotional turns.
Notable works: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, voice roles.
Molly Shannon as Wanda (Poppy’s mother)
DOB: September 16, 1964.
Bio: A veteran American comic actor and scene-stealer, widely recognized for her work on Saturday Night Live and in film and TV comedy.
She is known for her ability to balance eccentricity, warmth, and emotional nuance, particularly in supporting and motherly roles.
Role: Wanda is Poppy’s outspoken, sex-positive mother, a scene-stealing source of comic relief and heartfelt honesty.
She shapes Poppy’s worldview and provides both humor and tenderness.
Interesting facts: Netflix press describes Wanda as a “condom box-shaking mom,” and Shannon leaned into the role’s frank humor at press events.
Notable works: Saturday Night Live, The Other Two, numerous film and TV roles.
Alan Ruck as Jimmy (Alex’s dad/older figure)
DOB: July 1, 1956.
Bio: Veteran American actor whose career spans film, television, and stage.
Known for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Spin City, and Succession, Ruck excels at portraying comic, charming, and quietly volatile authority figures
Role: Jimmy is Alex’s father and an anchoring presence in his family background.
He provides insight into Alex’s temperament and life choices.
Ruck plays Jimmy with a balance of nostalgia, exasperation, and gentle humor, giving the family scenes grounded emotional resonance.
Interesting facts: Ruck’s TV pedigree adds instant credibility to the film’s family scenes.
Notable works: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Spin City, Succession.
Spencer Neville as Julian
DOB: September 14, 1990.
Bio: Spencer Neville is an actor and model with a growing body of work in TV and indie film.
He is known for bringing naturalistic, relatable energy to ensemble and supporting roles, often helping create believable social dynamics on screen.
Role: Julian is a member of the extended friend group who appears across vacations and flashback sequences.
Neville helps establish a convincing social circle around Poppy and Alex, giving small interactions depth and emotional texture that enrich the leads’ backstory.
Interesting facts: Neville’s background in soaps and recurring roles gives him an ease with ensemble scenes.
Notable works: TV and indie credits.
More Actors
• Ian Porter as Ed Nilsen.
• Madeleine Akua as Daisy.
• John Jabaley as Motel Night Manager.
• Bethany Anne Lind as Stacey.
FAQ – People We Meet on Vacation 2026 Movie
What is People We Meet on Vacation about?
It’s a romantic comedy about best friends Poppy and Alex, who spend every summer vacation together for nearly a decade. As life pulls them in different directions, they begin to wonder if they might be more than just friends.
Is People We Meet on Vacation based on a book?
Yes. The film is adapted from Emily Henry’s bestselling 2021 novel of the same name, with input from the author during development.
Where was the movie filmed?
Filming took place in various locations including Barcelona, which replaced the book’s original Palm Springs trip due to production needs.
What is the runtime and rating?
The movie runs about 1 hour 57 minutes and is rated PG-13.
Where can I watch People We Meet on Vacation?
It streams exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
Conclusion
People We Meet on Vacation (2026) delivers a gentle and heartfelt love story that focuses on friendship, timing, and emotional growth.
With strong chemistry between the leads, beautiful travel moments, and a warm tone throughout, the film feels comforting and relatable.
It may not reinvent the romance genre, but it succeeds in telling a sincere story that many viewers can connect with.
This movie is best enjoyed as a calm, feel-good watch, especially for fans of slow-burn romantic dramas.