People We Meet on Vacation is set to enchant audiences by offering a glimpse into the magnetic love story of Alex and Poppy.
On September 30, Netflix unveiled its inaugural teaser trailer for the eagerly anticipated adaptation of Emily Henry’s best-selling 2021 novel, showcasing the moment the iconic duo disembarks from a plane, stepping into an adventure that is as much about love as it is about travel.
This romantic comedy is helmed by Brett Haley and features Emily Bader and Tom Blyth as the leads; Poppy, the spontaneous free spirit, and Alex, the meticulous planner. While they claim to be nothing more than close friends, the tension rises as they begin to confront what everyone else has already noted: they might just be a perfect romantic match.
The teaser opens with Poppy languidly swaying to Robyn’s “Hang With Me” in the bustling baggage claim, exuding carefree joy as she celebrates the arrival of her luggage. However, her jubilant solo ends abruptly when she crashes into Alex, clearly displaying the awkward excitement of their reconnection.
“Hi. Alex, I was not expecting to see you,” she exclaims, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. “My bag came out first. And that never happens!”
What follows is a vacation that finds them navigating not only picturesque landscapes but also the realities of their evolving relationship. It’s a battle of visions: Alex is all about sticking to the itinerary to maximize enjoyment, while Poppy is ready to toss caution to the wind and embrace spontaneity.
Throughout their escapades, ranging from culinary delights to sun-soaked beach lounging, the duo grapples with questions about their compatibility. “Are you two, like, a thing?” a curious friend queries during their travels, met with an overly enthusiastic denial from both: “Oh no, we’re just friends.”
“Platonic travel companions,” Poppy insists—just as the scene transitions to her looking stunning in a beautiful dress, catching Alex’s rapt attention.
People We Meet on Vacation debuted at the pinnacle of the New York Times bestseller list, maintaining its position for over a year before it was confirmed in October 2022 that the book would be adapted for the screen. Two years later, Blyth (30) and Bader (28) were announced as the main leads, complemented by a robust supporting cast including Sarah Catherine Hook, Lucien Laviscount, Miles Heizer, Jameela Jamil, Tommy Do, Lukas Gage, Alice Lee, Molly Shannon, and Alan Ruck.
In a conversation with Collider, Blyth expressed his desire to deliver a performance that resonates with the fans of the novel, admitting that he consciously chose to step away from ‘book Alex’ to embody ‘film Alex’.
“The book provided invaluable insights. I relished every aspect of it and tried to extract character nuances. However, if I become preoccupied with meeting the expectations of the book fans, I lose my focus. As an actor, my primary responsibility is to be present and authentically human,” he elaborated. “So, I read it, drew from it, and then set it aside to engage fully in the role.”
In speaking about pairing with Bader, Blyth dubbed her “the modern Meg Ryan,” an homage to a beloved era of rom-coms. “When Harry Met Sally is a personal favorite, but where’s our bubbly girl-next-door with a witty edge? Meeting Emily was like discovering the answer I had been searching for,” he reminisced.
People We Meet on Vacation is slated to premiere on Netflix on January 9, 2026.
