The People We Meet on Vacation movie, the first of many announced adaptations of Emily Henry’s books, finally has a release date! The film will be streaming on Netflix starting on January 9, 2026.
While you wait for the much-anticipated drop, read on to find out more of the details and watch the teaser that revealed not only the release date, but also some dialogue between the movie’s main characters, Poppy and Alex.
The Announcement
On July 1, Henry co-posted a video with Netflix, depicting a slice of sparkling ocean, sky, and a rock. The audio of the video is two characters, Poppy and Alex. “Where does Alex Nilsen stand on travel?” Poppy begins. “Love or hate?” After Alex responds, the screen displays the title of the movie, and then the release date: 1.9.26.
The release date is a long time coming, at least for fans that have been waiting for news since the main cast was revealed, back in August 2024. The video stars the previously-announced main characters, Poppy and Alex, who are played respectively by Emily Bader and Tom Blyth.
Each of them come highly recommended from other book-to-movie adaptations: Bader previously played the Lady Jane Grey in the TV show My Lady Jane, and Blyth was a young Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Other cast members include Jameela Jamil, Molly Shannon, and Lukas Gage.
What It’s About
People We Meet On Vacation, Henry’s second novel for adults, follows two best friends who always take a trip together every summer — until they don’t. Poppy and Alex are unlikely best friends, and their vacations were the one place they could at least agree to meet up. But it’s been two years since their last one. When Poppy convinces Alex for one last try, there’s a lot on the line.
Readers are excited for this lush, breezy novel to come to life onscreen — and to see how director Brett Haley and screenwriter Yulin Kuang adapt the structure of the novel, which bounces back and forth in time, for the silver screen.
What To Look Out For
People We Meet on Vacation is just one of many Emily Henry adaptations in the works. Most of her other books are all in various stages of development, with Yulin Kuang attached to adapt and direct Beach Read, Sarah Heyward penning the script for Book Lovers, Happy Place becoming a TV show, and Henry herself writing the script for Funny Story.
In the next few months, expect more news from Netflix and Henry, most likely including teaser trailers and other promotional material. In fact, Pinkberry, the yogurt shop, has already partnered with Penguin Random House for a sweepstakes in honor of the movie.
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