Netflix’s “People We Meet on Vacation” has kicked off the year as an instant classic romance. Adapted from Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, the film tells the story of Poppy and Alex, two friends whose connection spans years of shared vacations and quiet confessions. Their chemistry, the bittersweet moments, and the small, seemingly ordinary interactions make it impossible not to root for them.
For fans of this slow-burn romance with layers of humour, heartbreak, and hope, there’s a whole world of films that explore similar dynamics and capture the same emotional resonance that make you feel like you’re part of the story. Here are some of the best films that can scratch that Poppy-Alex itch.
Before Sunrise (1995)
“Before Sunrise” features Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) in their early twenties, revelling in their youthful idealism. Jesse is an American on holiday while Celine is a French student. A chance conversation on the same train makes both strangers develop a fondness for each other. The rest of the film follows these two charismatic people roam the streets of Vienna, discovering each other, the city, and themselves.
The Map That Leads To You (2025)
Based on Joseph Monninger’s novel of the same title, “The Map That Leads To You” follows a young woman named Heather (Madeline Cline) on a Eurotrip with friends after college before settling into the life she planned out for herself. But meeting Jack (KJ Apa) was certainly not on her itinerary, and throws off her well-thought-out roadmap for life.
One Day (2011)
Based on David Nicholls’ eponymous novel, “One Day” follows the lives of two main characters, Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess), over the course of twenty years, checking in on them on the same day each year, July 15th. The film sees how their relationship evolves over time, capturing the complexities of love, friendship, and the passage of time.
A Summer’s Tale (1996)
“A Summer’s Tale” follows young Gaspard (Melvil Poupaud), a recent graduate and budding musician, as he spends a few weeks in Dinard, a coastal town in Brittany, France, before embarking on a job in engineering. He’s come to hopefully meet up with his girlfriend, Lena (Aurelia Nolin), but ends up bonding with a local young woman instead.
Past Lives (2023)
“Past Lives” centres on Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), former childhood sweethearts who reunite after 24 years. Nora left South Korea as a child, now living in New York with her husband, Arthur (John Magaro). Meanwhile, Hae Sung stayed home in Seoul but never forgot his bond with Nora. As they finally meet again in New York, they contemplate what they were to each other and where they are in their lives.
The Notebook (2004)
Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks, “The Notebook” spans decades, flipping between a couple from very different worlds, Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams)’s love in the ’40s and the present-day reality of how their relationship has transformed in old age. Through decades of separation, class divides, and memory loss, the film explores how devotion endures and transforms.
