While we may only be one month into 2026, we already have the first movie of the year that has taken over the pop culture conversation: People We Meet on Vacation. An adaptation of Emily Henry’s novel of the same name, the movie follows best friends Poppy and Alex. The two couldn’t be any more different personality-wise, but after becoming friends in college, they agreed to meet every summer and go on vacation together. Over the course of a decade, we follow the ups and downs of their relationship.
Since the movie’s release on January 9 on Netflix, People We Meet on Vacation has become a hit, resurfacing discourse on the age-old question of whether a guy and a girl can ever be just friends, and reminding many that a fun rom-com will always be a satisfying watch. After all, the combination of the tried and tested friends-to-lovers trope and finding friendship and love while traveling makes for an effective combo. So, below, we’ve rounded up a few movie recommendations if you want to keep that feeling going.
RELATED: How to Effortlessly Dress Like Your Favorite Rom-Com Characters
The Map That Leads to You – A European Adventure To Remember
Travel is often used by many people as a way to transition into a new life or chapter. But sometimes, an unexpected turn can lead down new paths worth exploring. Such is the case in this movie, which is an adaptation of the novel by J.P. Monninger. Heather is a young woman who travels across Europe with her friends before she starts the life she planned for herself. However, things change with a chance encounter with Jack, sparking an unexpected romance that changes how Heather views the life she thought she wanted.
Love, Rosie – More Than Best Friends?
Adapted from the novel Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern, this heartfelt rom-com tells the story of Rosie and Alex. The two have been best friends for years, since they were five, to be exact. While it may seem obvious that they are meant to be together given their undeniable bond, life keeps getting in the way as they never end up on the same page. Still, the heart wants what it wants, and over the course of the film, we see the two slowly work it out as the movie centers on the theme of how even expected relationships take time to authentically foster.
I’m Drunk, I Love You – Drunk and in Love in La Union
Admitting to your best friend that you have feelings for them during a road trip? Now that’s cinema, and few movies do it as well as this hit from 2017 starring Maja Salvador and Paulo Avelino. Carson and Dio have been best friends for seven years. For their college graduation, they decide to take a trip to La Union for what should be a final celebration. But with Dio running into an old flame and Carson grappling with her feelings for Dio, it’s anything but. And it’s all memorably told through music at the beach, barkada inumans, and bagnet.
The Duff – Mean Girls Meets a Modern Rom-Com
This well-received, if underrated, rom-com based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Kody Keplinger centers on high school senior Bianca. She learns that her classmates have secretly named her the DUFF, or designated ugly fat friend. Hurt by the news, she sets out to change the school’s social order with the help of her longtime neighbor and jock Wesley. The more-than-friends energy between Bianca and Wesley and the shades of Mean Girls and Easy A give this movie a fun vibe worth experiencing.
See You on Venus – Lonely Hearts Find Each Other
In this movie, we follow Mia, an 18-year-old orphan, who travels to Spain to search for her biological mother. Accompanying her on the trip is Kyle, a young man dealing with trauma from an accident. As they explore the city of Andalusia, Mia and Kyle start developing feelings for each other. While the film’s romance hooks you in, it’s the movie’s exploration of life and purpose that will keep you watching until the end.
Eternity – Time To Choose the Rest of Your Life
Love makes us do a lot of things. But do you really know what you want? That’s the question this underrated gem tries to answer with its unique spin on the afterlife. Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller play Joan and Terry, respectively, a couple who have been married for decades. After Terry chokes on a piece of candy and passes away, he enters the afterlife and has to choose one destination to spend the rest of eternity.
With Joan soon joining him, it seems like an easy decision. But it isn’t since Joan’s first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died during World War 2, is also there and wants to spend the rest of his life with Joan. Funny, sweet, and genuine, the movie touches on the relatable struggle that love can make you indecisive and what it really means to you.
Love at First Sight – From Strangers to Lovers
Have you ever come across a stranger in public who you were immediately smitten by? That’s the premise of this movie on chance encounters. Hadley and Oliver are two strangers who connect on a flight from New York to London and immediately hit it off. However, they lose each other at customs, which spurs the two to reunite despite the odds.
Must Be…Love – A Classic Pinoy Teen Rom-Com
This KathNiel classic stars Kathryn Bernardo as Patricia, or Patch, and Daniel Padilla as Ivan. The two are childhood best friends, but complicating their dynamic is the fact that Patch has feelings for Ivan, but he only sees her as a best friend. With rom-com staples, memorable lines, and relatable themes, the movie delivers a satisfying friends-to-lovers story.
Always Be My Maybe – A Comedic Reunion That Brings Back Old Feelings
An A-tier cameo aside, this Netflix rom-com hits the spot when it comes to reconnection and rekindling old feelings. Sasha and Marcus were two best friends who stopped communicating with each other after their break-up. 15 years later, the two reconnect when Sasha comes back to town for the opening of his new restaurant. As they try to rebuild their friendship, they discover that it’s a lot harder than they initially realized, leading to hilariously sweet results.
Labs Kita, Okey Ka Lang? – Falling in Love With the Bestie
There’s a reason why this movie remains a staple in the Filipino rom-com hall of fame. Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin play college students Bujoy and Ned, respectively. As next-door neighbors and longtime friends, everything seems alright at first. But the two secretly harbor feelings for each other, which bubble to the surface when Ned and Bujoy start seeing other people. Aside from the fact that this film gave us the iconic MarJo love team, it also hits hard for people who have had to deal with secret feelings for their best friend.
Recommended Video
Latest Posts
Latest Issue
