The Future Of Rom-Coms On Netflix

The romantic comedy is in a will-they-won’t-they relationship with Hollywood. For years now, we romance fans have waited with bated breath to see if studios will finally put real effort into making proper rom-coms again, bolstered by the successes of Crazy Rich Asians and Anyone But You.

The genre has thrived on streaming, as evidenced by hits like Set It Up, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and Red, White, and Royal Blue. When it comes to theatrical releases, however, Hollywood’s been slower to jump back on the bandwagon.

In the five years between Crazy Rich Asians and Anyone But You, I’d argue there were really only two major, star-driven studio rom-coms that saw a healthy amount of buzz: The Lost City and Ticket to Paradise. The Jennifer Lopez/Owen Wilson vehicle Marry Me can be considered an honorable mention; it was released simultaneously in theaters and on Peacock.

This past summer, there was plenty of discussion — both thoughtful and irate — about Celine Song’s Materialists, a movie positioned as one that could revive the rom-com once and for all. Its throwback marketing strategy fed this narrative, ignited excitement, and then prompted backlash when it became apparent Song had created a drama instead.

Between Materialists, the rise of Colleen Hoover adaptations like It Ends With Us, and a return to some classic literary romances (Wuthering Heights, Sense and Sensibility), it’s an odd time for the rom-com specifically. However, Netflix has a big one coming in January, and its success could be huge for the genre.

People We Meet On Vacation Kicks Off The Emily Henry Era Of Romance Movies

Slated for release on January 9, People We Meet on Vacation tells the story of Alex (Tom Blyth) and Poppy (Emily Bader), two best friends who go on a trip together every year — until they have a falling out. Reunited years later for another stab at a successful vacation, they’re soon forced to confront what broke them apart and reassess their true feelings for each other.

On the surface, this may sound like another run-of-the-mill Netflix rom-com, but it has one thing most streaming titles don’t: the backing of one of the most popular romance writers working today. Emily Henry, the writer behind People We Meet on Vacation, is a NYT best-selling author whose books inspire breathless excitement before they even hit the shelves.

Henry has amassed such a sizable fanbase because of her ability to combine swoon-worthy, tension-filled romances with vibrant worlds and well-developed casts of characters. Nothing feels basic or thin in an Emily Henry romance; there’s a depth to each story that is often lacking in other romance novels.

Everyone has their own opinions on which Henry book is best — my favorites are Book Lovers and Funny Story — but most will agree her stories deliver the kind of heartwarming rom-com set-ups we so crave to see back on the big screen. People We Meet on Vacation is perhaps the most straightforward one of all, since it largely revolves around just Poppy and Alex in a classic second-chance-type plot.

Netflix clearly seems to have high hopes for the movie. People We Meet on Vacation‘s promotion kicked off in September with the first-look images, followed by the first trailer just last week. For comparison, another recent Netflix rom-com, The Wrong Paris, released its trailer on August 6, a little over one month before its September 12 release.

An Emily Henry adaptation is cause for genuine excitement among romance fans, and if People We Meet on Vacation is a success, it could be the beginning of a bright new era for the genre. Four other Henry books — Beach Read, Book Lovers, Happy Place, and Funny Story — have adaptations of their own in development, and they could easily make the jump to the big screen.

Pinning the rom-com’s entire future on one film isn’t quite fair, nor is it truly realistic; there will be plenty of other romance movies made after People We Meet on Vacation. However, it’s easy to envision a future where rom-coms are a hot commodity again if Alex and Poppy’s story resonates with viewers. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I can’t help but feel optimistic.