A guide to Quentin Tarantino’s movies in order by release date, from his daring debut to his doub...

Here's how to watch the whole bloody affair of his films. A guide to Quentin Tarantino's movies in order by release date, from his daring debut to his double features Here's how to watch the whole bloody affair of his films. January 12, 2026 12:08 p.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/quentintarantinomovies0109261ef1ba47c561440d9ac6ff2915ab8997b.jpg) Three of QT's muses: Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christoph Waltz.

Here's how to watch the whole bloody affair of his films.

A guide to Quentin Tarantino's movies in order by release date, from his daring debut to his double features

Here's how to watch the whole bloody affair of his films.

January 12, 2026 12:08 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Three of QT's muses: Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christoph Waltz. Credit:

Andrew Cooper; Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection; Francois Duhamel/Weinstein Company

For more than 30 years, Quentin Tarantino has been among the most famous directors not only of his generation, but of all time. Not bad for a high-school dropout who worked at a video store and in bit parts on sitcoms before getting his big Hollywood break.

Tarantino's movies are known for pithy, profane dialogue and are liberally peppered with pop-culture references, graphic violence, and over-the-top cinematic flourishes. They serve as road maps to the filmmaker's own cinematic obsessions, from Hong Kong actioners to old TV Westerns and beyond, and in his later years have doubled as pulpy reimaginings of real history.

It's difficult to overstate how influential Tarantino and his films have been in American cinema since the mid-'90s — so much so that it's probably best to see for yourself. His movies are also, for the most part, commercially successful, which means they stay in circulation even when the studios behind them change.

Here's where to catch up with every stage of Tarantino's arc, from wisecracking upstart to Hollywood royalty.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

The fellas! Mr. Blonde, Mr. Brown, Mr. White, Nice Guy Eddie, Joe, Mr. Orange, and Mr. Pink.

Miramax Films/Courtesy Everett

Although Tarantino had already made headway in the industry — writing and selling the script that became *True Romance *(1993), directed by the late Tony Scott — his feature directorial debut still announced the arrival of a major talent.* Reservoir Dogs* was a Sundance sensation, one of a handful of films that made that festival the center of indie film culture in the '90s and into the new millennium.

At the time, buzz around the movie made Tarantino one of the most talked-about filmmakers in town, setting the stage for his later blockbuster success. These days, the tale of Mr. Pink, Mr. Blonde, and their bank-robbing cohorts is a bit more divisive, drawing particular criticism for its use of racial slurs.

Where to watch *Reservoir Dogs*: Amazon Prime (to rent)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson on the verge of divine intervention (maybe) in 'Pulp Fiction'.

Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection

Tarantino's debut made him an indie darling, but *Pulp Fiction* made him a household name. The pop-culture impact of his second film is difficult to overstate: It won top prizes everywhere from the Cannes Film Festival to the MTV Movie Awards and got parodied by *The Simpsons* and *MADtv*. It revived John Travolta's career and made bona fide movie stars of Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman.

The film introduced new slang into the lexicon, repopularized surf rock, and spawned dozens of fast-talking imitators. None of them, however, could match the "cool factor" of Tarantino's film, whose highly quotable dialogue won him the first of his two Academy Awards for screenwriting.

Where to watch *Pulp Fiction*: Netflix

Maya Hawke shares advice mom Uma Thurman gave her for working with Quentin Tarantino

The Delightful Ten: Quentin Tarantino's greatest frequent collaborators, ranked

Jackie Brown (1997)

Pam Grier, knowing she has Robert Forster and Michael Keaton in the palm of her hand, in 'Jackie Brown'.

Miramax Films/ Courtesy Everett Collection

Tarantino followed *Pulp Fiction*'s massive critical and commercial with this smaller, more mature drama, the only Tarantino film to be based on someone else's source material.* Jackie Brown *comes from a place of deep love and respect both for Elmore Leonard — whose novel *Rum Punch* was its basis — and star Pam Grier, who built her reputation on '70s Blaxploitation movies and hadn't had a starring film role in almost 20 years.

Neither had Robert Forster, who stars as Grier's foil (and eventual love interest) alongside Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, and a ponytailed Jackson. While its financial and critical response was a bit cooler than its predecessor, *Jackie Brown*'s reputation has only grown over time, now topping many critics' lists as Tarantino's best.

Where to watch *Jackie Brown*: Amazon Prime (to rent)

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

The Bride dons Bruce Lee's duds and takes on the Crazy 88 in 'Kill Bill: Vol. 1'.

The first half of Tarantino's epic action-movie mixtape *Kill Bill* is both ultra-stylish and ultra-violent, qualities that blend to create a kinetic blur of flashing blades and spurting arteries. In this installment, the assassin known — for now — only as the Bride (Uma Thurman) takes her single-minded revenge campaign to Japan (plus a stopover in the American suburbs).

Lucy Liu is one of the Bride's most ruthless ex-cohorts, a samurai sword-wielding yakuza boss with an anime backstory, part of a larger tribute to iconic Asian directors epitomized by the film's famous "House of Blue Leaves" sequence.

Recently revived theatrically as part of the unrated *Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair,* that extended segment, like the movie in general, continues to thrill audiences.

Where to watch *Kill Bill: Vol. 1:* Amazon Prime (to rent)

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Let's just say it was a messy breakup. The Bride (Uma Thurman) finally meets her prey (David Carradine).

*Kill Bill* slows down in its talkier second half. Save for a flashback in China, where the Bride — her name finally un-bleeped as Beatrix Kiddo — trains with martial-arts master Pai Mei (Gordon Liu), *Kill Bill: Vol. 2* takes place in Texas and Mexico, a change in location that necessitates a shift in filmmaking style. Tarantino's primary influence here is the Spaghetti Western, reflected in the film's stunning landscape photography and operatic sense of destiny. (Ennio Morricone needle-drops complete the effect.)

As with *Vol. 1,* *Vol. 2 *stands on its own. But both play even better in *The Whole Bloody Affair, *which showcases Thurman's powerful performance with its full, sweeping emotional arc.

Where to watch* Kill Bill: Vol. 2:* Amazon Prime (to rent)

Death Proof (2007)

Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) wields his weapon in 'Death Proof'.

Andrew Cooper/Weinstein Company

*Death Proof* is the closest Tarantino has come to making a horror movie, combining the structure, plotting, and slow build-up of a classical slasher with his signature patter while painting his kill scenes as thrilling action set pieces. Stuntwoman Zoë Bell highlights a cast of heroines who find themselves in the sights of iconic action-movie cool guy Kurt Russell, playing against type as a sadistic stuntman whose custom reinforced car doubles as his weapon of choice.

*Death Proof* was originally released alongside *Planet Terror, *by QT's longtime friend and collaborator Robert Rodriguez, as part of the duo's ill-fated *Grindhouse *double feature. It flopped in theaters, and many still considered it a lesser Tarantino entry. Then again, his worst is better than many directors' best.

Where to watch *Death Proof:* Amazon Prime (to rent)

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) lets his Nazi captive know who's in charge in 'Inglourious Basterds'. Francois Duhamel/TWC

This marked the beginning of a new era in Tarantino's career. The first of the director's alternate histories, *Inglourious Basterds *(misspelling intentional) tackles the atrocities of WWII, blending cinephilia with Jewish revenge through the story of Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent), a Parisian projectionist whose theater is forced to host a Nazi propaganda movie premiere. Her burgeoning operation happens to coincide with the plans of eponymous, Nazi-scalping commando unit, which has become the scourge of the Third Reich.

The film brought Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz into the Tarantino-verse, introducing Waltz — already a successful actor in Germany — to American audiences. As if the film's final line didn't make it clear enough already, the director reportedly considers this his masterpiece.

Where to watch *Inglourious Basterds: *Amazon Prime (to rent)

Django Unchained (2012)

Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx, on their way to collect another bounty in 'Django Unchained'.

Andrew Cooper/Weinstein Company

Tarantino won his second Oscar for this revisionist Western, the filmmaker's highest-grossing movie to date.* *Like* Basterds*, *Django Unchained* takes a darkly comedic approach to righting historical wrongs. Its formerly enslaved title character, played by Jamie Foxx, is recruited by German bounty hunter King Schultz (Waltz) for a series of bounties leading up to a violent revenge plot against sadistic plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), who just so happens to be in possession of Django's wife, Hildi (Kerry Washington).

Jackson is back in the QT fold as well, in a character that reveals himself as far more than what he appears to be. Upon its release, the film was the subject of both praise — including five Academy Award nominations — and controversy.

Where to watch *Django Unchained*: Amazon Prime (to buy)

The Hateful Eight (2015)

English Pete, The Hangman, and Daisy Domergue eye each other in 'The Hateful Eight'.

Andrew Cooper/ The Weinstein Company

One might call the production of *The Hateful Eight* "troubled." Tarantino's script leaked online in January 2014, leading the director to consider shelving the project before salvaging it with revisions and a live read of the screenplay later that year. The frustration and conflict behind its conception translates into the film, a snowy Western chamber piece that — despite being presented in "glorious 70mm" — mostly takes place in a single (and very cold) room.

With a cast that's equal parts Tarantino regulars and new (but famous) faces like Walton Goggins and Jennifer Jason Leigh, the pleasures of a Tarantino movie are all present here, but with an undertone that's, well, hateful.

Where to watch *The Hateful Eight*: Netflix

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)

He's Rick ****ing Dalton, and don't you forget it: Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in 'Hollywood'.

Andrew Cooper/Columbia

He still technically owes us one more according to his planned 10-film career arc (he counts *Kill Bill* as one movie, which is fair), but if *Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood *ends up being Tarantino's last feature, it will be a fitting coda. Compared to early work like *Reservoir Dogs* and* Pulp Fiction,* *Once Upon a Time *is more mature and reflective, the product of a director who's been successful for decades, now grappling with his place in Hollywood and the world.

It's also another of his alternate histories, a love letter to late actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and a passing of the baton to a new generation of actors like Margaret Qualley, Austin Butler, Mikey Madison, and Maya Hawke — daughter of Uma Thurman, Tarantino's longtime muse.

Where to watch *Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood*: Amazon Prime (to rent)

How to watch Quentin Tarantino's movies in release order**

- *Reservoir Dogs *(1992)

- *Pulp Fiction *(1994)

- *Jackie Brown *(1997)

- *Kill Bill: Vol. 1 *(2003)

- *Kill Bill: Vol. 2 *(2004)

- *Death Proof *(2007)

- *Inglourious Basterds *(2009)

- *Django Unchained *(2012)

- *The Hateful Eight *(2015)

- *Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood *(2019)

- Celebrities & Creators

- Entertainment Industry Roles

- Movie & TV Directors

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Movie"

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Source: Movie

Published: January 13, 2026 at 08:38AM on Source: RON MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byKris Ronald

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 12, 2026

A guide to Quentin Tarantino’s movies in order by release date, from his daring debut to his doub...

Here's how to watch the whole bloody affair of his films. A guide to Quentin Tarantino's movies in order by relea...

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From serial killers to monsters, and bloodsuckers, here's your guide to the scariest horror movies on HBO Max — and why they give us the creeps. Oh, what a fright: The 30 best horror movies on HBO Max From serial killers to monsters, and bloodsuckers, here's your guide to the scariest horror movies on HBO Max — and why they give us the creeps. By Kevin Jacobsen and Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines on January 12, 2026 1:27 p.m.

From serial killers to monsters, and bloodsuckers, here's your guide to the scariest horror movies on HBO Max — and why they give us the creeps.

Oh, what a fright: The 30 best horror movies on HBO Max

From serial killers to monsters, and bloodsuckers, here's your guide to the scariest horror movies on HBO Max — and why they give us the creeps.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

on January 12, 2026 1:27 p.m. ET

Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren in 'The Conjuring'; A zombie in 'Night of the Living Dead'; Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie in 'Evil Dead Rise'. Credit:

Michael Tackett/New Line/Warner Bros.; Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Courtesy Everett; Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Looking for movies to give you the chills? HBO Max is the home for many of the scariest horror movies in cinema history. From genre-defining classics like *Night of the Living Dead* and *House* to modern favorites such as *Sinners* and *Weapons*, here's our guide to the best horror films on HBO Max.

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Maria Bakalova as Bee, Amandla Stenberg as Sophie, Myha'la as Jordan, and Rachel Sennott as Alice in 'Bodies Bodies Bodies'. Gwen Capistran/A24

A group of young adults meets up for a hurricane party in a remote vacation home, and chaos ensues when a friendly game takes an unexpectedly violent turn. *Bodies Bodies Bodies* marries slasher tropes with hilarious performances to create a horror-comedy that, as EW's critic writes, is "straight-up fun: a black-hearted comedy of manners meets contemporary social nightmare, written in blood and vape smoke." The movie also captures the unusual spirit of Gen Z better than almost any recent release, digging into the anxiety, hypocrisy, and messiness of modern adolescents. —*Wesley Stenzel*

Where to watch *Bodies Bodies Bodies*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Halina Reijn

**Cast:** Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha'la Herrold, Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson

Bring Her Back (2025)

Billy Barratt as Andy and Sally Hawkins as Laura in 'Bring Her Back'.

Ingvar Kenne/A24

In this chilling sophomore effort from Danny and Michael Philippou, the twin filmmakers build on the supernatural elements and grief exploration of their debut feature, 2023's *Talk to Me*, ramping up the emotional stakes significantly. The film centers on 17-year-old orphan Andy (Billy Barratt) and his blind half-sister, Piper (Sora Wong), who are adopted by a foster mother (Sally Hawkins) who has sinister plans for them. *Bring Her Back* unravels its disturbing secrets with nerve-wracking dread, relying more on ominous atmosphere than cheap jump scares. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Bring Her Back*: HBO Max

**Directors:** Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou

**Cast:** Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally Hawkins

The Brood (1979)

Cindy Hinds as Candice Carveth in 'The Brood'. Everett Collection

David Cronenberg's spin on the rise of psychotherapy in the late-'70s is a body horror classic. Samantha Eggar plays Nola, a mentally disturbed woman who is undergoing a controversial form of therapy under Dr. Hal Raglan (Oliver Reed). Nola's ex-husband is concerned with the doctor's techniques, especially when their young daughter is harmed after a visit with her mother. What unfolds from there is a wild trip through Cronenberg's imagination, with the writer-director penning the film following his own divorce.

*The Brood* was released the same year as the Oscar-winning divorce drama *Kramer vs. Kramer*, and while the former film plays within the world of science fiction, it may be even more illuminating about the discourse at the time surrounding the dissolution of marriage. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Brood*: HBO Max

**Director:** David Cronenberg

**Cast: **Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, Art Hindle, Nuala Fitzgerald, Henry Beckman

Carnival of Souls (1962)

Candace Hilligoss as Mary Henry in 'Carnival of Souls'. Everett Collection

After surviving a near-fatal car accident, a young church organist (Candace Hilligoss) tries to move on with her life, but remains haunted by visions of the undead. She also navigates an awkward romance, a strange employer, and an inconsistent but intense feeling that she doesn't exist at all. In the years since its release, *Carnival of Souls* has become one of the most influential and beloved independent horror films ever made. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *Carnival of Souls*: HBO Max

**Director:** Herk Harvey

**Cast: **Candace Hilligoss, Sidney Berger******

Companion (2025)

Sophie Thatcher as Iris in 'Companion'.

Cara Howe/Warner Bros. Pictures

As artificial intelligence and automation become more and more prevalent, it's inevitable that such tools will be used for truly nefarious purposes. This is demonstrated quite plainly in this twisty sci-fi horror thriller from producer Zach Cregger, who previously directed 2022's *Barbarian*. *Companion* follows a young woman named Iris (Sophie Thatcher) who discovers she's actually a robot designed to fulfill her boyfriend's (Jack Quaid) every desire. After Iris kills a man at their weekend getaway with friends, all hell breaks loose as Iris escapes and we learn that her boyfriend isn't the "nice guy" he purports himself to be. EW's critic calls *Companion* "a hell of an invigorating revenge fantasy, made all the more satisfying by its own winking self-awareness." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Companion*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Drew Hancock

**Cast:** Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend

The Conjuring (2013)

Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren in 'The Conjuring'.

Michael Tackett/New Line/Warner Bros

The first *Conjuring* film helped launch a billion-dollar franchise with a winning formula for modern-day horror, combining demonic spirits, jump scares, and a chilling based-on-a-true-story hook. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga play real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are summoned to a seemingly haunted Rhode Island farmhouse to ward off a demon. While multiple sequels and spinoffs have spawned in the years since, nothing matches *The Conjuring* in providing genuine, classic horror for an era of jaded moviegoers. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Conjuring*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** James Wan

**Cast:** Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor

Cronos (1993)

Federico Luppi as Jesús Gris in 'Cronos'. Everett Collection

The debut feature from Guillermo del Toro, *Cronos* tells the story of an older man (Federico Luppi) who discovers a mystical amulet that gives him a more energized, youthful demeanor — at a cost. The film explores mortality, addiction, and family with a story that fuses vampirism with Cronenbergian body horror. *Cronos* marries crowd-pleasing horror elements with highbrow filmmaking sensibilities into something that would fit under arthouse or grindhouse umbrellas. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *Cronos*: HBO Max

**Director:** Guillermo del Toro

**Cast: **Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook, Margarita Isabel, Tamara Shanath

Eraserhead (1977)

Jack Nance as Henry Spencer in 'Eraserhead'. Everett Collection

In David Lynch's debut feature, a young man (Jack Nance) struggles to adapt to fatherhood as he cares for his unusual baby in a black-and-white, industrially dismaying world. The film is a harrowing, surreal dream of young adult anxiety, tensely contemplating marriage and parenting with off-kilter sets and swirling sound design that enhance the film's discomfort. As Lynch's career has evolved, his first film has gained a strong cult following, and many filmmakers cite it as a favorite, including *Longlegs* director Osgood Perkins, who has referred to the movie as "Beautifully off and weird," per *MovieMaker*. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *Eraserhead*: HBO Max

**Director:** David Lynch

**Cast: **Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates, Judith Roberts

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie in 'Evil Dead Rise'. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

This fifth entry in the *Evil Dead* film series tested so well that Warner Bros. opted to release it in theaters rather than its intended streaming-only release. The jump-scare-laden film follows Beth (Lily Sullivan) as she visits her sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and Ellie's kids, one of whom has inadvertently summoned the demonic Deadites. Ellie is soon possessed and attacks her family, leading to terrifying consequences.

Like some of the best horror films, *Evil Dead Rise* deals in themes of motherhood, drawing genuine scares from Ellie threatening the lives of her own children. It's horrifying and gory in the grand tradition of the *Evil Dead* franchise, and you won't get that "Mommy's with the maggots now" line out of your head. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Evil Dead Rise*: HBO Max

**Director:** Lee Cronin

**Cast: **Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, Nell Fisher

Eyes Without a Face (1960)

Edith Scob as Christiane Génessier in 'Eyes Without a Face'. Everett Collection

As most fans of the genre know, critical reception for horror films doesn't always get it right initially. Such is the case with *Eyes Without a Face*, which met a chilly response in its initial release in 1960 but has since earned a reputation as one of the best French horror films ever made. Pierre Brasseur plays Dr. Génessier, a physician racked with guilt over causing his daughter's disfigurement in a car accident. His guilt manifests in kidnapping young women, removing their faces through surgery, and attempting to transplant them onto his daughter.

The haunting film may not have traditional jump scares but its disturbing plot is straight out of a Gothic fairy tale. No wonder Guillermo del Toro rates it as his favorite horror movie. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Eyes Without a Face*: HBO Max

**Director:** Georges Franju

**Cast: **Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel, Alexandre Rignault, Béatrice Altariba

Get Out (2017)

Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington in 'Get Out'. Universal Pictures

Few films in recent memory have had the kind of impact as *Get Out*, Jordan Peele's 2017 feature directorial debut, on the horror movie landscape. The story of Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a Black man who goes on a trip to meet his white girlfriend's parents, takes many twists and turns as he realizes they have sinister plans for him beneath their placid smiles. Blending trenchant social commentary with genuine thrills, the film explores terror on both a surface and subconscious level as Chris tries to escape his dreadful fate — one that is arguably worse than death. Peele won an Oscar for his screenplay, while the film itself was nominated for Best Picture, a rarity for the horror genre. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Get Out*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Jordan Peele

**Cast:** Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Catherine Keener

Häxan (1922)

Still in 'Haxan'. Everett Collection

This Swedish silent film examines the history of witchcraft through a combination of documentary-style explanation and dramatized segments. It's partially inspired by director Benjamin Christensen's research on the German text *Malleus Maleficarum*, a guide to witchcraft for inquisitors looking to persecute its perpetrators.

*Häxan* is so informative that it plays out like a brilliant college lecture, yet there's also immense artistry in all of its narrative moments. Thanks largely to gorgeous costumes and set designs, the beautifully grotesque renderings of witches and demons during the film's surreal moments are absolutely jaw-dropping, even if you think you're averse to silent movies (or the occult). The whole project ties together as a powerful critique of modern mental health stigmas and sexism, as history's witch hunts were byproducts of multiple layers of prejudice and misunderstanding. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *Häxan*: HBO Max

**Director:** Benjamin Christensen

**Cast: **Benjamin Christensen, Clara Pontoppidan, Oscar Stribolt, Astrid Holm, Maren Pedersen

Heretic (2024)

Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed, Sophie Thatcher as Sister Barnes, and Chloe East as Sister Paxton in 'Heretic'.

Some horror movies get their scares from supernatural boogeymen or masked murderers. *Heretic* features something even scarier: a smug know-it-all lecturing you about religion in a house you can't leave. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East star in this darkly comedic horror film as Mormon missionaries forced to endure the mind games of a man they're hoping to convert, the enigmatic Mr. Reed (a scenery-chewing Hugh Grant). "*Heretic* keeps you guessing," writes EW's critic, "obscuring its plot twists and holding back Reed's sinuous motives and master plan." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Heretic*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Directors:** Scott Beck, Bryan Woods

**Cast:** Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East

House (Hausu) (1977)

Yoko Minamida in 'House'. Everett Collection

A group of schoolgirls tries to escape a demonic haunted house in this cult classic from Japan. The film from Nobuhiko Obayashi is as much a comedy as it is a horror movie, as the supernatural scares are so ridiculous and unpredictable that you can't help but laugh at the film's over-the-top style. *House *experiments with tons of surreal techniques that make the film feel like a bizarre dream — there are wacky transitions, stylized backdrops, bursts of stop-motion and hand-drawn animation, wild color filters, jarring soundtrack choices, and dizzying camera movements.

Obayashi conceived of the film through conversations with his young daughter, who brought an unusual childlike perspective to his conception of a horror film. As a result, *House* is unlike any movie you've ever seen, and you're not likely to forget some of its most daring imagery. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *House*: HBO Max

**Director: **Nobuhiko Obayashi

**Cast: **Kimiko Ikegami, Miki Jinbo, Ai Matubara, Kumiko Oba, Mieko Sato

I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

Justice Smith as Owen and Jack Haven as Maddy in 'I Saw the TV Glow'.

This critically acclaimed indie horror drama explores the existential fear of feeling alienated by one's surroundings and not knowing how to cope with it. Owen (Justice Smith) and his friend Maddy (Jack Haven) grow up watching a *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*-esque teen drama called *The Pink Opaque*, to which they are profoundly connected. Years later, Maddy reunites with Owen, reveals she's been living inside *The Pink Opaque*, and urges Owen to consider joining her.

Writer-director Jane Schoenbrun's surrealist yet empathetic vision is brilliantly realized through haunting imagery and a potent blend of themes that explore our relationship to media, our growing isolation, and the queer experience. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *I Saw the TV Glow*: HBO Max

**Director:** Jane Schoenbrun

**Cast:** Justice Smith, Jack Haven, Helena Howard, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler**

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Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in 'It'.

Brooke Palmer/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

The first of a two-part film adaptation of Stephen King's iconic novel/doorstopper, *It* set the record as the highest-grossing horror film of all time at the domestic box office. It's easy to see why, considering the enduring image of Pennywise that's haunted readers for decades. Set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, a group of outcast kids must survive the taunting sewer-dwelling clown, who forces them to confront their deepest fears.**** EW's critic made note of the great timing of *It*'s release, following the success of a certain sci-fi/horror show, which had just premiered the previous year. "Just as there's no denying that a series like *Stranger Things* wouldn't exist without King's *It*, there's also no question that *Stranger Things* informs the way that It paints its band of nerdy young misfits and the fears they carry around inside them," he writes. "The two are in a dialogue with each other." *—K.J.*

Where to watch *It*: HBO Max

**Director:** Andy Muschietti

**Cast:** Jaeden Martell, Bill Skarsgård, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Colin Farrell as Steven Murphy and Barry Keoghan as Martin Lang in 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer'.

This off-kilter psychological thriller from auteur Yorgos Lanthimos gradually gets under your skin with a dark giddiness. Heart surgeon Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell) finds his life disrupted by Martin (Barry Keoghan), an enigmatic young man he befriends but soon discovers has ulterior motives. While its odd rhythms and disturbing twists won't be for everyone, EW's critic calls *The Killing of a Sacred Deer* "haunting and singular and strange." It's also worth it just to see Keoghan in his breakout performance, fully committing to the strangeness of his character. *—K.J.*

Where to watch *The Killing of a Sacred Deer*: HBO Max

**Director:** Yorgos Lanthimos

**Cast:** Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Alicia Silverstone

Kwaidan (1964)

Katsuo Nakamura as Hoichi in 'Kwaidan'. Everett Collection

Masaki Kobayashi, director of *Harakiri *and *The Human Condition* trilogy, crafted this three-hour anthology film, which tells four unrelated ghost stories based on the collections of writer Lafcadio Hearn. They're mysterious folktales that meditate on love, loyalty, and storytelling, where clear moral lessons are extracted from puzzling worlds. *Kwaidan* has a lot to offer besides its nightmarish atmosphere, delving into romantic tragedy, war narratives, and fantasy. It boasts incredible, hyper-stylized production design, with surreal backdrops and painterly attention to detail in every frame, and is scored by fantastic, disorienting music from composer Tōru Takemitsu, which, at its best moments, makes you feel as though you're being hypnotized. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *Kwaidan*: HBO Max

**Director:** Masaki Kobayashi

**Cast: **Tatsuya Nakadai, Rentarō Mikuni, Tetsurō Tamba, Keiko Kishi, Michiyo Aratama

The Lighthouse (2019)

Robert Pattinson as Ephraim Winslow and Willem Dafoe as Thomas Wake in 'The Lighthouse'. A24

Robert Pattinson gradually loses his mind while working as a 19th-century lighthouse keeper. His supervisor, Willem Dafoe, may have already lost his. If this isn't enough to sell you on *The Lighthouse*, Robert Eggers' psychological horror fable shot in striking black and white, we don't know what else will. Pattinson plays Ephraim Winslow, a young keeper withholding a dark secret from his past who comes to work at a coastal New England lighthouse under the guidance of Dafoe's crusty veteran, Thomas Wake. After a nasty storm prevents them from leaving the lighthouse, Ephraim begins to unravel as he contemplates murder.

Eggers' fully realized vision is executed with darkly entertaining glee, and Pattinson and Dafoe deliver some of their most committed performances to date. "With its pirate-y patois and meandering, bare-boned plot — is hardly the stuff of a Saturday cineplex," EW's critic notes. "But in its final galvanizing moments, Eggers finds something both stranger and better: pure, wild wonder." *—K.J.***** Where to watch *The Lighthouse*: HBO Max******EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Robert Eggers

**Cast:** Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe

Midsommar (2019)

Jack Reynor as Christian and Florence Pugh as Dani in 'Midsommar'.

A24/Courtesy Everett Collection

Ari Aster followed up the pitch-black darkness of *Hereditary* (2018) with the bright, wide-open spaces of *Midsommar*. Following an unspeakable family tragedy, Dani (Florence Pugh) goes with her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor), on a trip to a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival in Sweden. Still in the grips of her trauma, she is horrified to discover the practices of a pagan cult at the festival, while she also grapples with her strained relationship with Christian.**** Like with *Hereditary*, Aster immerses the audience in Dani's feeling of dread, finding herself in a true waking nightmare. As EW's critic notes, "Everything that happens in writer-director Ari Aster's cornea-searing, fantastically unnerving folk-horror reverie unfolds in the dazzling glare of June-bright sunlight." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Midsommar*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Ari Aster

**Cast:** Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Will Poulter, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Various ghouls in the 'Night of the Living Dead'. Everett Collection

George Romero's landmark independent horror classic established a new language for how moviegoers understood zombies as the slow-moving, flesh-eating undead creatures we know them to be. *Night of the Living Dead* centers all the action at a farmhouse, where seven people attempt to ward off the ghouls — without any prior knowledge of how to do so. Romero's film can be enjoyed on multiple levels: as a potent allegory for the Vietnam War, which was raging at the time of its initial release, or as simply a gnarly zombie B-movie. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Night of the Living Dead*: HBO Max

**Director:** George Romero

**Cast:** Judith O'Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman, Karl Hardman, Judith Ridley

Scanners (1981)

Michael Ironside as Darryl Revok in 'Scanners'.

Mary Evans/Canadian Film Development Corp/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

This sci-fi horror cult classic from David Cronenberg contains one of the most famous demonstrations of practical effects in film history. That, er, explosive moment may be *Scanners*' most memorable scene, but the rest of the film is a fun ride about a select group of people with psychic powers, some of whom use them for bad. The film centers on Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), who learns that the voices in his head are actually telepathic abilities and finds himself embroiled in a war between his fellow scanners. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Scanners*: HBO Max

**Director:** David Cronenberg

**Cast: **Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence Dane, Michael Ironside

Sinners (2025)

Michael B. Jordan as Elijah 'Smoke' Moore and Miles Caton as Samuel 'Sammie' Moore in 'Sinners'.

Ryan Coogler blended numerous influences in crafting this thought-provoking horror drama, from the monster movie thrills of *The Thing* (1982) to the Southern gothic atmospherics of *Eve's Bayou* (1997). The film stars Michael B. Jordan as twin entrepreneurs Smoke and Stack, who start up a juke joint catering to Black clientele in 1932 Mississippi. On opening night, the place is interrupted by the arrival of three vampires, leading to a chaotic, blood-soaked series of events. The brilliance of *Sinners* is in how Coogler tackles weighty themes about racism and the resilience of a community while also providing crowd-pleasing thrills for his audience. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Sinners*: HBO Max

**Director:** Ryan Coogler

**Cast:** Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku

Sisters (1972)

Margot Kidder as Dominique Blanchion in 'Sisters'. Everett Collection

When a Staten Island journalist (Jennifer Salt) witnesses a murder next door, she unfurls a dizzying mystery involving conjoined twins, a mental hospital, and a corpse stuffed in a couch.

*Sisters* is an excellent showcase for director Brian De Palma's unmistakable filmmaking style, as he employs dazzling split-screen compositions, impressive long takes, and complex camerawork to maximize the precision and clarity of the on-screen action. Like many of De Palma's other films, it feels heavily indebted to Alfred Hitchcock, drawing inspiration from *Psycho*, *Rope*, and *Rear Window*, while also featuring a score from Bernard Herrmann. Yet, its scariest scene — inspired by the unforgettable dream sequence in *Rosemary's Baby* — is a surreal flashback/hallucination that'll make your skin crawl. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *Sisters*: HBO Max

**Director:** Brian De Palma

**Cast: **Margot Kidder, Jennifer Salt, Charles Durning, William Finley, Lisle Wilson

The Substance (2024)

Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle in 'The Substance'.

Christine Tamalet/Courtesy of TIFF

Society's dangerous obsession with looking younger by any means necessary is satirized brilliantly in this grotesque body horror drama. Demi Moore won several high-profile awards for her star performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress–turned–fitness instructor who is unceremoniously fired from her job on her 50th birthday. Left mortified, Elisabeth turns to a dangerous experimental drug called the Substance that allows her to live as a younger version of herself, but, after she starts to abuse the drug, it wreaks unholy hell on her body. Gnarly yet undeniably clever in its social commentary, *The Substance* is an unforgettable nightmare with one of the most memorable endings of the decade. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Substance*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Coralie Fargeat

**Cast:** Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer and Kyle MacLachlan in Special Agent Dale Cooper in 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me'. Everett Collection

No one does dread quite like David Lynch, and this prequel film to *Twin Peaks* is a particularly haunting experience — even for him. The original series begins with the discovery of Laura Palmer's body, wrapped in plastic, while *Fire Walk With Me** *recounts the seven days leading up to her death. In a tour de force performance, Sheryl Lee reprises her role as Laura, whose homecoming queen popularity shields a tormented personal life, made further tragic by the men who abuse her — one of whom is her own father. It is undoubtedly a difficult watch, and while the film has its fair share of Lynchian dream logic, it is also one that speaks to the senseless tragedies of our world. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me*: HBO Max

**Director:** David Lynch

**Cast: **Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, David Bowie, Chris Isaak, Harry Dean Stanton

Vampyr (1932)

Nicolas de Gunzburg as Allan Gray in 'Vampyr'. Jerry Tavin/Everett

Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer followed up his acclaimed *The Passion of Joan of Arc* with this transfixing early vampire film. *Vampyr* focuses on a young man and occultist (Nicolas de Gunzburg) who attempts to free a French village from the curse of a bloodthirsty fiend.

Though the project was produced during the sound era, Dreyer still employed many silent film techniques to make it more accessible. The film features very little dialogue and still uses title cards. This also isn't a plot-heavy movie — instead, it elegantly builds a terrifying, dreamlike atmosphere through a series of hauntingly gorgeous images and surreal shots that'll stick with you long after the film ends. It's an exemplary mood piece that lulls you into a confounding trance as you try to make sense of its brooding imagery. *—W.S.*

Where to watch *Vampyr*: HBO Max

**Director:** Carl Theodor Dreyer

**Cast: **Nicolas de Gunzburg, Maurice Schutz, Rena Mandel, Jan Hieronimko, Sybille Schmitz

Weapons (2025)

Julia Garner as Justine Gandy in 'Weapons'.

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

A group of 17 third-grade classmates mysteriously runs away one night in a sleepy Pennsylvania town in this genre-bending horror mystery. Their teacher, Justine (Julia Garner), is a prime suspect, drawing the ire of her community, but the most obvious answer isn't always the right one, as writer-director Zach Cregger expertly unravels the mystery through gripping vignettes that allow us to piece together the puzzle. Chilling and highly entertaining in equal measure, *Weapons* is a step above modern horror movies of its ilk thanks to its sharp script and one scene-stealing performance that's best left unspoiled. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Weapons*: HBO Max

**Director:** Zach Cregger

**Cast:** Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan

The Witch (2015)

Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin in 'The Witch'. A24 Films

Robert Eggers' slow-burning debut feature, *The Witch*, tracks the misfortune and misery of a Puritan family in 17th-century New England, where they experience inexplicable terrors that may have supernatural origins (and may be picking them off one by one).**** The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the eldest child of the family, alongside Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie as her parents. Eggers strove for authenticity in his recreation of early colonial life, going to great lengths to study and adapt the foreignness of the characters' dialect and lifestyle, which makes it feel as though you're watching actual historical events. What's more, Taylor-Joy was so disturbed by the script that it impacted her sleep: "The words gripped my heart with an icy cold hand," she told EW. "I didn't sleep a wink." —*W.S.***** Where to watch *The Witch*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Robert Eggers

**Cast:** Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger

Your Monster (2024)

Tommy Dewey as Monster and Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco in 'Your Monster'.

Part monster movie, part quirky rom-com, this underseen horror comedy allows Melissa Barrera to continue to flex her scream-queen muscles. The *Scream* alum stars as Laura, an actress still reeling from breaking up with her boyfriend as well as her recent cancer diagnosis. After returning to her childhood home, she discovers a beastly monster in her closet, of whom she's initially terrified but soon develops a strange relationship. And just when you think the film is verging too much outside the horror realm, then comes the ending to reinforce its place on this list. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Your Monster*: HBO Max through Jan. 23

**Director:** Caroline Lindy

**Cast:** Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster, Meghann Fahy

- Horror Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Horror"

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Source: Horror

Published: January 13, 2026 at 08:38AM on Source: RON MAG

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byKris Ronald

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 12, 2026

Oh, what a fright: The 30 best horror movies on HBO Max

From serial killers to monsters, and bloodsuckers, here's your guide to the scariest horror movies on HBO Max — and why ...

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Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as best friends harboring feelings in Netflix's romantic comedy. People We Meet on Vacation ending: Do Poppy and Alex end up together? Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as best friends harboring feelings in Netflix's romantic comedy. By Allison DeGrushe :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/allisondegrusheEWbiophotoe5f8e89253c84b7085a43c502a3051a4.jpg) Allison DeGrushe Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at . She has been working at since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify. EW's editorial guidelines January 12, 2026 5:00 p.m.

Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as best friends harboring feelings in Netflix's romantic comedy.

*People We Meet on Vacation *ending: Do Poppy and Alex end up together?

Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as best friends harboring feelings in Netflix's romantic comedy.

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

EW's editorial guidelines

January 12, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET

Emily Bader as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex in 'People We Meet on Vacation'. Credit:

Daniel Escale/Netflix

- *People We Meet on Vacation *premiered on Netflix on Friday, Jan. 9.

- The romantic comedy centers on best friends Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen, who make it a tradition to go on a trip together every summer.

- The film is adapted from Emily Henry's best-selling book.

It might be the middle of winter, but Netflix's *People We Meet on Vacation *brings the warmth of endless summer fun.

Based on Emily Henry's 2021 bestseller of the same name, the romantic comedy follows college best friends Poppy Wright (Emily Bader) and Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth) as their annual summer trips carry them through years of change, mistakes, and lots of surprises. Their evolving friendship makes viewers wonder if some connections are meant to stay the same… or turn into something more.

So, are Poppy and Alex the ultimate friends-to-lovers duo, or do they keep each other in the friend zone? Here's how the movie breaks down.

What is *People We Meet on Vacation *about?

Emily Bader as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex in 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

Michele K. Short/Netflix

Poppy, a travel writer living in New York, is pretty miserable with her job and routine. One day, she gets a call from her friend David (Miles Heizer), who reminds her that his destination wedding in Barcelona is happening this weekend.

On a total whim, Poppy says she'll come (even though she's supposed to be in Greece for a work trip), mostly because it gives her an excuse to see David's brother Alex, who used to be her best friend.

Nine years earlier, Poppy and Alex met after their first year at Boston College and end up carpooling back to their hometown of Linfield, Ohio. The drive is tense, especially since they clash over everything and spend most of the trip bickering over the traffic. Things get worse when they lock themselves out of the car at a gas station and end up having to share a motel room for the night.

How the 'People We Meet on Vacation' movie differs from the book: All the key changes

'People We Meet on Vacation' stars break down Poppy's big romantic gesture: 'It's so simple'

Once the fighting dies down, Poppy and Alex realize they are more alike than they thought, and that unexpected road trip turns into the start of a real friendship. From there, the two make it a tradition of taking a big trip together every summer.

Back in the present, Poppy and Alex haven't spoken in years (more on that in a bit), but she calls him anyway to test the waters about attending the wedding. When she tells him she's going, she conveniently leaves out the truth and claims her job is actually sending her to Barcelona for work.

Why did Poppy and Alex stop talking?

Tom Blyth as Alex and Emily Bader as Poppy in 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

In another flashback, Poppy and Alex's friendship starts to crack after a *very *uncomfortable couples trip in Tuscany, Italy, with their lovers: Poppy's boyfriend and coworker Trey (Lucien Laviscount), and Alex's on-and-off high school girlfriend Sarah (Sarah Catherine Hook).

The whole trip is already awkward, but things spiral further when Poppy panics that she might be pregnant. She tells Alex, and the two of them sneak off to get a test. It comes back negative, which is a huge relief for both of them.

Caught up in the moment, they hug, and Poppy suddenly leans in to kiss him. Alex stops her and asks her what he actually means to her. Embarrassed, Poppy retreats, insisting she's very confused and doesn't want to ruin their close friendship. Alex says that's "fine," but clearly, it's not.

Things get worse the following morning, when Poppy wakes up to find out that Alex and Sarah are engaged. When they talk about it, Poppy lashes out, accusing Alex of "settling" and giving up on his old dreams of getting a PhD and teaching in New York. Alex fires back that he is choosing stability and someone who actually wants to build a life with him.

Their conversation explodes into a full-blown argument. Alex tells Poppy she lives in a fantasy world before saying that this is probably their last vacation together. Poppy is absolutely crushed but says nothing in response.

What happened to Alex and Sarah?

Emily Bader as Poppy, Lucien Laviscount as Trey, Tom Blyth as Alex, and Sarah Catherine Hook as Sarah in 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

Daniel Escale/Netflix

Even though Alex and Sarah look perfect on the surface, it slowly becomes clear they are not meant to be. Their relationship is stuck in a cycle of breaking up and getting back together, and while they always manage to patch things up, it's barely enough to reach the point of getting engaged.

Back in the present, right before David's wedding, Poppy finds out that the cycle finally ended for good, and Alex and Sarah have split. After the rehearsal dinner, Alex comes clean and tells Poppy the truth: she's the reason the engagement didn't last, and why he and Sarah decided to go their separate ways.

Poppy later runs into Sarah at the airport, where she's now working as a flight attendant. Poppy initially hesitates but ends up apologizing to Sarah, admitting that her deep connection with Alex had gotten in the way of her relationship. Sarah says that she once believed Poppy disappearing from Alex's life would fix everything, but instead, those two silent years only made her and Alex's romance fall apart even more.

Do Alex and Poppy finally act on their feelings?

Emily Bader as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex in 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

Michele K. Short/Netflix

Now that they are both single, Alex and Poppy finally let themselves act on the feelings they've been harboring for years. After the rehearsal dinner, Alex asks why Poppy even came to the wedding, and she admits she missed him and wished things could go back to the way they were before that almost-kiss in Tuscany. Alex tells her they can't go back, and they part ways for the night.

Poppy heads up to her rental, and just as Alex walks away, he has a change of heart and follows her. He tells her he doesn't want things to go back to the way they were, and they finally lay it all out. The friends-turned-lovers share a long-awaited kiss in the rain and sleep together.

The wedding goes smoothly, but by the reception, the spark between them starts to fray. Alex brings up their future, and Poppy hesitates to reply. She tells him they can figure it out later and just enjoy their time together.

That's when Alex realizes that, no matter how much they love and care for each other, he and Poppy will never work because she still doesn't know what she really wants, and he can't wait for her any longer.

What happens at the end of People We Meet on Vacation?

Emily Bader as Poppy in 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

Daniel Escale/Netflix

After returning to life in New York, Poppy realizes that her indecisiveness cost her the love of her life. So, she quits her job, hops on a plane, and heads to Alex's house in Ohio, determined to tell him she wants to be with him.

When she gets there, Alex is out for a run. She sees him jog past her, but his headphones keep him from hearing her shouting his name. Despite hating running more than anything, Poppy bolts after him.

Breathless, she catches up to Alex in the middle of the road and blurts out everything: she loves him and wants to be with him, but she's been worried that he would think she was too much if he saw the real her outside of their yearly trips. But she's finally ready to take the leap because Alex is her home. They seal the deal with a passionate kiss.

Tom Blyth as Alex in 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

Daniel Escale/Netflix

"What I love about it is it's not a huge thing, like she's just running through the streets, but it's so simple," Blyth told ** of the romantic gesture. "You just heard this girl throughout the whole film say how much she hates running, and she's with this guy who's an avid runner... she could totally just wait on his porch for him to get back. But the urgency with which she feels she has to tell him that she actually does love him and wants to be with him makes her run through town after him and basically become a runner for him."

He added that the scene is "the ultimate metaphor for these little compromises in life that we have to make to be with someone."

Blyth also pointed out how it flips the friends-to-lovers story. "I love that it's the girl running after the guy, because so often it's the other way around," he said. "Like often in popular culture, it's the guy who doesn't want to settle down and who is kind of unanchored and untetherable, and the woman who wants to settle down and have kids, and that's kind of the trope. But I love that this film, hence the nuance of life, which is that, actually, it goes both ways."

The movie ends with Poppy and Alex sharing wine in their cozy NYC apartment and later lounging on a beach together (a callback to the book cover). There are even fun little Easter eggs, like the book Alex reads on the beach. It's written by Augustus "Gus" Everett, the author at the heart of Henry's 2020 novel *Beach Read*.

Where can I watch People We Meet on Vacation?

*People We Meet on Vacation *is now streaming on Netflix.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

- Romance Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Romance"

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Source: Romance

Published: January 13, 2026 at 07:38AM on Source: RON MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byKris Ronald

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

January 12, 2026

People We Meet on Vacation ending: Do Poppy and Alex end up together?

Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as best friends harboring feelings in Netflix's romantic comedy. People We Meet on Vacati...

Read More