Finding movies like Vacation Friends is surprisingly hard because that movie thrives on a very specific, uncomfortable brand of magic. You know the vibe. It’s that cringey, "I can’t believe they just did that" energy mixed with genuine heart. John Cena and Meredith Hagner played Ron and Kyla with such unhinged, boundary-crossing optimism that it made Lil Rel Howery’s straight-man routine feel like a survival tactic. It’s a comedy about the friends you definitely didn't ask for but somehow desperately needed.
The 2021 Hulu hit worked because it tapped into a universal fear: the vacation fling that follows you home. While the sequel, Vacation Friends 2, tried to double down on the tropical chaos in 2023, fans of the original are usually looking for that R-rated, ensemble-driven madness that defined 2000s and 2010s comedies. We’re talking about movies where a simple plan goes off the rails within twenty minutes.
The "Chaos Couple" Dynamic in Modern Comedy
If the thing you loved most about Vacation Friends was the contrast between a buttoned-up couple and a pair of total wildcards, you have to start with Game Night (2018). It’s probably the best-constructed studio comedy of the last decade. It isn't just funny; it’s actually a well-shot thriller. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams have this incredible chemistry as a hyper-competitive couple, but it’s Jesse Plemons as the creepy neighbor who steals the entire movie. Like Ron and Kyla, Plemons' character, Gary, exists in a reality that doesn't quite match everyone else's.
Then there’s Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. This one hits the "reckless energy" button hard. Zac Efron and Adam DeVine play brothers who are forced to bring "respectable" dates to their sister’s wedding in Hawaii. The twist? The girls they pick (Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza) are actually more degenerate than they are. It mirrors that Vacation Friends trope where the people you think are the problem are actually just the catalyst for everyone else’s repressed insanity. Honestly, Plaza’s performance in this is the spiritual ancestor to Hagner’s Kyla.
Why We Crave The "Vacation Gone Wrong" Trope
There is something inherently funny about people being trapped together in a beautiful location while their lives fall apart. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the gold standard here. While it’s more of a rom-com, it captures that feeling of trying to have a "nice time" while surrounded by people who remind you of your own failures.
Think about the secondary characters. You've got Aldous Snow, played by Russell Brand, who serves as the "unpredictable element" much like John Cena’s Ron. He’s wealthy, he’s eccentric, and he has zero boundaries. The movie forces the protagonist, Peter, to confront his insecurities in the most public way possible, which is exactly what happens to Marcus in the Vacation Friends universe.
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The Underappreciated Gem: The Overnight
If you want something a bit more indie and way more uncomfortable, The Overnight (2015) is basically Vacation Friends if it were directed by someone who loves psychological tension. Adam Scott and Taylor Schilling play a couple new to Los Angeles who meet a "cool" couple (Jason Schwartzman and Judith Godrèche) at a park. What starts as a simple playdate for their kids turns into a bizarre, increasingly sexual, and boundary-stripping night. It’s much smaller in scale, but the "are these people crazy or am I just boring?" internal monologue is identical.
The R-Rated Ensemble Evolution
We can't talk about movies like Vacation Friends without acknowledging the Hangover sized elephant in the room. But while The Hangover is about the mystery of what happened, Vacation Friends is about the dread of what is currently happening.
- Wedding Crashers: This is the blueprint for the "uninvited guests who actually make the party better" vibe. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson pioneered the fast-talking, high-energy intrusion comedy that Cena leans into so well.
- Step Brothers: If you loved the immature, childlike bonding between the men in Vacation Friends, this is the pinnacle. It’s pure id.
- Horrible Bosses: It captures that frantic, "we are in over our heads" pacing.
Why do these work? Because they rely on the "Straight Man" archetype. In Vacation Friends, Lil Rel Howery is the anchor. Without his mounting frustration, the jokes don't land. Comedy is balance. You need the person screaming "This isn't normal!" for the person doing the "not normal" thing to be funny.
Bad Moms and the Female Perspective of Chaos
It’s not just the guys who get to have destructive vacations or nights out. Bad Moms (2016) and its sequel take the "overworked professionals snapping" concept and run with it. Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn (who is essentially the female John Cena in terms of comedic chaos) decide to stop being perfect.
The scene where they trash a grocery store is pure Vacation Friends energy. It’s that liberation from social norms. People watch these movies because we all have a secret desire to tell a rude waiter to shut up or to jump off a cliff into the ocean with total strangers. These films are wish fulfillment for the chronically responsible.
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The "Strange Connection" Movies
Sometimes the appeal isn't the vacation; it's the weird bond. The Do-Over with Adam Sandler and David Spade on Netflix follows a similar beat. One friend fakes their deaths so they can start over, leading to a series of increasingly violent and ridiculous situations in a tropical setting. It’s cruder and more action-heavy, but the DNA is there.
Similarly, Couples Retreat offers that ensemble cast dynamic. While it’s PG-13 and significantly "safer" than the R-rated raunch of Vacation Friends, it deals with the same themes of relationship friction exacerbated by a high-pressure holiday environment. You’ve got the different archetypes: the struggling couple, the perfectionists, and the guy who brought a twenty-year-old he barely knows.
Stuber and the Unlikely Duo
If the chemistry between Lil Rel Howery and John Cena was your favorite part, watch Stuber. It stars Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista. It’s a classic "odd couple" setup—an Uber driver and a gritty cop—but the comedic timing is modern and sharp. It’s that same "big guy, small guy" physical comedy that made the golf course scenes in Vacation Friends so memorable.
Real Talk: Why Some Of These Movies Fail
Not every "wild" comedy works. To be movies like Vacation Friends, a film needs to have stakes. If the characters don't care about their jobs, their weddings, or their reputations, then their wild behavior doesn't matter.
The reason Vacation Friends succeeded—and why it got a sequel—was that Marcus and Emily actually had something to lose. They were trying to impress parents and build a life. When Ron and Kyla show up, they aren't just annoying; they are a threat to a carefully constructed identity.
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Many modern comedies forget this. They just have people being "crazy" for the sake of it, but without the "straight" characters to provide perspective, the humor evaporates. Rough Night (2017) is a good example of a movie that tries this—a bachelorette party goes wrong when a male stripper dies—but it often feels more stressed than funny because the stakes are too high (legal jeopardy vs. social embarrassment).
Exploring the "Accidental Friendship" Subgenre
There’s a specific niche of movies where characters are forced into friendships they’d normally avoid. What Happens in Vegas with Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz hits this. It’s the "stuck together by circumstance" trope.
Then there’s Tag (2018). Based on a true story (mostly), it follows a group of grown men who have been playing the same game of tag for thirty years. It captures that relentless, obsessive friendship that borders on stalking. Much like Ron and Kyla tracking down Marcus and Emily, the characters in Tag will go to any length—including crashing funerals and births—to keep the connection alive. It’s heartwarming and terrifying at the same time.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Movie Night
If you're staring at your streaming queue and can't decide, here is how to narrow down your choice based on what you liked about Vacation Friends:
- For the "Cringe" Factor: Go with The Overnight or Game Night. These movies lean into the social awkwardness of meeting new people who might be "too much."
- For the Tropical Chaos: Watch Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates or Forgetting Sarah Marshall. These give you the vacation aesthetic with high-energy disasters.
- For the Bromance: Check out Stuber or Tag. These focus on the male bonding (or lack thereof) that happens when things get intense.
- For the Raunchy Ensemble: Bad Moms or Wedding Crashers will satisfy that craving for R-rated group dynamics.
The best way to enjoy these is to lean into the absurdity. These movies aren't meant to be realistic; they are meant to be a release valve for the pressure of being a "normal" adult.
Start with Game Night if you haven't seen it. It’s the most refined version of this genre. From there, move into the more chaotic waters of Mike and Dave. If you find yourself missing the specific warmth of John Cena's performance, look for his other comedic work like Blockers, which proves he’s one of the best comedic actors working today. He has a way of being intense and sincere that makes the "crazy" character feel human instead of just a caricature.
Ultimately, the "Vacation Friends" vibe is about finding the beauty in the people who disrupt your perfectly planned life. It's about realizing that maybe your "perfect" life was actually a little bit boring. So, pick a movie, grab some snacks, and prepare to feel very, very glad that these people aren't actually your friends.