Spa Weekend: A Chaotic Girls' Getaway Tests Lifelong Friendships
Spa Weekend, the 2026 comedy written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, reunites four lifelong friends for a luxury spa getaway that quickly spirals into chaos. The film, which opened in US cinemas on August 21 via Black Bear Pictures, stars Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Anna Faris, and Michelle Buteau as women whose carefully planned retreat unravels amidst meddling, embarrassment, and eventual reckoning.
Shot in Queensland, Australia, the story follows Jane (Leslie Mann), an overworked single mother and lawyer; Sophie (Anna Faris), a people-pleasing assistant; Coco (Michelle Buteau), still nursing wounds from a recent divorce; and Mel (Isla Fisher), the chaotic, wealthy friend the others have quietly distanced themselves from. The ensemble also features Adam Demos as spa yoga instructor Kai and Dominic Ona-Ariki as Coco's ex-husband Roger.
The Premise: A Birthday Plan Unravels
Jane books the spa trip almost on impulse, her schedule as a single mum only allowing a date three months out. Coco suggests the idea over brunch, and within minutes the three commit to a two-night stay at a wellness retreat that, on screen, evokes Palm Springs—though it was actually filmed on Australia's Gold Coast.
Mel's arrival upends the plan. According to a plot summary from Indiatimes, Mel tricks Coco's ex-husband Roger into coming to the spa, while Jane develops a romantic connection with Kai, and Sophie loses her job after Mel calls her boss. The ensuing confrontations ultimately lead the four friends to decide their friendship survives, with an ending that includes a goat yoga scene and a joke about a goat getting Mel pregnant—a sequence that, per Indiatimes, reflects the film's "not interested in surprising plot twists" approach.
Isla Fisher on Returning to Australia and the Cast's Chemistry
In an interview with The New Indian Express, Isla Fisher spoke about her connection to Australia, where she was partly raised. Born in Oman to Scottish parents, Fisher grew up across Iran, Sarawak, Brunei, and England before her family settled in Western Australia. Returning for Spa Weekend, she said, felt like coming home.
Fisher described the film as "so much fun," praising the cast's camaraderie. She had known Anna Faris and Leslie Mann for years, but meeting Michelle Buteau for the first time on set was, she said, "a dream come true." The actor noted the "love, encouragement, and support" among the ensemble from day one.
Reflecting on the film's fight scene, Fisher acknowledged the physical demands, saying that "as women of a certain age, fighting is not our thing, so we had to train hard for that scene." She added that while there was much practice and laughter, "it worked out great in the end."
Fisher also shared her approach to acting across genres, telling The New Indian Express: "I don't differentiate between the genres because, from an acting perspective, you are approaching the characters the same way. You are connecting with the humanity of the role and keeping the character grounded in reality."
Recalling a cyclone that struck during filming in Queensland, Fisher noted the cast and crew were locked in a hotel—an experience that, despite the disruption, seemed to strengthen the bond among the women.
The Directors on the State of Big-Screen Comedy
Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, who previously wrote The Hangover (2009), which grossed nearly $470 million globally, and worked on the Bad Moms franchise (2016–2017), spoke with Deadline about the current landscape for original comedies. They pointed to the reluctance of major studios to back pure comedies, contrasting them with hybrid genre films like Deadpool & Wolverine, Get Out, or recent Bad Boys sequels, which blend comedy with other genres.
The duo suggested that The Hangover's success may have set an extraordinarily high bar, making subsequent original comedies appear to fall short in comparison. They also discussed the state of the Bad Moms franchise, which they helped launch.
Spa Weekend, produced by Black Bear, is currently playing in cinemas. Indiatimes reports that a digital release is expected in September 2026, with physical formats following in October—though this has not been confirmed by the filmmakers or distributor.