Netflix has a new movie leading its global Top 10 rankings, and it is a romantic comedy that has earned praise from both critics and viewers. The film, Voicemails for Isabelle, has quickly risen to the No. 1 position on the streaming platform, replacing the true-crime feature Maternal Instinct, which had previously held the top spot.
Written and directed by Leah McKendrick, Voicemails for Isabelle stands out as an original production rather than an adaptation of an existing novel, a rarity in a genre that frequently relies on bestselling books for source material. The film stars Zoey Deutch, known for Not Okay, and Nick Robinson of Love, Simon fame, while McKendrick also appears in the movie.
The story follows Jill, played by Deutch, who copes with the loss of her sister by leaving voicemails on her old phone number. When that number is reassigned, the messages are received by Austin, portrayed by Robinson, creating an unexpected connection that gradually develops into a romance.
The movie has received strong reviews, earning an 86% critics’ score and a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The positive audience response places it among the better-performing romantic comedies on Netflix in recent years and suggests it has connected with viewers beyond its initial streaming success.
Its performance has prompted comparisons to Netflix’s popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise. The first film in that series earned a 96% critics’ score and an 84% audience score before expanding into a trilogy and inspiring the spinoff series XO, Kitty. Given the early reception to Voicemails for Isabelle, some observers may see potential for the story to continue in future projects.
Unlike many Netflix romance titles centered on teenagers, this film focuses on adult characters. Both Deutch and Robinson are 31 years old, giving the story a more mature perspective. The release also marks another successful Netflix romantic comedy for Deutch, whose 2018 film Set It Up, co-starring Glenn Powell, remains one of the platform’s best-received entries in the genre with a 92% audience score.
With strong ratings from both critics and audiences and an original storyline free from adaptation-related expectations, Voicemails for Isabelle appears well positioned to remain near the top of Netflix’s rankings in the coming weeks.
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