Netflix's latest original romantic comedy, Voicemails for Isabelle, has left viewers in tears while being hailed as one of the best rom-coms in years. The film, which premiered on the streaming platform on Friday, June 22, 2026, follows chef Jill (Zoey Deutch) as she copes with the death of her sister Isabelle (Ciara Bravo) by leaving lengthy voicemails on her sibling's old phone number. Unbeknownst to Jill, the number has been reassigned to real estate agent Wes (Nick Robinson), who becomes captivated by her messages and falls for her.
Critical and Audience Acclaim
At the time of writing, Voicemails for Isabelle holds an 85% rating from critics on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, significantly higher than typical Netflix rom-com fare. Audience scores are even stronger at 92%. Professional reviews have praised the film as 'the real deal,' with critic Tina Kakadelis enthusing: 'If Voicemails for Isabelle marks the beginning of a rom-com renaissance, we are surely in good hands.' Sherin Nicole of RogerEbert.com wrote: 'Voicemails for Isabelle has a high emotional IQ, a romantic journey you’ll want to follow, and a real sense of the lunacy that makes life hilarious—even when we’re hurting.'
Fan Reactions on Social Media
Fans have taken to social media to express their adoration. On X (formerly Twitter), user @packersloren posted: 'Voicemails for Isabelle really brought back romcoms. I laughed, cried, smiled. Best Netflix movie in a while.' Another user, @paipixx, wrote: 'I haven’t felt this much joy from a rom-com in a long time.' Shruti tweeted: 'I just watched Voicemails for Isabelle and I’m a sobbing mess, rom-coms are so back.' @vcrqueenjen added: 'Honest to God best romcom I’ve seen in quite some time.. I bawled, Voicemails for Isabelle was wonderful and definitely caught me by surprise.' Jaxon chimed in: 'Voicemails for Isabelle has given me hope for rom-coms.'
Comparisons to Rom-Com Royalty
Zoey Deutch has drawn comparisons to the genre's queen, Meg Ryan, with T3 claiming she is 'one of the few actors who can hold a candle to Ryan’s level of chutzpah.' A fan on Instagram insisted: 'If there’s a modern rom-com Mount Rushmore, Zoey Deutch absolutely deserves a spot on it.' Deutch previously starred in 2018's Set It Up and 2022's Something From Tiffany’s. Nick Robinson's character Wes is seen passionately defending Tom Hanks as 'America’s sweetheart,' a nod to Hanks' frequent collaborations with Ryan.
Behind the Scenes and Inspiration
Written and directed by Leah McKendrick, Voicemails for Isabelle also stars Nick Offerman, Lukas Gage, and Harry Shum Jr. McKendrick revealed the true-life inspiration behind the film in an interview with Forbes: 'It was based on a love for the fact that my sister taught me how to love. And she taught me how to identify true love in the world.' The voicemail concept originated at a comedy night, where McKendrick heard a comedian riff on a dead father's voicemails. She thought: 'If my sister were to die, I would keep calling her.' She described the film as 'my love letter to sisterhood, even the sisters that we choose.'
Netflix's Rom-Com Renaissance
Voicemails for Isabelle follows Netflix's recent rom-com Office Romance, starring Brett Goldstein and Jennifer Lopez, and the popular adaptation of Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation earlier in 2026. The film is streaming now exclusively on Netflix.
