Whenever I get a text from my roommate asking me if I want to watch “that new rom-com on Netflix,” I know I’m in for a good night. That’s exactly how I found myself last week, watching Voicemails for Isabelle and sobbing on my couch. Since then, I’ve had multiple friends tell me how much they loved the movie, and my social media feed has been taken over by the hashtag ‘voicemailsforisabelle.’ People are dancing around to Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” posting about how much they love their siblings, and sharing tear-streaked selfies as the credits roll.
It didn’t take long for people to start talking about Voicemails for Isabelle once it was released. In fact, it hardly took any time at all. The movie amassed over 30 million watches in its first week on Netflix and, at the time of writing, holds the top spot on the streaming platform’s Global Top 10 Movies chart. But why exactly are audiences resonating with it so much? I’ve been saying we’re in the middle of a rom-com renaissance, but could there be something deeper at work here? Read on for my thoughts on the movie—and, of course, what you should watch next.
What is Voicemails for Isabelle about?
After her sister Isabelle’s sudden passing, Jill (played by Zoey Deutch) copes with her grief by leaving messages on Isabelle’s old phone number. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill voicemails: Jill documents everything for her sister in great detail, from bad hookups to her struggles at work as a young pastry chef. But what Jill doesn’t know is that Isabelle’s number was reassigned to a man named Wes (played by Nick Robinson). Charmed by the voicemails, Wes hatches a plan to meet Jill in person without ever having spoken to her.
My Voicemails for Isabelle review
I may be in the minority here, but I’m a sucker for a good “rom-traum.” It’s OK if a movie breaks my heart, as long as it gets put back together by the end! Voicemails for Isabelle certainly achieved that. I was ugly crying within the first 20 minutes and kicking my feet by the end. As the oldest of three sisters, I really appreciated that Jill’s relationship with Isabelle remained central to the story after Isabelle’s death, and especially as Jill began falling for Wes. Grief never felt like a throwaway backstory, and I loved how the movie balanced the heavier moments with the lighter ones.
“This movie serves as a reminder that even in hard times, we are deserving of a love that embraces every version of us.”
My only critique? Well, you can’t think too hard about the premise without it turning into a horror movie. Wes essentially spends months listening to Jill’s most personal voicemails, then uses everything he’s learned to basically stalk her and say exactly the right things when they finally meet. Romantic? Maybe. A little unsettling? Also yes. With that said, every rom-com is a little questionable, and that’s never stopped us from loving them before.
Why Voicemails for Isabelle is so loved right now
Between movies like this and shows like Off Campus, it’s safe to say that rom-coms are on the rise once again. But what makes Voicemails for Isabelle special is that it seems to know what modern viewers are actually looking for in a love story. It feels reminiscent of classic rom-coms from Nancy Meyers or Nora Ephron without trying to recreate them. I can see several similarities between this movie and Sleepless in Seattle, but other than a cheeky reference or two, Voicemails for Isabelle still stands on its own. Many fans online agree with me, saying that it had all the makings of an early 2000s rom-com while still feeling modern.
But beyond what makes a good love story on screen, I think you could argue that the reception to this movie also has a lot to say about what we’re looking for in real-life relationships. The reason I think a rom-com about someone’s dead sister can exist in the first place is that grief and love are actually very similar. Both require an immense amount of vulnerability to let yourself feel all the feels and keep moving forward despite not knowing what lies ahead.
A movie like Voicemails for Isabelle shows us that a worthy partner is someone who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable with us. And more than that, they aren’t afraid of our vulnerability, either. Someone who will be there for us, even and especially during the hard moments. Someone who will really listen and take the time to get to know every part of you. This movie serves as a reminder that even in hard times, we are deserving of a love that embraces every version of us—and that it’s out there waiting for us.
What to watch after Voicemails for Isabelle
1. Love at First Sight
American student Hadley and charming Brit Oliver find themselves falling in love over the course of their flight to London. She’s on her way abroad for her father’s wedding, which is all too quick after her parents’ divorce. He’s heading home to be with family, too, but for a completely different reason. Based on the book with a similar name, this underrated flick also deals with grief, but still explores what it means to find love in the midst of difficult times.
2. Eternity
After arriving in the afterlife, Joan is forced to choose who she’ll spend eternity with: Larry, her husband of over 65 years, or Luke, her first love who died young. This movie takes a more comedic approach to deeper concepts like death and the afterlife, but it also has a stacked cast and one of the best love triangles I’ve seen in a minute. Eternity was a favorite release for me last year, and more people should be talking about it!
3. The Greatest Hits
Harriet discovers that whenever she listens to a song associated with her late boyfriend Max, who died in a car accident a few years ago, she travels back in time to that moment. Instead of using this newfound ability to process her grief, Harriet keeps trying to save Max’s life. Her constant back-and-forth between the past and the present only grows more complicated when she finds herself drawn to someone new in her support group. This movie’s magical realism element adds an interesting layer to its portrayal of grief.
4. P.S. I Love You
Holly’s world is shattered when her husband Gerry dies of a brain tumor. But while she struggles to heal, she learns that Gerry arranged for a series of letters to be sent to her after his death. Each letter, ending with the phrase “P.S. I love you,” encourages Holly to find ways to keep living instead of letting herself be swallowed by her grief. Whether it’s letters or voicemails, it’s not hard to find similar threads between this romantic drama and Voicemails for Isabelle. It’s a bittersweet watch for sure, but P.S. I Love You shows us that some loves are worth the heartbreak that may follow.
5. Set It Up
Ending the list on a happier note! Harper and Charlie have little to no social lives thanks to their demanding bosses. In an attempt to gain back some of their free time, they decide to set their bosses up on a date. But when it works, keeping them in a relationship is much harder work than either Harper or Charlie could have bargained for. If you’re craving more of that rom-com magic that only Zoey Deutch can provide, Set It Up is the movie for you. Plus, its a rom-com with Glen Powell, and those are always good.
Hannah Carapellotti, Contributing Writer
Hannah is an Ann Arbor-based writer with a bachelor’s in English and writing from the University of Michigan. Outside of The Everygirl, Hannah has written for The Michigan Daily, where she also served as an editor. She currently works at an independent bookstore and is interning for a literary agency.
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