Netflix viewers clearly can’t get enough of “Voicemails for Isabelle.” The romantic comedy has shot straight to the streamer's No. 1 movie spot since its release, and that’s most likely down to its comforting premise that feels refreshingly modern.
"Voicemails for Isabelle" follows a young woman who leaves deeply personal voicemails for her late sister, unaware that the phone number has been reassigned to a stranger, who becomes captivated by the voice behind the messages.
If that setup sounds a little like “You’ve Got Mail,” you're not imagining it. “Voicemails for Isabelle” puts its own spin on the classic mistaken-connection rom-com formula while including plenty of emotional twists along the way. So, if you've already finished Netflix's latest chart-topper and are looking for something with a similar mix of romance and longing, these five movies should be at the top of your watchlist.
‘Love Again’ (2023)
To say “Love Again” and “Voicemails for Isabelle” have the exact same premise would be an understatement. When you read the synopsis, you’ll be surprised at how similar they actually are. “Love Again” is actually an English-language remake of the highly successful 2016 German box office hit, which was itself based on a popular romance novel by Sofie Cramer. It feels like an unabashed, highly earnest love letter to the whimsical, “destiny” romances of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Mira Ray (Priyanka Chopra) is a children’s book author struggling after the death of her fiancé, John (Arinze Kene). To cope, she continues sending heartfelt text messages to his old phone number, unaware it has been reassigned to journalist Rob Burns (Sam Heughan). Intrigued by the messages, Rob becomes determined to find the woman behind them while working on a profile of singer Celine Dion. When Mira and Rob eventually meet, they form a close connection, but Rob keeps the truth about the texts secret.
‘You’ve Got Mail’ (1998)
Of course, I had to include “You’ve Got Mail” considering “Voicemails for Isabelle” was clearly inspired by this classic. It holds a treasured spot in pop culture history, standing as the third and final legendary screen pairing of Hollywood’s ultimate romantic duo, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. While separated by nearly three decades of technology, both films are built entirely around the exact same core narrative engine and romantic tropes. Most notably, being unaware of the other person’s identity.
Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is the owner of a beloved independent children’s bookstore in New York City, and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is an executive whose family-owned bookstore chain opens a massive new location that threatens her business. Unaware of each other’s real identities, the two strike up a connection through anonymous email exchanges after meeting online. While they become increasingly close as digital pen pals, they clash repeatedly in person as professional rivals. Soon, Joe begins to see her differently as Kathleen struggles to keep her bookstore afloat.
Buy/rent on Amazon
‘Set It Up’ (2018)
If you enjoyed Zoey Deutch’s performance in “Voicemails for Isabelle,” you’ll likely enjoy her strong performance in “Set It Up,” another Netflix romance movie. The film’s sweeping success is anchored by the undeniable screen chemistry of its two leads, Deutch and Glen Powell. “Set It Up” is the ultimate, modern feel-good comfort movie that successfully proves that when a romantic comedy is backed by a brilliant screenplay and unmatched lead chemistry, it can be just as satisfying, clever, and endlessly rewatchable as the classics.
Harper Moore (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie Young (Glen Powell) are two overworked assistants in New York City who are exhausted by the endless demands of their powerful bosses. After bonding over their shared frustrations, they come up with a plan: trick their bosses, Kirsten Stevens (Lucy Liu) and Rick Otis (Taye Diggs), into dating each other so they’ll have more free time. As they orchestrate a series of chance encounters and romantic situations, the scheme appears to work. However, keeping their bosses together proves more complicated than expected.
Stream on Netflix
‘Upgraded’ (2024)
Those wanting a brighter contemporary romantic comedy should stream “Upgraded” next. While the movie satisfies every core requirement of a traditional romance, I like that it prioritizes the protagonist’s career aspirations, since the story treats her passion for the business of fine art with absolute seriousness, making her professional self-discovery just as rewarding as her pursuit of love. It’s an immensely fun comfort watch that acts as a throwback to the glossy studio rom-coms of the 2000s.
Ana Santos (Camila Mendes) is an ambitious but overlooked intern working at a prestigious New York art auction house. When she is unexpectedly upgraded to first class on a business trip to London, she meets the charming and wealthy William (Archie Renaux). After a misunderstanding leads William to believe Ana is a high-ranking executive rather than an intern, she goes along with the mistake. The more Ana becomes immersed in London’s elite art world, the closer she grows to William and his family. Now, she must juggle professional opportunities and the consequences of maintaining a lie.
Stream on Prime Video
‘The Other Zoey’ (2023)
Last on this list is “The Other Zoey,” a charming, self-aware romantic comedy that centers its narrative engine on a sudden medical mishap that leads a prominent family to mistake a college student for someone else entirely. It ends up being a genuinely clever, breezy, and thoroughly entertaining watch, despite it following every single trope in the romance playbook. But despite how familiar it looks and feels, it clearly resonated with audiences, earning a solid score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Zoey Miller (Josephine Langford) is a brilliant college student who prefers logic over romance. Her life takes an unexpected turn when Zach (Drew Starkey), the university’s popular soccer star, suffers a concussion and develops temporary amnesia. Mistaking Zoey for his girlfriend, who also happens to be named Zoey, Zach draws her into his family’s world. Unsure how to correct the misunderstanding, she goes along with it and soon meets Zach’s cousin, Miles (Archie Renaux), with whom she shares an instant connection. The confusion grows and Zoey becomes caught between two very different relationships.
Stream on Prime Video
