Netflix’s New Rom-Com “Voicemails for Isabelle” Hits a 91% Rotten Tomatoes Popcorn Score

Netflix’s new romantic comedy film, “Voicemails for Isabelle,” is capturing the hearts of viewers around the world right after it was released and is charging ahead with a breakout box-office run. Forbes, a U.S. business news outlet, highlighted the new release for winning praise from both critics and audiences at the same time, elevating it into a new “savior” for Netflix’s film lineup.

■ “The audience answered first”… Hits 91% for the Rotten Tomatoes Popcorn Index

On the 23rd (local time), the film “Voicemails for Isabelle” recorded a 91% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, the largest U.S. film review site, reflecting audience approval.

That is an extremely unusual and standout figure compared with the lackluster results left by recent Netflix original films that drew sharply divided opinions among both critics and viewers. Forbes analyzed, “Even though it’s not a flashy action blockbuster, a tightly written script and standout performances are generating a thrilling wave of word-of-mouth that pulls viewers in front of the screen.”

■ A Brilliant Setup Turning Grief Into Wit… A Magical Story Behind the 91% Run

“Voicemails for Isabelle” is a romantic comedy-drama for audiences 15 and older. Emerging filmmaker Leah McKendrick served as both director and screenwriter, crafting a trendy yet deeply layered narrative.

The film begins with a young woman starting to leave voice messages on an old phone number that her late sister (Isabelle) used while she was alive, in an effort to ease her deep longing for her. She speaks to her sister as if she’s telling her about her day—cheerful yet candid emotions—confiding them through the receiver. But these messages, unintentionally, end up being delivered in full to a stranger man who has just set up and is using that number.

The man, who happens to hear the heartbreaking and bizarre voice that arrives on his smartphone every day, gradually finds himself captivated by the unseen woman he doesn’t know—he doesn’t know her face or her name. The film’s biggest draw is its clever and moving plot: it allows them to share the pain of loss through the analog sensibility of “voice messages,” while also helping a new love take root.

■ Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson Deliver an Incredible Chemistry Built for the Rom-Com Masters

The No. 1 contributor behind the film’s success is clearly the lead actors’ performances. Zoey Deutch—who cemented her position as the next rom-com queen with Netflix film “The Rom-Com ‘Problem With the Boss’”—perfectly brings to life the main character who refuses to lose her brightness even amid grief. And Nick Robinson, the star of “Love, Simon,” taking on the role of the other lead who falls in love through nothing but his voice, delivers an incredible acting rhythm. Solid support from seasoned supporting cast, including Nick Offerman, also helps anchor the center of the story.

The rave reviews that erupted immediately after the press screening at the Los Angeles Netflix Tudum Theater were confirmed by a jump into the top ranks of global viewing charts as soon as the streaming began. Viewers who watched the film are sharing praise on social media, saying, “It captures the classic rom-com sensibility from the Y2K era so well in a modern way,” and “I laughed out loud, then cried my heart out at the end,” without holding back their compliments.