3 excellent Netflix movies to get you through the week (June 22-28)
Netflix users seeking a break from long-form series have several trending options, including the Spanish thriller The Marked Woman, the rom-com Voicemails for Isabelle, and the departing crime caper American Hustle. These titles currently rank among the most-watched content on the platform in the United States, offering a mix of high-stakes drama, modern romance, and star-studded historical fiction.
The Marked Woman: A Spanish Thriller
The Marked Woman, which arrived on Netflix earlier this month, centers on an unidentified woman discovered bound and tortured inside a shipping container at the port of Barcelona. According to the film’s premise, the woman has no memory of her identity or her captors, forcing investigators to piece together her past while she remains a target. The investigation is led by detective Anna Ripoll, a human trafficking specialist, alongside an out-of-jurisdiction officer named Quique Zárate. Based on the 2023 novel by Rosa Montero and Olivier Truc, the film is a slow-burning mystery that could leave viewers waiting for the final reveal of the woman’s identity.
Did You Know? The Marked Woman was originally titled La desconocida and features actor Luka Peros, known for his work in Money Heist.
Voicemails for Isabelle: A Modern Rom-Com
The romantic comedy Voicemails for Isabelle stars Zoey Deutch as Jill, a San Francisco pastry chef mourning the loss of her sister, Isabelle, to Cystic Fibrosis. Jill begins leaving voicemails on her sister’s old phone number as a coping mechanism, unaware that the number has been reassigned to a man named Wes, played by Nick Robinson. The film, which features a supporting performance by Nick Offerman, currently holds an 85% critics score and a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its premise mirrors the classic You’ve Got Mail, a comparison explicitly referenced by characters within the film.
Expert Insight: The success of Voicemails for Isabelle highlights a trend in modern rom-coms where creators blend traditional “meet-cute” tropes with significant emotional stakes, such as grief, to distinguish the narrative from lighter genre entries.
American Hustle: Final Call for Streaming
The crime drama American Hustle is scheduled to leave the Netflix platform on July 1st. Directed by David O. Russell, the film depicts the real-life FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s, which targeted government corruption. The plot follows con artists Irving Rosenfeld, played by Christian Bale, and Sydney Prosser, played by Amy Adams, as they are coerced by FBI agent Richie DiMaso to infiltrate a mob-backed casino deal involving New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito. The film features a large ensemble cast, including Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, and received 10 Academy Award nominations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the premise of The Marked Woman?
A woman is found tortured in a shipping container in Barcelona with no memory of her identity, prompting an investigation by two officers to protect her from further attempts on her life.
Why is Voicemails for Isabelle considered a modern take on a classic genre?
The film utilizes traditional romantic comedy tropes while incorporating the premise of reassigned phone numbers and the emotional weight of a sister’s death, a parallel often compared by characters to the film You’ve Got Mail.
When will American Hustle be removed from Netflix?
The film is scheduled to leave the streaming platform on July 1st.
Which of these genres do you prefer to watch when you need a break from binge-watching series?