Pass the Popcorn: Two Netflix Rom-Com Picks

July 30th, 2026

Romantic comedies don’t usually surprise us. Two people meet, fall in love, hit a bump in the relationship, and eventually find their way back to each other. The formula is familiar, but when it’s done well, that’s part of the appeal.

For this week’s Pass the Popcorn, filmmaker and UNO MFA screenwriting graduate Christine Burright highlights two recent Netflix releases that embrace the classic rom-com formula while adding plenty of charm, humor, and heart.

The first is Voicemails for Isabelle, written and directed by Leah McKendrick and starring Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson. Christine describes it as a modern take on Sleepless in Seattle. After losing her sister, Jill copes by leaving emotional, and often hilarious, voicemails on her sister’s old phone number. Unknown to her, those messages are being received by Wes, a man back in her hometown of Austin, Texas. As he listens, he begins to fall for the woman behind the messages and travels to San Francisco, hoping to meet her.

While the premise leans into classic romantic comedy territory, Christine says the film stands out because it balances playful humor with genuine emotion.

The second recommendation is Office Romance, directed by Oliver Parker and written by Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly. The film stars Jennifer Lopez as Jackie, a no-nonsense airline CEO, alongside Goldstein, best known for Ted Lasso, as the company’s new lead corporate lawyer.

The two begin a secret relationship despite the company’s strict no-office-romance policy, putting both their careers at risk. Christine notes that the film marks Lopez’s first R-rated comedy, featuring more adult humor than audiences may expect, while still relying on her signature charm.

Neither film is likely to dominate awards season, Christine says, but that’s beside the point. Romantic comedies aren’t always about groundbreaking storytelling, they’re about escaping for a couple of hours, sharing a few laughs, and believing that love will find a way.

This summer, these two Netflix releases offer exactly that.