Credit: Netflix

You know what, it is very rare for an actor not to get typecast in rom-coms because after a while, it starts to feel like they are playing the same person over and over again. Not Zoey Deutch, though.

Over the years, she has played all sorts of characters, from hopeless romantics to ambitious career girls. The thing is, no matter who she is playing, she always brings her natural charm in. That’s a big part of why Voicemails for Isabelle clicked with so many viewers.

The film follows Jill, who is struggling to cope after losing her sister and keeps leaving voicemails on her old number, not realising somebody else is listening on the other end. In the wrong hands, that could have ended up feeling a bit too cheesy, but Zoey plays it with enough heart that you genuinely care about what happens.

It also feels like the latest step in what has been a really solid career. After years of popping up in comedies and romances, she has become one of those actors whose name alone makes people take notice. You know you are not just getting another cookie-cutter rom-com lead. You are getting somebody with a bit of personality and realism.

So if Voicemails for Isabelle reminded you why Zoey Deutch is such a good watch, these next four films are well worth sticking on.

Four essential Zoey Deutch movies to watch

Set It Up (Claire Scanlon, 2018)

Let’s start with the obvious best choice because no Zoey Deutch watchlist is complete without Set It Up. Because long before Office Romance ruled Netflix charts, we had Set It Up. This Netflix rom-com follows Harper Moore, an overworked assistant who spends her days catering to the impossible demands of her high-profile sports journalist boss. Soon enough, Harper crosses paths with fellow assistant Charlie, and the pair hatch a plan to set up their tyrannical bosses in the hope of finally getting a life outside work. You don’t need to guess here because things don’t go according to plan.

Needless to say, Deutch’s performance makes the film a delight to watch. Harper is ambitious and sometimes a complete disaster, which makes her instantly relatable. But she is also such a good person, which is the exact vibe you get from Zoey Deutch. Her chemistry with Glen Powell remains one of the main reasons the film has endured as a modern rom-com favourite. Fun fact: Powell and Deutch had already worked together in Everybody Wants Some!! before reuniting here.

The Outfit (Graham Moore, 2022)

If Set It Up showcases Deutch’s rom-com credentials, then The Outfit shows just how much range she possesses. That’s right, people; she is not just a girl next door. Directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Graham Moore, The Outfit is set almost entirely inside a tailor’s shop in 1950s Chicago. Leading the story, we have Leonard, an English cutter whose normal life becomes entangled with a dangerous crime family after gangsters begin using his shop as a drop point.

Deutch plays Mable, Leonard’s receptionist, and one of the film’s most intriguing figures. At first, she appears to be the innocent young woman caught in circumstances beyond her control. But don’t get mistaken by the innocence of that face because eventually you’ll discover how much more is going on beneath the surface. Deutch handles those revelations brilliantly, constantly keeping us unsure of where Mable’s loyalties truly lie. Give it a watch if you still haven’t.

Zombieland: Double Tap (Ruben Fleischer, 2019)

After the intensity of The Outfit, it might be time for something more ridiculous. Enter Zombieland: Double Tap. Released a decade after the original film, the sequel reunites Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita and Little Rock as they continue on their adventure to a zombie-infested America. Then along comes Madison.

Now, Madison could’ve easily been one of those characters who get old after five minutes. She is obsessed with pink and somehow manages to survive the apocalypse without having a clue what’s going on half the time. But Zoey Deutch absolutely nails it. What starts off as a bit of comic relief ends up being one of the funniest performances in the whole film. Honestly, every time she pops up on screen, she steals the scene. It also shows one of Zoey’s biggest strengths: her spot-on comedy timing. In somebody else’s hands, Madison could’ve been annoying. Instead, she ends up being lovable, and you’ll probably find yourself laughing at nearly everything she says.

Nouvelle Vague (Richard Linklater, 2025)

While the other films on this list talk about the mainstream side of Zoey Deutch, Nouvelle Vague is a completely different kettle of fish. Directed by Richard Linklater, the film takes a look at the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s legendary movie Breathless, focusing on the people behind the camera as much as the film itself. In this one, Zoey steps into the shoes of Jean Seberg, the American actress whose performance became a massive part of film history. It’s a world away from the rom-com characters and comedy roles most people know her for.

Instead of relying on charm, she is asked to portray a real person whose life has been picked apart and discussed for decades. What’s really interesting is seeing her work in a completely different way. The charisma’s still there, but it’s much more subtle. If you only know Zoey from her lighter films, Nouvelle Vague is a reminder that she has got a lot more range than people sometimes give her credit for.