The 6 best Isla Fisher films currently available on Netflix
(Credit: Georges Biard)

Films

The 6 best Isla Fisher films currently available on Netflix

“An easy way to get people to like you is to make them laugh.”

Australian actress Isla Fisher seems to never age. She has a distinguished on-screen presence as the redhead actress with a beautiful smile. Extremely funny and humble, Fisher made a successful transition from the Australian film industry to that of Hollywood; she graced the latter with her spontaneous wit and brilliant sense of humour. 

Fisher was born to parents of Scottish descent on February 3, 1976, in Muscat, Oman and moved away to Perth at the age of six. She has always emphasised her Australian sensibility talking about how she loves to relax and rejuvenate like true Australians, with a chill outlook of life. Fisher studied clown, mime, Italian comedy and musical theatre in Paris before making her first appearance in 1993 in Australian TV commercials. 

Fisher is multi-talented; at the age of 18, she had already published two teen novels and has always been vocal about her passion for writing and being a writer if not a filmstar. 

Extremely humble and down-to-earth, Fisher has always advocated hard work and perseverance and how one should never take things for granted. “I would be stupid to let it go to my head because it could all end tomorrow and I would just fade back into obscurity.”  Fisher was a part of many independent films before making a big move to Hollywood in 2002 where for the initial years she played mere love interests. However, she has always admitted how easy it was for her to bag a role and how grateful she was for it; Fisher always recognized her privilege while acknowledging the plight of thousands of others who come and struggle in LA. “I ended up getting representation and ended up getting a job, almost straight away,” she once said. “So, I was fortunate, in that I didn’t have to come out to L.A. and join a queue of however many people, and try to get work. I came in on the back of what was deemed as a big studio movie that had had extraordinary success.”

In 2005, Isla Fisher starred opposite Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers which was her major breakthrough role where she played a sex-fuelled, ignorant rich daughter of the secretary. Since then, there has been no looking back for her as she has starred in various successful films, earning a name for herself. In 2020, quite recently she starred as Mackenzie Walsh in Godmothered

A doting mother to three lovely children with Sacha Baron Cohen, Fisher is an actress and mother who loves finding the balance between her personal and professional life. For such a hilarious and incredibly gifted actress like her, it is a shame that Netflix does not feature all of her best films including Confessions of a Shopaholic. However, on her 45th birthday, we scoured through the streaming platform to find the best films starring Isla Fisher that feature there. 

Let’s get started!

The best films starring Isla Fisher on Netflix

6. Tag (Jeff Tomsic, 2018)

Best friends Jerry, Hoagie, Chilli, Kevin and Bob have played tag since childhood but have never been able to tag the swift-footed and quick-witted Jerry. As the other men crash Jerry’s wedding attempting to tag him for one last time before he retires from this game, friendships and relationships stand the test of time before they finally find out a shocking truth. 

Amusing and heartwarming, this film is a no-brainer. Just sit through 101 minutes of grown men laughing and having fun like young boys, trying to uphold the 30-year-old tradition of playing tag. The revelation at the end of the friends might shock the audience. Exceptional performances add comedic effect and we see Isla Fisher playing the role of Anna, Hoagie’s wife. 

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

5. Wedding Crashers (David Dobkin, 2005)

Divorce mediators Jeremy and John love crashing weddings to have sex with women. When they crash the US Secretary of Treasury’s daughter’s wedding, they are instantly tempted to seduce his other daughters Gloria and Claire. However, unbeknownst to them, their hearts play tricks by making them fall in love with the women and hilarity ensues, where the duo find themselves trapped in unthinkable predicaments.

Wild and amusing, the film boasts of some unbelievably funny moments shared by Owen Wilson and Vince Vaugh. Isla Fisher stars as Gloria who wants to be with Jeremy. However, the women in the film are too one-dimensional and some of the jokes might hurt sentiments. 

“Grief is nature’s most powerful aphrodisiac.”

4. Rise of the Guardians (Peter Ramsey, 2012)  

The children of the world are protected from darkness and despair by the good wishes and beliefs that stem from their faith in Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and more. However, Pitch Black decides to wreak havoc by nullifying children’s belief in them. Jack Frost is the only one who can attempt to stop Pitch and save the Guardians and ultimately become a Guardian himself in this process. 

An animated flick, this film has an underlying message of hope and renewal of self-confidence With many talented actors such as Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law and more voicing the characters, Isla Fisher plays Toothiana or the Tooth Fairy who stores children’s tooth in her palace to retain their childhood memories, returning them when the children need to cherish them the most. 

“Do you stop believing in the moon just because the sun comes up?”  

3. Definitely, Maybe (Adam Brooks, 2008) 

Will Hayes’ 10-year-old daughter Maya desperately wants to find out who her mother is. She pesters her father into telling her the story about the three different women in his life and is left to deduce who her mother is. Will has been with three beautiful women of distinguished personalities; his college sweetheart Emily, the spirited journalist Summer and the fresh and chirpy April. 

Ryan Reynolds is definitely the star of the show with his cheeky smile and charming performance. Isla Fisher as April does justice to her role. The film is a light-hearted, breezy rom-com which is a refreshing change from the usual cliche, making it enjoyable.

This song is an excellent cure for the will to live.” 

2. Rango (Gore Verbinski, 2011)

Rango is a pet chameleon who is left stranded in the Mojave desert after falling off his owner’s car by accident. He is quickly incorporated in Dirt, an old west town inhabited by various anthropomorphic animals which also has a dearth of water. For various heroic feats, Rango is appointed the Sheriff by the Mayor. Suddenly, he stumbles upon the foul play by the mayor as well as the impending dangers of the vicious Rattlesnake Jake. How far will Rango go to protect the people he so adores?

Johnny Depp and Isla Fisher have extraordinary chemistry in this animated flick. Smart and creative, this film is a product of unwavering effort and determination. With a funny and innovative premise, it is heartwarming to see rango save the day while impressing Isla Fisher’s desert iguana Beans enough for her to show interest in him. 

“No man can walk out on his own story.”

1. Now You See Me (Louis Leterrier, 2013)

Atlas is a talented magician who forms the Four Horsemen along with some other talented illusionists. Together with his compatriots, Atlas awes the audience by extorting money from the corrupt and shower money on the audience. They are pursued by Dylan Rhodes, a federal agent, and Alma Dray, a French Interpol agent, who want to nab them before their next heist. However, they must seek the help of Thaddeus Bradley who as an ex-magician is an amazing debunker as well. 

With a brilliant urban-esque Robin Hood theme with extraordinary production, Now You See Me is a visual delight. Wonderful performances from actors like Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher add to the oomph factor of the film. Fisher plays the role of the High Priestess, an agile and charismatic magician and escapist. 

“Take a closer look, because the closer you look, the less you’ll see.”