How to Watch The Island on Netflix in the US with a VPN (2026)

The Island (2005) is currently available on Netflix in Australia. Directed by Michael Bay, the science-fiction action thriller stars Ewan McGregor as Lincoln Six-Echo, Scarlett Johansson as Jordan Two-Delta, and Djimon Hounsou as Albert Laurent. The movie follows two residents of a futuristic colony who uncover a disturbing secret about their existence and attempt to escape. The official Netflix Australia page for The Island confirms its availability, including English original audio, English subtitles, and offline downloads for eligible subscribers.

However, The Island is not currently available on Netflix in the United States. American viewers can instead stream the movie through Paramount+ or use supported rental and free-viewing services. Australia offers a different Netflix catalog, and three VPN providers with Australian connections are Private Internet Access (PIA), ExpressVPN, and NordVPN. PIA offers six Australian locations, including a streaming-optimized option. ExpressVPN lists seven Australian server entries, while NordVPN advertises 237 servers across five Australian cities.

Connecting to an Australian VPN server does not guarantee access to The Island on Netflix. The streaming service can recognize VPN connections and restrict viewers to movies with worldwide licensing rights. Its official Netflix VPN policy explains these limitations. Some VPN providers also prohibit circumventing geographic restrictions, so users should review the applicable terms before attempting to access international Netflix catalogs.

How to watch The Island on Netflix with a VPN

Netflix Australia currently includes The Island, while Netflix US does not. The following steps explain how to establish an Australian VPN connection and check the movie’s availability, provided your intended activity complies with Netflix’s policies and your VPN provider’s terms.

1. Choose a VPN service. Consider Private Internet Access first, ExpressVPN second, and NordVPN third, based on their officially documented Australian server options.
2. Download and install the VPN application on your Windows PC, Mac, Android device, iPhone, or another compatible platform.
3. Open the VPN application and connect to Australia using an officially available Australian server location.
4. Fully close Netflix, including any open browser tabs or background application sessions.
5. Reopen Netflix after establishing the VPN connection so the platform can refresh its connection and catalog information.
6. Sign in using your existing Netflix account and select your preferred viewing profile.
7. Search for The Island using the Netflix search feature or open its official Australian title page.
8. If the movie appears and Netflix permits playback under the applicable terms, select Play to begin watching.

An Australian VPN connection changes the public IP address that Netflix sees. However, it does not automatically change your Netflix account’s registered country, subscription, or billing information.

Netflix may identify the connection as VPN traffic even when the server provides an Australian IP address. In that situation, the platform can restrict regionally licensed movies or display only titles available worldwide.

You can check the movie through the official Netflix Australia listing for The Island. The page identifies the original 2005 movie and confirms its cast, description, audio language, subtitles, and download availability.

The Australian Netflix listing offers English original audio and English subtitles. The film runs approximately 136 minutes, making it a suitable choice for viewers who enjoy longer science-fiction action thrillers.

Make sure you select the correct title. This guide concerns Michael Bay’s 2005 movie starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, not the unrelated 2023 action movie The Island starring Michael Jai White.

Best VPNs for watching The Island on Netflix

All three recommended VPN providers maintain Australian server connections. Their main differences involve server locations, streaming-optimized options, protocols, and automatic server selection.

VPN	Server locations in Australia	Option to try first
Private Internet Access (Editor’s Choice)	AU Adelaide, AU Brisbane, AU Melbourne, AU Perth, AU Sydney, Australia Streaming Optimized	Australia Streaming Optimized for permitted streaming, or AU Sydney for general connections
ExpressVPN	Australia – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Sydney – 2, Woolloomooloo	Australia – Sydney or another manually selected Australian location
NordVPN	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney; 237 Australian servers	Automatic Australia connection or Sydney

Private Internet Access provides five city-level locations and one dedicated streaming-optimized entry. ExpressVPN offers seven Australian server entries, including two Sydney connections and Woolloomooloo. NordVPN lists 237 Australian servers across five cities, providing additional flexibility for general VPN connectivity.

These options can help users diagnose ordinary network problems and find reliable connections. However, Australian server availability does not guarantee access to Netflix Australia’s regional catalog.

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is our Editor’s Choice because of its six Australian connection options, dedicated streaming-optimized location, and configurable VPN protocols. These features provide flexibility for Australian internet connections, privacy protection, and streaming activity that complies with the relevant service terms.

According to PIA’s official server directory, its Australian options include AU Adelaide, AU Brisbane, AU Melbourne, AU Perth, AU Sydney, and Australia Streaming Optimized.

The provider offers five individual Australian cities alongside a specialized streaming connection. Users can select a standard city-level server or the streaming-optimized location when their intended activity complies with the provider’s terms.

For permitted streaming within Australia, Australia Streaming Optimized is the logical first choice. PIA designs its specialized connections to support stable performance with compatible streaming platforms.

If that connection experiences ordinary network problems, AU Sydney, AU Melbourne, AU Brisbane, AU Perth, and AU Adelaide provide documented alternatives.

To find these locations, open the PIA application and select the VPN SERVER section. Search for Australia or enter a specific city name, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide.

You can also search for streaming to locate Australia Streaming Optimized. Select the preferred server and activate the VPN connection using the application’s main power button.

PIA supports WireGuard and OpenVPN. WireGuard uses a lightweight protocol design that generally offers efficient encrypted connections with relatively little overhead. This makes it suitable for browsing, downloads, and bandwidth-intensive activities.

OpenVPN provides additional configuration options. On supported devices, users can choose between UDP and TCP transport modes and adjust related connection settings.

UDP usually prioritizes performance, while TCP can improve reliability on networks that interfere with UDP traffic. Switching between these protocols can help identify compatibility problems when connections become unstable.

PIA explains these capabilities in its official advanced desktop connection settings documentation.

For most users, WireGuard provides a sensible starting point. OpenVPN offers an alternative when connection reliability or network compatibility becomes a concern.

Another important consideration is whether a VPN server represents physical infrastructure or a virtual location. A virtual VPN location assigns an IP address associated with one country while the underlying server hardware operates somewhere else.

PIA maintains official documentation identifying its virtual server locations and physical hosting countries.

Australia does not appear in the provider’s published list of virtual locations. PIA therefore does not currently identify its Australian server entries as foreign-hosted virtual locations.

However, the documentation does not identify the precise physical data center hosting every Australian connection. Users should avoid assuming that a particular server name represents a disclosed facility.

PIA also provides configurable DNS settings, a VPN kill switch, and connection information that can help users maintain privacy and troubleshoot technical problems.

For performance troubleshooting, compare your normal internet speed with the speed you receive while connected to PIA. Server congestion, distance, Wi-Fi interference, and international routing can affect throughput and latency.

This matters particularly when connecting from the United States to Australia. International network routes can introduce additional latency, although the effect varies depending on the user’s internet provider and selected server.

PIA recommends clearing browser cookies and cached information, disconnecting and reconnecting, and updating its application when ordinary streaming problems occur.

These actions may resolve browser or network issues, but they cannot override Netflix’s licensing restrictions.

PIA’s official streaming guidance also includes an important restriction. The provider instructs customers to connect to a server matching their physical country and explicitly prohibits using its service to circumvent geographic restrictions imposed by content providers.

Consequently, PIA’s Australian network offers useful privacy and security functionality, but its streaming-optimized location does not authorize or guarantee access to The Island on Netflix Australia from the United States.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN takes second place because of its extensive Australian server selection, modern VPN protocols, and straightforward connection controls. Its Australian network includes locations in five major cities, an additional Sydney entry, and a separate Woolloomooloo connection.

The provider’s official global server directory lists Australia – Adelaide, Australia – Brisbane, Australia – Melbourne, Australia – Perth, Australia – Sydney, Australia – Sydney – 2, and Australia – Woolloomooloo.

These seven entries provide several options for establishing an Australian connection. Sydney and Sydney – 2 offer separate endpoints within the same city, while Woolloomooloo provides another documented connection in the Sydney area.

For a general Australian connection, Australia – Sydney is a reasonable starting point. If the connection experiences congestion or instability, Sydney – 2, Woolloomooloo, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide provide alternatives.

The fastest location depends on your physical distance from Australia, international routing, server load, and internet connection. A different endpoint can sometimes improve stability even when it is geographically farther away.

To connect, open ExpressVPN, select the VPN location menu, and search for Australia. Expand the available entries and choose the Australian location you want.

ExpressVPN also offers Smart Location, which automatically selects a server based on network conditions. However, Smart Location may choose a country other than Australia, so users specifically requiring an Australian IP address should select Australia manually.

The provider supports Lightway, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 on compatible devices. Its current Australian server directory lists Lightway UDP, Lightway TCP, WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, and IKEv2.

Lightway is ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol, designed for efficient connection establishment and maintaining reliability when network conditions change.

WireGuard offers another lightweight connection method. OpenVPN provides established compatibility with different operating systems and networks, while IKEv2 gives users an additional option on supported devices.

Protocol availability can vary between operating systems and application versions. ExpressVPN currently identifies WireGuard support on compatible Windows, Android, and iOS applications, so users should check their installed application for available protocols.

For most users, automatic protocol selection provides a practical starting point. ExpressVPN can choose an appropriate connection method without requiring manual configuration.

ExpressVPN’s official Australia VPN page also documents its upgraded server infrastructure.

The provider identifies six high-capacity Australian connections using 40Gbps infrastructure, alongside a 10Gbps option in Woolloomooloo. These figures describe server-side capacity rather than the speed individual customers can expect.

Higher server capacity can help manage congestion when many users connect simultaneously. However, your internet plan, network distance, local Wi-Fi conditions, and routing still determine actual performance.

ExpressVPN also distinguishes physical server locations from virtual destinations. With a virtual server, users receive an IP address associated with one country while the hardware operates elsewhere.

Its official virtual server documentation lists destinations where this arrangement applies.

Australia does not appear in that list. ExpressVPN also confirms that it maintains physical infrastructure in Australia, supporting the classification of its Australian entries as physically hosted within the country.

However, ExpressVPN does not disclose the precise data center serving every connection.

For troubleshooting, start by checking whether ordinary websites load correctly while the VPN is active. If your connection becomes slow, compare Sydney with Sydney – 2, Woolloomooloo, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide.

Changing servers can help identify congestion and routing problems, but it cannot guarantee access to Netflix movies restricted by geographic licensing.

ExpressVPN publishes official Netflix troubleshooting instructions. These cover restarting Netflix, signing out and back in, trying a supported browser, and contacting customer support.

The same documentation instructs customers to connect to a VPN location matching their physical country and explicitly prohibits circumventing geographic restrictions imposed by streaming providers.

ExpressVPN therefore provides extensive Australian server coverage for legitimate privacy and network-security needs, but that coverage does not guarantee or authorize access to The Island on Netflix Australia from the US.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN is the third recommendation and stands out for its large Australian server network, automatic connection selection, NordLynx protocol, and integrated SmartPlay technology.

According to NordVPN’s official Australia server page, the provider offers 237 Australian VPN servers across five cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

These locations cover several major Australian regions, giving users different city-level options when selecting a VPN connection.

To connect automatically, open the NordVPN application and choose Australia from its country list or map. NordVPN selects a suitable server using its connection-selection algorithm.

Users who prefer manual selection can open the country options and choose Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, or Sydney.

For a general Australian connection, Sydney is a sensible first manual choice. Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide provide alternatives if network routing or congestion affects the original location.

Where the application supports it, users can also select individual servers within a city. This offers additional control when comparing connection stability and latency.

NordVPN supports NordLynx, a protocol based on WireGuard technology. NordLynx focuses on efficient encrypted connections and generally provides strong performance for bandwidth-intensive activities.

Another important feature is SmartPlay. According to NordVPN’s official SmartPlay documentation, the technology combines VPN protection with capabilities related to SmartDNS.

SmartPlay activates automatically when users connect through a NordVPN application. There is no separate installation, browser extension, or manual DNS configuration.

Unlike standalone SmartDNS, SmartPlay works alongside the VPN’s encryption and IP address protection. This helps users access permitted streaming content while maintaining an encrypted connection.

However, SmartPlay does not guarantee access to every Netflix catalog. Netflix can still recognize VPN traffic and restrict regionally licensed movies.

NordVPN also offers specialty server categories, including Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, and obfuscated connections. These serve particular privacy and network-security purposes rather than guaranteeing compatibility with streaming platforms.

Additional routing can increase latency and affect throughput. For ordinary streaming performance, a standard Australian connection using NordLynx is generally more appropriate than an unnecessarily complex specialty configuration.

NordVPN’s Australia page identifies five Australian cities but does not disclose the precise physical hosting facility for every individual server. Users should rely on the provider’s published location information rather than assume a particular data center.

For ordinary connection problems, restart the NordVPN application, reconnect to Australia, select another available server, or review the active protocol.

Comparing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide can help identify network performance differences. International routing and local internet conditions remain important factors.

NordVPN’s SmartPlay documentation also cautions users against violating copyright regulations. Its Australian server network, NordLynx protocol, and SmartPlay functionality do not guarantee that Netflix will permit international playback of The Island.

What to do if The Island does not appear

Even though Netflix Australia currently lists The Island, the movie may remain missing from a particular Netflix session. Browser information, profile settings, network problems, regional licensing, and VPN detection can all affect the available catalog.

The following troubleshooting steps can help identify ordinary connection and Netflix session problems.

1. Close Netflix completely, including open browser tabs and any background application sessions.
2. Disconnect from your current VPN connection through the provider’s application.
3. Reconnect to the selected Australian location if your intended activity complies with the applicable service terms.
4. Try another officially available Australian server or location if the original connection experiences network problems.
5. Clear Netflix cookies and your browser cache to remove outdated session information.
6. Open an incognito or private browser window to check Netflix without previously stored cookies or browser extensions.
7. Reopen Netflix and sign in using your existing account credentials.
8. Search for The Island again and check whether the correct 2005 movie appears.

PIA users can compare Australia Streaming Optimized with AU Adelaide, AU Brisbane, AU Melbourne, AU Perth, and AU Sydney for permitted streaming and ordinary network troubleshooting.

ExpressVPN users can compare Australia – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Sydney – 2, and Woolloomooloo. NordVPN users can select Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, or Sydney, or allow the application to choose an Australian server automatically.

These alternatives can help diagnose server congestion or routing problems. However, changing servers cannot guarantee that Netflix will display a movie restricted by regional licensing or VPN detection.

Searching for The Island may also return several unrelated productions. Make sure you select the 2005 science-fiction movie starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, directed by Michael Bay.

The film takes place in a futuristic colony where Lincoln Six-Echo begins questioning the world around him. This distinguishes it from other movies and television programs with similar names.

Netflix’s official missing-title troubleshooting guide explains that movies may disappear because of licensing restrictions, VPN recognition, profile maturity settings, or language preferences.

If other Netflix titles work normally while The Island remains unavailable, the problem may involve licensing rights or VPN detection rather than your internet connection.

PIA and ExpressVPN explicitly prohibit using their services to circumvent geographic restrictions. Follow their terms and consider authorized US streaming options if Netflix does not permit playback.

Netflix may detect the VPN

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server. Websites and streaming platforms generally see the VPN server’s public IP address rather than your original residential IP address.

For example, connecting to an Australian VPN server may cause an IP lookup service to identify your connection as Australian. However, Netflix does not necessarily grant access to every movie in the Australian catalog based on that address alone.

Netflix licenses movies and television shows for different geographical markets. The service may hold streaming rights for The Island in Australia while another platform holds the corresponding rights in the United States.

To enforce these agreements, Netflix can recognize VPN and proxy connections and restrict the available catalog.

Its official VPN policy explains that viewers using a VPN may see only movies and television shows for which Netflix holds worldwide licensing rights.

Consequently, The Island may appear on the public Netflix Australia website while remaining unavailable within a particular account or VPN session.

Users may encounter missing search results, playback errors, or a message asking them to turn off their VPN.

Netflix’s VPN and proxy error documentation explains that affected viewers may receive error code E106 or another warning related to VPN usage.

The company recommends disconnecting the VPN when these problems persist. No VPN provider can guarantee that Netflix will accept a particular Australian server IP address or permit access to every regionally licensed movie.

Can you use a Netflix ad-supported plan with a VPN?

No. Netflix officially states that its ad-supported experience does not support VPN connections.

If you subscribe to a Netflix plan with advertisements and attempt to watch content while a VPN is active, the platform may display an error or prevent playback.

Netflix recommends disconnecting the VPN to restore normal access to movies and television shows available through your subscription.

This restriction applies even when The Island appears in another country’s Netflix catalog. JustWatch Australia currently lists the movie under both Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads, but that does not mean an ad-supported subscriber can access the Australian catalog through a VPN connection.

An ad-free Netflix subscription avoids this specific restriction on ad-supported VPN viewing. However, Netflix can still recognize VPN traffic and limit access to regionally licensed movies.

For the latest rules, consult Netflix’s official VPN viewing guidance.

Does changing the VPN location change your Netflix account?

No. Connecting to a VPN server in another country changes the public IP address that websites see. It does not automatically modify your Netflix account credentials, registered country, subscription, password, profiles, or billing information.

Your existing Netflix subscription remains associated with your account even when your internet connection appears to originate from Australia.

Netflix catalogs differ because studios and distributors negotiate streaming rights for individual countries. A VPN may change the apparent location of your internet traffic, but Netflix can recognize VPN connections and enforce its regional licensing restrictions.

Netflix also explains that users cannot simply change their registered account country through the settings menu. According to its account country documentation, changing the country associated with a Netflix account generally requires moving to another country.

If you live in the United States and want to watch The Island without relying on an international Netflix catalog, Paramount+ currently provides subscription streaming options.

You can also check the current US streaming availability for The Island. JustWatch lists Paramount+ Premium and Paramount+ Essential, free viewing through Kanopy and Hoopla, and ad-supported viewing through YouTube.

Digital rental and purchase options are also available through services such as Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango at Home. These authorized American services provide more predictable ways to watch the movie without relying on another country’s Netflix catalog.

Which VPN should you use?

Private Internet Access is our Editor’s Choice because it offers six Australian connection options, including AU Adelaide, AU Brisbane, AU Melbourne, AU Perth, AU Sydney, and Australia Streaming Optimized. Its dedicated streaming-optimized connection and configurable WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols provide flexibility for permitted streaming and privacy-focused connections. However, PIA explicitly prohibits circumventing geographic restrictions, so this recommendation does not authorize or guarantee access to Netflix Australia from the United States.

ExpressVPN takes second place with seven documented Australian server entries, including Sydney, Sydney – 2, Woolloomooloo, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. It supports Lightway, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 on compatible devices, although its terms also prohibit geographic circumvention. NordVPN ranks third with 237 Australian servers across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, alongside NordLynx and automatically enabled SmartPlay. Neither service guarantees access to regionally licensed Netflix content.

As of October 13, 2026, The Island (2005) is available on Netflix Australia but not Netflix US. The official Australian listing confirms English original audio, English subtitles, and offline downloads for eligible subscribers. Nevertheless, Netflix’s licensing agreements, VPN detection systems, and individual VPN provider terms determine whether international playback is permitted. If Netflix does not provide access through your account, Paramount+ and authorized US rental services offer alternative ways to watch the movie.