‘The Invite’: How a Brilliant Screenplay Creates One of 2026’s Most Satisfying Movies

Synopsis: Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places.
Director: Olivia Wilde
Stars: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penelope Cruz, Edward Norton

In 2022, Olivia Wilde directed a movie called Don’t Worry Darling that I did not care for. It was marred by off-screen controversy, and mediocre on-screen. So mediocre that when I found out she had a new movie on the horizon I can’t say the news elicited excitement in me.

A lot has happened since 2022, so maybe it’s time to forgive and forget. After all, this was one of the most talked-about films coming out of Sundance 2026.

The Invite is written by the duo of Will McCormack and Rashida Jones and is inspired by Cesc Gay’s The People Upstairs.

Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde play Joe and Angela, a married couple who don’t seem to have much in common. Joe arrives home looking for a relaxing evening, only to be told that they are expecting company, specifically their upstairs neighbours. Joe couldn’t be less interested. He isn’t even a fan of these neighbours. All the loud sex noises emanating from upstairs have left Joe beyond frustrated, while Angela just wants to put on a happy face and be a good host.

In the opening moments, Wilde creates an awkward yet realistic tension, and that’s even before the guests, Pina (Penelope Cruz) and her boyfriend Hawk (Edward Norton), appear.

Pina and Hawk are the antithesis of Joe and Angela. They enjoy each other’s company and seem to have a happy, healthy relationship.

As the film progresses, Wilde does an incredible job negotiating the past dialogue that McCormack and Jones have provided. The script of this film is so rich it would make Aaron Sorkin proud.

The performances are also incredible as they take us through the awkwardness of relationships, and the couple uncovers things about each other.

The film is perfectly cast. Seth Rogen continues to prove he is one of the most underrated dramatic actors working today. While there is plenty of humour in The Invite, Rogen understands that the comedy works best when it is grounded in recognizable human emotions. Joe is funny because he is uncomfortable, insecure and brutally honest. Olivia Wilde is equally impressive in front of the camera, giving Angela layers that reveal themselves gradually over the course of the evening. Penélope Cruz is magnetic as Pina, effortlessly commanding every room she enters, while Edward Norton delivers one of his most charming performances in years. The chemistry among all four actors elevates the film from an entertaining relationship comedy to something far more insightful.

What makes The Invite so effective is that it never settles for easy laughs or simple relationship clichés. It explores marriage, intimacy, communication and the compromises people make to maintain long-term relationships. There are moments that are laugh-out-loud funny, but they are quickly followed by scenes that may prompt audiences to examine their own relationships. Wilde keeps the pacing brisk while allowing the emotional beats room to breathe, creating a film that feels authentic from beginning to end.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is Olivia Wilde herself. After Don’t Worry Darling, it was fair to wonder whether she could recapture the promise she showed with Booksmart. With The Invite, she has done exactly that. This is a confident, mature and sharply directed film that reminds audiences why she was considered one of Hollywood’s most exciting young directors in the first place. If there was any need for redemption, she has absolutely earned it here.

Recently, I compiled a list titled “The Top Films of 2026 So Far—The Year’s Must-Watch Movies.” If The Invite had been released then, it almost certainly would have found a place on it.

Instead, it becomes one of the films to beat during the second half of the year. Smart, funny, beautifully acted and directed with confidence, The Invite is the kind of adult comedy-drama that doesn’t come around often enough.

It is a reminder that great conversations can be just as compelling as explosions or spectacle, and that four outstanding actors armed with a brilliant screenplay can make for one of the year’s most satisfying cinematic experiences.

Grade: A-