The Invite gathers Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton around one dinner table, then lets suppressed resentment, sexual curiosity and expensive cheese do the damage. Olivia Wilde’s sharply observed comedy turns an awkward evening with the neighbours into a funny, provocative examination of marriage and honesty.
Film details
- Title: The Invite
- Premiere date in the Netherlands: 9 July 2026
- Director: Olivia Wilde
- Runtime: 107 minutes
- Genre: Comedy, drama
- Country: United States
- Languages: English and Spanish
- Subtitles: Dutch
- Age rating: 12+
- Cast: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton
- Where to watch in Rotterdam: KINO, Cinerama and LantarenVenster
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What’s the vibe?
Angela and Joe have been married long enough to turn everyday irritation into an established communication style. Their relationship is stuck, their arguments are neurotic and their upstairs neighbours are making noises at night that leave very little to the imagination.
Angela invites the offending couple over for dinner. Joe sees the evening as his chance to confront them, but Hawk and Piña arrive with confidence, curiosity and a much less conventional approach to relationships. What begins as tense small talk soon becomes a dangerous game of confessions, questions and truths that should probably have remained safely locked away.
Most of the film takes place inside one San Francisco apartment, giving the evening the pressure of a stage play. The four actors circle each other through flirtation, embarrassment, jealousy and marital warfare, while Devonté Hynes’ restless score makes the dinner feel as if it could become a hostage situation at any moment.
Trailer
Check out the trailer below.
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Why you might like it
- Eyes: Warm apartment interiors, 35mm photography and a camera that makes one dinner table feel like a complete emotional battlefield.
- Heart: Beneath the outrageous questions and sexual tension sits an honest story about loneliness, intimacy and what couples stop telling each other.
- Mind: The film pokes at monogamy, fantasy and whether complete honesty actually repairs relationships or simply gives everyone sharper weapons.
Critical reception.
The Invite has received an exceptionally strong response from critics. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film at 96% from 156 reviews, alongside a 92% audience score. Its critical consensus praises the film’s sophisticated farce, the strength of its four central performances and Wilde’s direction.
Metacritic gives the film a score of 82 from 45 reviews, placing it in the site’s “universal acclaim” category. The Guardian awarded it four stars, praising the ensemble and describing it as a genuinely funny, intelligent adult comedy. Reviews from outlets including IndieWire, the Los Angeles Times and The Times have also highlighted the sharp writing, emotional honesty and Seth Rogen’s performance.
The praise has not been completely unanimous. Some critics found the ending less convincing than the journey towards it, while others felt the film occasionally pushes too hard to manufacture momentum. Even the more reserved reviews generally agree that the cast is operating at a very high level.
The film received a standing ovation when it premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The enthusiastic reception led to a major bidding contest, eventually won by A24. Metacritic currently lists two wins and five nominations at the Astra Midseason Movie Awards, plus nominations connected to the Sydney Film Festival and Golden Trailer Awards.
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Scene to watch for
Watch the moment when the polite dinner conversation finally slips into dangerous territory. Everyone is still smiling, glasses are still being refilled and nobody has technically declared war, but the balance of power at the table has already shifted.
The pleasure comes from watching the actors react before their characters find the right words. A pause from Cruz, a glare from Wilde or one of Norton’s deceptively gentle questions can change the entire temperature of the room.
Recommended pairing
Eat before the screening, unless watching four attractive people emotionally dismantle each other over dinner happens to improve your appetite. Choose something shareable, then see whether you still believe communal dining is a good idea afterwards.
This also makes an excellent double-date film, provided everyone involved has a healthy relationship and no dangerous secrets. A quiet drink after the screening should give you enough time to discuss the film, compare interpretations and carefully avoid asking whether anyone found the neighbours attractive.
Need-to-knows
The Invite is Olivia Wilde’s third feature as a director, following Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling. She also plays Angela, despite initially being reluctant to direct herself in such a demanding central role.
The screenplay was written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. It is an English-language remake of Cesc Gay’s Spanish comedy Sentimental, also known internationally as The People Upstairs. The original story began as a stage play, which helps explain the film’s intimate setting and dialogue-driven structure.
The four leading actors rehearsed the material like a theatre production before filming. Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra shot the film on 35mm, while Devonté Hynes, also known as Blood Orange, composed the score.
The Dutch age rating is 12, with warnings covering sex, coarse language and drug or alcohol misuse. So, perhaps not the ideal family dinner film. Unless your family gatherings are already far more interesting than average.
