Overview
- The Invite arrives in select U.S. theaters on June 26 and expands wide on July 10, with A24 marketing it as a summer theatrical release rather than a streaming debut.
- The four‑handed cast stars Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton in a single‑evening dinner‑party story about a strained marriage that escalates when the upstairs neighbors propose a sexual experiment.
- Wilde developed the film through two‑week workshops, on‑set improvisation and chronological shooting to preserve spontaneous performances and actor discovery.
- Early reviews and festival screenings have been strongly positive, praising Wilde’s direction and the ensemble performances while some critics flagged an uneven third act; several outlets reported a very high Rotten Tomatoes score in advance of release.
- A24 won the heated Sundance bidding contest over larger offers and backed Wilde’s insistence on theaters, a choice she says matters because the film’s humor relies on collective attention and audience listening.