Olivia Wildes The Invite Premieres at Sundance, A24 Sets June 26 Release
When a quiet San Francisco apartment erupts into a comedic showdown, Olivia Wilde’s third feature as a director, The Invite, opened at the Eccles Theater on January 24 during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The English‑language remake of Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs was acquired by A24 at the festival, and the studio announced a limited U.S. theatrical release for June 26, 2026, with a nationwide rollout slated for July.
The story follows Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), a couple whose marriage is on the brink. Their lives collide with their noisy upstairs neighbors—a psychotherapist, Pína (Penélope Cruz), and a firefighter, Hawk (Edward Norton)—when Joe’s early‑morning intimacy sparks a conflict. Joe intends to file a noise complaint, while Angela, hoping to salvage the evening, prepares a dinner and a new outfit to impress the neighbors. As the couple navigates the tension, the upstairs pair extend an invitation to a more intimate gathering, setting the stage for a dinner‑party drama that blends humor with relational realism.
Written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the screenplay weaves personal topics—perimenopause, sexual frequency, paint color, and the music of Sade—into the rhythm of a single‑setting dinner party. Critics note that the dialogue sometimes feels heavy, but Dev Hynes’s score, featuring strings that mirror Angela’s anxiety, offers a compelling counterpoint.
Wilde’s directorial voice has evolved since her 2019 debut Booksmart, which earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Her 2022 thriller Don’t Worry Darling received mixed reactions, but The Invite has been praised for its comedic timing and ensemble performances. Critics highlighted Wilde’s portrayal of Angela—a woman juggling marital frustration and a desire for new experiences—as a “neurotic tour de force.”
A24’s acquisition of The Invite was announced in February 2026, with the studio citing the film’s “sharp wit and intimate setting” as key strengths. The company’s strategy of securing strong festival debuts and rolling them out in limited releases before expanding is evident in the planned release schedule.
The film carries an R rating from the Motion Picture Association for sexual content, language, and drug use, and its 107‑minute runtime places it firmly in the comedy‑drama category. At Sundance, the Eccles Theater audience responded enthusiastically, and the premiere was followed by a press tour during which Wilde discussed the challenges of adapting a Spanish film for an English‑speaking audience.
Industry observers note that The Invite adds to a growing trend of intimate, single‑location comedies that explore modern relationships. The premise—two couples confronting their differences in a shared living space—offers a fresh angle on the dinner‑party genre.
The next steps for The Invite are a limited theatrical release on June 26, 2026, followed by a nationwide expansion in July. After the theatrical window closes, the film will be available on A24’s streaming platform. While box‑office performance remains to be seen, the film’s festival reception and A24’s distribution plan position it for a moderate commercial run.
