Cinema Scholars reviews the new film The Invite. Olivia Wilde directs and stars alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. A24 is releasing The Invite for a limited theatrical release on June 26, 2026, followed by an expansion nationwide on July 10, 2026.
Introduction
Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship knows that it’s not always easy. Indeed, some couples appear to have a storybook romance with no quarrels or drama. However, the majority of us recognize that maintaining such a complex partnership entails its share of disagreements and compromises.
While there are endless examples of couples who work through the better and the worse, it’s no revelation that irreconcilable differences lead many to Splitsville. In the new film The Invite, Olivia Wilde works behind and in front of the camera to capture a couple at a difficult, amusing, and all-too-relatable crossroads in their marriage.
Synopsis
Angela (Wilde) and Joe (Seth Rogen) are a typical elder millennial couple in San Francisco. Blessed with Joe’s inherited apartment, his career as a music instructor at a local college, and their loving daughter, the pair seems to have it all. One day, when Joe, clearly disillusioned with his current job, makes his daily bike slog home (up and down SF hills!), any semblance of a perfect life is shattered when the bickering commences as soon as he walks through the door.
It seems Angela has made plans for them (she told him yesterday!) to host their upstairs neighbors for the evening. With a soufflé in the oven and an unexpected new rug in the living room, the couple reveals their apparent discord from the get-go. By the time the guests arrive, the stage has been set for a contentious powder keg of a night. Unbeknownst to Joe and Angela, however, their casual encounter will turn out to be more alluring and consequential than they could have imagined.
Discussion
In our protagonists’ defense, these are no ordinary neighbors. Piña and Hawk (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) come with all the pretense their sexy names insinuate. They are the upstairs neighbors who have been tormenting Joe and Angela with their naughty—and sometimes disturbing—nocturnal antics.
While Joe earlier admits he is eager to confront the pair about their mutual sleepless nights, Angela demands that he keep the peace during this initial meet-up. The introduction of these chaos-agent neighbors jolts the couple from their current rut, whether they like it or not. From here, Wilde adequately builds tension during various confrontations and then mercifully releases it with screwball comic relief.
On one side, the couple badly needs an injection of intrigue to reinvigorate their relationship. On the flip side, however, the questions posed by their adventurous and radically open new friends force them to reassess their own wants, desires, and relationship as a whole. Heavy stuff for a fun night with the neighbors.
Performances
As Angela, Wilde exudes an impressive level of nonstop neuroticism—like Woody Allen as a Type-A woman. As her character flits and fixates around the apartment, it becomes clear that the unrest is mental as well. Though it would be easy for the character to come across as unlikeable, Wilde’s eager performance reveals Angela’s vulnerability as well as a growing unwillingness to settle.
As always, Seth Rogen leans heavily into the exasperated comedic tone that has defined much of his career. No complaints here. His portrayal of the straightforward Joe provides the perfect yin to Angela’s reserved yang, with hilarious effect. And when propositioned as enthusiastically as his beautiful wife, Rogen’s air of awe and disbelief makes Joe even more endearing. When things get serious, however, Rogen reminds us of his understated and authentic dramatic side as well.
Penélope Cruz continues her streak of doing no wrong as the mysterious Piña. With her hair and makeup on point and her sexuality worn confidently on her sleeve, it’s clear that she is a sex-forward person. Yet Cruz plays her as someone whose wheels are constantly turning, bringing a witty and worldly sensibility to the role—especially when she begins to psychoanalyze her hosts.
As Hawk, Edward Norton keeps things surprisingly neutral and almost annoyingly open-minded. Hawk is the enlightened man trope brought to life, yet Norton somehow maintains a sexy sincerity that saves the character from becoming a woke cliché.
Further Analysis
The Invite is essentially a one-location situational comedy. One could argue that it could be performed as a play, yet Wilde treats the apartment like more of a character than a mere location, as the camera visits nearly every nook and cranny of the space. The studs and walls echo Joe’s past, while the carefully curated interior reflects Angela’s attention to detail. Even a window casing becomes a stage for upstairs peepers and a scandalous subplot.
A mostly spartan score by composer Devonté Hynes (aka Blood Orange) features a solo cellist accentuating each terse comment and tense moment. The simplistic yet powerful style nicely accompanies the continual build and release of tension throughout the film.
Though the film leans into awkwardness at the right moments, there comes a point when the drama begins to feel long-winded. The Invite is definitely a talker, with loads of brilliant dialogue for each character. And while Wilde skates dangerously close to melodramatic waters, she is still able to bring the tension to a full tilt and stick the landing.
Conclusion
The Invite is a deep dive into the awkward and sometimes funny evolution of relationships. Heavy on dialogue, the film illustrates the importance of honest communication, even when it leads to confrontation. Ample comic relief and terrific performances keep the film from taking itself too seriously, while Wilde takes us on a sexy and emotional journey that might hit closer to home than expected.
A24 is releasing The Invite for a limited theatrical release on June 26, 2026, followed by an expansion nationwide on July 10, 2026.
