The Invite stars Seth Rogan, Edward Norton, and and Penélope Cruz.
I’m sitting in a packed cinema watching Olivia Wilde’s new film, The Invite. Within minutes, chuckles ripple through the audience before erupting into full-blown laughter. As the awkward dinner party spirals further out of control, it’s clear everyone in the room is completely invested. FACT was invited to a preview screening at SXSW London, ahead of the film’s release on 26 June 2026, and it proved to be a sharp and smart comedy that kept the laughs coming from start to finish.
The Invite is a remake of the Spanish film The People Upstairs. Released in 2020, it has been adapted several times around the world. This marks Olivia Wilde’s third film as a director; she was previously behind Don’t Worry Darling and Booksmart. The screenplay is written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. The film takes a deceptively simple premise and turns it into an entertaining exploration of modern relationships, marriage and desire. The story opens with a fitting quote from Oscar Wilde: “One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.”
Set in San Francisco, California, The Invite feels like it is a cross between a Noël Coward play and a Woody Allen film. Joe and Angela, played by Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde, are a married couple whose relationship has drifted into routine. Joe is a former indie-rock frontman turned music teacher, and Angela is a stay-at-home mum who is obsessed with home improvements and dinner party planning.
Their guests are the glamorous couple living upstairs: Pina, played by Penélope Cruz, and Hawk, played by Edward Norton. Joe and Angela have spent months hearing the pair’s enthusiastic bedroom activities through the ceiling, and it has left them frustrated by the lack of desire in their own relationship. So, when the neighbours finally arrive for dinner, the contrast between the two couples couldn’t be clearer.
While most of us would do almost anything to avoid awkwardness, this film happily sits in that uncomfortable space for 107 minutes. What follows is an uneasy evening that invites us to explore what really goes on behind closed doors. Every actor is at the top of their game, and it feels like a masterclass in performance. The role plays perfectly to Seth’s strengths as a sarcastic, self-deprecating husband, but he manages to avoid simply playing a version of himself. Instead, he delivers one of his most nuanced performances in years.
Every character feels fully realised. Penélope could easily have played Pina as an object of beauty, instead she is an object of fascination. She adds mystery to the character, who is able to read the room (and everyone’s insecurities). Edward goes from being impossibly cool to previously damaged as Hawk. Olivia gives Angela a vulnerability that prevents the character from becoming merely a controlling wife.
What makes The Invite so enjoyable is the dialogue. Conversations overlap, jokes arrive from unexpected directions, and at times it feels as though you’re watching an improvised stage play unfold before your eyes. Yet beneath that spontaneity lies a script clearly crafted with precision. The direction is simple, allowing the performances to shine. Shot on 35mm, the film has an intimacy that suits the story perfectly. One particular scene featuring Olivia on the kitchen floor beside the cooker had the entire cinema in stitches.
There’s something magical about sitting in a packed cinema when a comedy truly lands. Throughout The Invite, laughter echoed around the room, reminding me why some films are best enjoyed in the cinema with an audience. By the time the credits rolled, I was already thinking about all of the friends I’d recommend it to. And just remember: what happens behind closed doors is rarely as simple as it seems.
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