Summary
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A24 has released the first official trailer for The Invite, a new dark comedy directed by and starring Olivia Wilde
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The film follows a troubled married couple, played by Wilde and Seth Rogen, whose relationship is tested when they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) over for a chaotic dinner party
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Following a highly successful premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the film is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on June 26, 2026, before expanding in July
A chaotic dinner party is officially on the menu for A24‘s latest cinematic offering. The acclaimed indie studio has released the first official trailer for The Invite, a highly anticipated new dark comedy that made major waves at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, the film boasts a powerhouse ensemble cast featuring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton, delivering a tense and hilarious exploration of marriage, temptation, and awkward social boundaries.
Written by frequent collaborators Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, The Invite is an English-language adaptation of Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish-language film The People Upstairs (Sentimental). The story centers on Joe (Rogen) and Angela (Wilde), a married couple whose relationship is currently on thin ice. In an attempt to shake things up, they invite their mysterious and overly affectionate upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Norton) and Pina (Cruz), over for a dinner party. However, what begins as a seemingly ordinary evening quickly spirals into psychological and emotional chaos as unexpected propositions and uncomfortable revelations surface.
The newly released trailer perfectly highlights the film’s sharp dialogue and escalating tension, backed by a memorable rendition of Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell.” As the drinks pour and the flirtations intensify, the two couples are forced to confront the fragile balance of their respective relationships, asking whether the chaotic night has “reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down.”
For Wilde, the project marks her impressive third feature film as a director, following the successes of Booksmart (2019) and Don’t Worry Darling (2023). When the film debuted at Sundance in January, it quickly became one of the festival’s most talked-about titles, sparking a massive bidding war among several major distributors before A24 ultimately secured the rights. The 107-minute movie earned an R rating and has garnered significant praise for its witty script and incredible cast chemistry.
Produced by David Permut, Ben Browning, and Megan Ellison, The Invite is officially slated for a limited theatrical release starting June 26, 2026. The film will subsequently expand to wider markets everywhere in July.
