- Edward Norton, Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penelope Cruz
- July 3rd 2026
- Olivia Wilde
Joe and Angela, a couple in crisis, invite their upstairs neighbours Pina and Hawk over for a dinner party. What could go wrong?
Step aside, Project Hail Mary, another one of the year’s best films has arrived.
The Invite, directed by Olivia Wilde, tells the story of Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Wilde), a long-time couple stuck in a loveless marriage.
When Angela invites their enigmatic, free-spirited neighbours, Pina (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), over to their San Francisco apartment, they are forced to confront their unhappiness, their ongoing dry spell and the general state of their relationship.
An English-language remake of the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs, The Invite is a wild, unpredictable ride. You have no idea how the evening is going to go, what secrets will be revealed and how Joe and Angela will feel about each other at the end of the night.
The script, written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, is rich, juicy and smart and manages to be hilarious one moment, sad the next and unbearably awkward in another.
The character dynamics are so unusual and interesting, and the dialogue is filled with pointed barbs, brutal honesty and realistic conversational overlaps.
Sometimes, films set in one location (such as an apartment) can become rather dull, but there is no risk of boredom with The Invite thanks to the exciting dialogue, top-tier performances, Dev Hynes’ stressful score and the free movement around the home.
While all of the actors are on top form, Cruz is outstanding as the sexy and seductive therapist Pina, who is so cool and confident that she can make others feel ill at ease. Norton matches her energy as the smooth yet slightly weird Hawk.
Unsurprisingly, Rogen is the funniest member of the cast as the voice of reason who cuts through the nonsense, and it’s impressive that Wilde delivers such a tense, anxiety-riddled performance while directing at the same time.
Mature, intelligent comedies don’t get released in the cinema very often these days, but The Invite deservedly bucks this trend.
It’s worth catching in the cinema because it’s fun hearing everybody’s reactions to the shocking or hilarious moments.
The Invite is one of the very best films of 2026 so far and will hopefully be remembered come awards season, especially for its screenplay and direction.
In cinemas from Friday 3rd July.
By Hannah Wales.
© Cover Media