Olivia Wilde’s New Comedy ‘The Invite’ Gets Its First Reviews — See What Critics Are Saying

Olivia Wilde’s new comedy The Invite is already getting attention from critics, and the early reactions suggest that the movie could become one of the more talked-about comedies of 2026.

The film, directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, is a remake of the 2020 Spanish comedy The People Upstairs by Cesc Gay. The story follows two couples who spend an evening together, but what starts as a normal dinner quickly turns into an uncomfortable and revealing conversation about relationships, honesty, and personal choices.

The cast includes Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. Rogen plays Joe, while Wilde stars as Angela. Cruz takes on the role of Pína, and Norton plays Hawk. The movie had its first screening at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reactions before arriving in theaters through A24.

Now, the early Rotten Tomatoes score has been revealed, and the results are mostly positive. The Invite currently holds a 93% Tomatometer score based on 91 critic reviews, showing that many critics have connected with the movie’s mix of awkward humor and relationship drama.

Several critics praised the way the movie handles adult relationships while still delivering plenty of comedy. Entertainment Voice critic Lci Rengifo gave the film a positive review, saying that even if viewers do not live the same lifestyle as the characters, the movie captures a universal truth about relationships. Rengifo wrote that “The Invite does a good enough job with the universal truth that building a life with someone else is no easy feat.”

Rogers TV critic Eric Marchen also enjoyed the film, giving it an A- grade. Marchen praised the conversations between the two couples and highlighted how the movie uses uncomfortable moments to create comedy.

John Kirk from Original Cin gave the film an A rating and called it a comedy worth watching. According to Kirk, the movie works because it combines humor with a thoughtful look at relationships. He described it as “an intelligent look at adult relationships, with an ultimately hopeful outlook.”

The performances and Olivia Wilde’s direction were also mentioned as some of the movie’s biggest strengths. Stefania Sarrubba from The Skinny gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising Wilde’s ability to create an intimate story where the four main characters constantly challenge each other.

Calum Cooper from Cinerama Film gave The Invite 4 out of 5 stars, saying that the movie benefits from a strong script, charismatic performances, and Wilde’s direction. Cooper described it as “a hysterical and subtly heartfelt gem.”

However, not every critic was impressed. Jeff York from The Establishing Shot gave the movie a negative review, scoring it 1 out of 4. York felt that the comedy did not fully work and argued that the film failed to reach the level of sophistication it was aiming for.

Despite the mixed opinions from some reviewers, the overall response has been strongly positive. With a high Rotten Tomatoes score and a recognizable cast, The Invite appears to be another example of A24 backing a smaller film that could find a wider audience through strong word of mouth.

The movie is now playing in select theaters after its June 26, 2026 release in the United States.

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