The Invite

Directed by Olivia Wilde
United States
2026
107 mins
Unclassified 18+
Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton exchange barbs, flirtations and truths in this hit Sundance dinner party dramedy, directed by Wilde (Booksmart, SFF 2019).

San Franciscan married couple Joe and Angela (Rogen and Wilde) are two tightly wound individuals who seem to be at odds over almost everything. When Angela invites their attractive, free-spirited upstairs neighbours (Cruz and Norton) over for dinner, the evening feels primed to combust. Where Angela is intrigued by the pair, Joe is irritated by the constant noise that travels from their bedroom above. The stage is set for a night of sizzling small talk, unearthed insecurities, loaded barbs and a serious dose of sexual tension. Shot on 35mm, with a sparkling script by writing duo Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (Celeste and Jesse Forever) that updates the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs, The Invite is a masterful dissection of modern relationships. As director, Wilde brings emotional depth and a comedic edge to the material, finding something recognisable and painfully true beneath the film's escalating chaos. Her process – workshopping scenes with the cast, shooting chronologically, and allowing room for exploration on set – gives the film a lived-in, volatile authenticity that lifts it beyond the familiar contours of the relationship drama.

[Wilde] knows exactly what she’s doing, how to calibrate between big laughs and broken hearts, how to use her cast to great effect, and how to surprise her audience at nearly every turn.
Kate Erbland, IndieWire

Tickets

Fri 5 June 2026, 8:30pm
State Theatre
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Sat 6 June 2026, 11:15am
State Theatre
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Thu 11 June 2026, 6:30pm
Ritz Randwick - Cinema 1
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
  • Program Strand
  • Year
    2026
  • Classification
    Unclassified 18+
  • Country
    USA
  • Language
    In English
  • Director
    Olivia Wilde
  • Producer
    David Permut, Ben Browning, Megan Ellison
  • Cast
    Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton
  • Screenwriter
    Will McCormack, Rashida Jones
  • Cinematographer
    Adam Newport-Berra
  • Editor
    Yorgos Mavropsaridis, Anthony Boys
  • Genre
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Australian Distributor: VVS Films
  • Official Website
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Don’t miss a thing!

Whether you’re in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

Don't miss a thing!

Whether you're in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.