Story perspectives

Olivia Wilde Debuts “The Invite” July 9—Rogen Long-Take Thriller

7/10/2026

Summary

Olivia Wilde Directs

Olivia Wilde directs and stars in “The Invite,” opening in U.S. theaters on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
It adapts Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film “The People Upstairs” and is dedicated to Diane Keaton, who died in October 2025.
The digital soundtrack, composed by Devonté Hynes, was released by A24 Music on June 26, 2026.
Early critics praised the leads’ chemistry, noted Seth Rogen’s hardened performance, and highlighted the 35 mm long-take shooting in a single San Francisco apartment.

Summary

Wilde's HBO Debut

Invite will debut on HBO Max in the Pay-1 window in November 2026 after a digital release in August 2026.
A24’s Pay-1 deal makes HBO Max the first streaming service to pay after theatrical and home-media windows close.
The film premiered at Sundance 2026, sparking a multi-day bidding war that A24 won.
Penélope Cruz improvised a kiss with Olivia Wilde that Wilde kept in the final cut.

Summary

Wilde Details Invite

Wilde said the 38% score of “Don’t Worry Darling” gave her freedom to make “The Invite.”
Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra used mirrors in every room to heighten voyeuristic tension.
Overlapping dialogue lets the four leads fill the apartment, creating a breakneck chamber-piece rhythm.
Wilde hopes the film will inspire creators to pursue small, smart adult movies instead of big-budget franchises.

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Olivia Wilde Directs

Olivia Wilde directs and stars in “The Invite,” opening in U.S. theaters on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
It adapts Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film “The People Upstairs” and is dedicated to Diane Keaton, who died in October 2025.
The digital soundtrack, composed by Devonté Hynes, was released by A24 Music on June 26, 2026.
Early critics praised the leads’ chemistry, noted Seth Rogen’s hardened performance, and highlighted the 35 mm long-take shooting in a single San Francisco apartment.

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