After a heated bidding war at Sundance 2026, Olivia Wilde’s latest directorial hit, The Invite, has finally found a home at A24. Moreover, this sizzling sex comedy—packed with famous stars like Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton—sold for a whopping eight-figure sum.
At its core, the movie follows a struggling couple (Wilde and Rogen) who decide to invite their mysterious swinger neighbors (Cruz and Norton) over for dinner. As a result, this setup sparks hilarious yet tense revelations about relationships. Interestingly, it’s an English remake of the Spanish hit The People Upstairs by Cesc Gay, and features a sharp script by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.
The Invite made waves with its world premiere at Sundance, where it earned a rapturous standing ovation. In fact, major players like Neon, Netflix, Apple, Searchlight, and Focus Features all jumped into the bidding fray, but ultimately, A24 emerged victorious. On top of that, Wilde personally pushed for a theatrical release, while also reuniting with Megan Ellison’s Annapurna—just like in her debut Booksmart. Critics widely praise it as a smart adult comedy that skewers marriage with a hopeful twist.
After the high-stakes drama of Don’t Worry Darling, Wilde embraced the freedom of indie filmmaking. For instance, the movie was shot in Los Angeles over just 23 days, complete with intensive rehearsals. Finally, the blockbuster sale was masterminded by UTA Independent and FilmNation.
About the author
Daya Nanoskar is an Entertainment Writer at Awesome TV and a contributor to AWSM Times. Daya covers film news, streaming releases, celebrity updates and industry news across Hollywood and Bollywood, and has written more than 2,300 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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