The Invite (2026) is a comedy-drama starring Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. Directed by Wilde, the film turns an ordinary dinner party into an uncomfortable evening filled with relationship tensions, unexpected revelations, and provocative conversations.
After its theatrical release earlier in 2026, The Invite arrived on HBO Max in the United States on October 23, giving streaming audiences another chance to watch the A24 film at home.
But what is The Invite about, who stars in it, and where can you stream it? Here is everything to know about the movie, including its story, cast, runtime, and what makes it an interesting choice for fans of dark comedy and relationship dramas.
What Is The Invite (2026) About?
The Invite follows Joe and Angela, a married couple whose relationship is struggling. Hoping to change the atmosphere at home, they invite their upstairs neighbors, Hawk and Piña, over for dinner.
What begins as a seemingly ordinary social gathering quickly becomes something much more complicated. The guests bring unexpected perspectives on relationships and intimacy, forcing Joe and Angela to confront questions about their own marriage.
As the evening unfolds, conversations become increasingly uncomfortable, secrets emerge, and the boundaries between honesty, provocation, and personal freedom begin to blur. The dinner party becomes an opportunity for both couples to examine what they want from their relationships—and what they may have been avoiding.
Rather than relying on an elaborate mystery or action-driven plot, the film builds its tension through dialogue, awkward encounters, and the reactions of four people who do not necessarily share the same expectations.
The central question is simple: can an unexpected conversation bring a couple closer together, or can it expose problems that have been impossible to ignore?
The Invite Cast: Who Stars in the Movie?
One of the film’s biggest attractions is its four-person leading cast.
- Seth Rogen as Joe: One half of the married couple at the center of the story.
- Olivia Wilde as Angela: Joe’s wife, who becomes part of the evening’s increasingly personal conversations.
- Edward Norton as Hawk: One of the couple’s upstairs neighbors, whose presence helps change the direction of the dinner party.
- Penélope Cruz as Piña: Hawk’s partner, whose relationship with him offers a contrast to Joe and Angela’s marriage.
Olivia Wilde also directs the film, following her previous directing projects Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling. The screenplay was written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.
The film’s concept places considerable weight on the performances. With most of the central conflict developing through conversation, the actors must make shifting emotions, discomfort, and disagreements compelling without depending on constant changes of location or large action sequences.
The Invite (2026) Release Date and Runtime
The Invite was released theatrically in 2026 before moving to home entertainment.
Here are the key details:
DetailInformation
Movie title The Invite
Release year 2026
Director Olivia Wilde
Screenwriters Rashida Jones and Will McCormack
Main cast Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton
Genre Comedy, drama
Runtime 1 hour 47 minutes
Distributor A24
U.S. streaming release October 23, 2026
The movie is an English-language remake of the Spanish film The People Upstairs (Sentimental), written and directed by Cesc Gay. The new version brings the premise to a different cast and setting while retaining the central idea of a dinner party that challenges the relationships of its guests.
For official film details, visit A24’s The Invite movie page.
Where to Watch The Invite (2026)
If you are searching for The Invite 2026 where to watch, the film began streaming exclusively on HBO Max in the United States on Friday, October 23, 2026.
It also debuted on HBO’s linear television channel on Saturday, October 24, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Viewers in the United States can check the official HBO Max release announcement for the streaming details.
Availability can differ outside the United States. If you are watching from Morocco or another international market, check the streaming services available in your region rather than assuming that the U.S. release schedule applies everywhere.
The movie has also been offered through digital rental and purchase services. Availability and pricing depend on the platform and territory.
Is The Invite Worth Watching?
The Invite may appeal to viewers who enjoy adult-oriented comedies that explore relationships through uncomfortable conversations rather than conventional romantic-comedy formulas.
Its central setup creates a natural source of tension: four people sit down to eat together, but they bring different expectations, insecurities, and ideas about what a successful relationship should look like. As those differences emerge, the dinner becomes less about hospitality and more about honesty.
The cast is another reason to consider the film. Seth Rogen is familiar to audiences through his comedy performances, while Olivia Wilde combines the lead role with directing. Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton complete an ensemble that can carry a story built around dialogue and character interaction.
However, the film’s approach will not necessarily work for everyone. Viewers who prefer fast-paced plots, action, or elaborate twists may find a dinner-party comedy less engaging. Much of the experience depends on the chemistry between the actors and the audience’s interest in watching complicated relationship dynamics unfold.
For viewers who prefer stories where personal secrets affect the entire narrative, FilmRadar also covers titles such as The Perfect Lie, which takes a different approach to tension and hidden truths.
Rather than treating The Invite as a conventional romantic comedy, it is best approached as a relationship-focused comedy-drama that uses an awkward social gathering to examine the expectations people place on one another.
Is The Invite a Remake?
Yes. The Invite is an English-language remake of the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs, also known as Sentimental, directed by Cesc Gay.
The original story uses a dinner between neighbors to explore intimacy, dissatisfaction, and the complicated expectations surrounding long-term relationships. The 2026 version adapts that premise with Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
The remake gives the story a new cast and interpretation while preserving the central dramatic device: an apparently ordinary evening that becomes a confrontation with uncomfortable truths.
Audiences familiar with the original may be interested in comparing how the English-language version handles its characters, humor, and relationship conflicts.
Final Verdict: Should You Add The Invite to Your Watchlist?
The Invite (2026) offers a contained comedy-drama built around four characters, one dinner party, and the relationship problems that surface when people begin speaking more honestly than expected.
Its strongest selling points are the ensemble cast, Olivia Wilde’s dual role as director and lead actor, and a premise that can generate both comedy and discomfort. The film is particularly suited to viewers who enjoy dialogue-driven stories about couples, intimacy, and the complications of adult relationships.
The movie is available to stream on HBO Max in the United States as of October 23, 2026, although international availability varies.