Olivia Wilde’s The Invite entered awards-season conversation after its Sundance world premiere on January 24, 2026. The English-language adaptation of Cesc Gay’s Spanish film Sentimental is set in San Francisco, where a dinner between two couples becomes a tightly contained relationship comedy. Wilde directs and stars as Angela, with Seth Rogen as her husband, Joe. Their upstairs neighbors are played by Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz. The reported A24 acquisition was valued at $12 million, and the film’s festival reception has made its awards prospects a subject of industry discussion.
The film’s momentum rests on its four-person ensemble and dialogue-driven format, rather than any announced Academy recognition. At Sundance, it drew ovations; coverage also called it a buzzy awards-season contender. That attention has put A24’s next move in focus: the distributor could build an awards campaign around the performances and screenplay, even as the film heads for a summer theatrical release. No Academy nomination or formal A24 campaign announcement is part of the film’s reported status.
Wilde, whose directing credits include Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling, described the story’s emotional premise in an interview: “I’m fascinated by people who are in a relationship but are actually two strangers.” Spanish-language coverage identifies The Invite as her third feature as a director. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack wrote the screenplay, adapting the source material into an adult comedy built around disclosures that escalate during a single gathering.
Joe and Angela are portrayed as a troubled married couple. Joe is an independent musician who now teaches, while Hawk, played by Norton, is a retired firefighter. Cruz plays Piña, Hawk’s sexually adventurous partner. Wilde has praised Cruz’s contribution, saying, “Penélope Cruz’s DNA is throughout the entire film, and I can’t imagine anyone else in that role.” The interplay among the four characters drives the drama and provides the performance-focused basis for awards speculation.
The Invite runs approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes and opened theatrically in the United States on June 26, 2026, through A24 after its Sundance debut. A reported HBO Max streaming arrival follows on October 23, 2026; a ZEE5 release is also listed for that date in its market. The release schedule gives A24 a summer audience window before awards season intensifies.
A24’s record with unconventional awards contenders, including Everything Everywhere All at Once, has made its positioning of The Invite an industry talking point. The film’s ovations and ensemble performances have generated critical momentum, but that attention does not amount to an official Academy campaign or nomination. For now, the distributor must decide whether to sustain the conversation with an awards push as the film moves from theaters to streaming.
