The Invite
The brief
Wilde's domestic thriller starts as familiar marital dysfunction territory but gets genuinely weird once Cruz and Norton's mysterious neighbors show up for dinner. The four leads circle each other with palpable tension, especially Cruz who brings an unsettling energy that keeps you guessing her motives. It's slower than you'd expect for the first hour, then accelerates into genuinely surprising psychological territory that feels earned rather than gimmicky. Perfect for fans of *The Invitation* or *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf* who want their dinner party movies with actual bite.
The verdict
If you have patience for slow-burn psychological thrillers that reward your investment with genuinely surprising twists, this delivers the kind of dinner party tension that gets under your skin. If you need consistent pacing or expect immediate payoffs, the deliberate first hour will test your limits before the weirdness kicks in.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect for couples who love psychological thrillers
- 👤 Ideal solo watch for maximum tension
- ⚠️ Skip if you prefer fast-paced entertainment
Heads up
- Marital conflict and emotional manipulation (moderate)
- Psychological tension and mind games (moderate)
- Adult themes and relationship dysfunction (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Olivia Wilde
- Cast
- Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton
Official synopsis
Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Couples Weekend (2026)
Both explore relationship tensions through intimate social gatherings gone wrong.
Total runtime: 1h 48m + 1h 36m = 3h 24m
