Review: ‘The Invite’ is hilarious, sexy, and utterly compelling — but is it for the lesbians?

With The Invite, A24 and director Olivia Wilde have ushered in a new subgenre: the “real-com.” It’s related to the rom-com, but instead of the gauzy fantasy and slapstick hilarity of falling in love, the laughter—which comes nearly constantly in this incredibly sharp and hilarious film—is born of an almost too-real sense of authenticity, rooted in the struggles of long-term relationships, dwindling affection, and the desire to feel, well, desired.

That sharpness comes from the wickedly smart screenplay by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, which cracks open and finds humor in the uncomfortable and socially awkward moments where resentment, attraction, and disappointment collide. It’s brilliantly and brutally messy.

If your relationship is in a similar space, this film-watching experience may be awkward, but it may also spur necessary conversations. So, proceed accordingly.

The film introduces two couples: Angela and Joe (played by Wilde and Seth Rogen, respectively), who have been married for years, are raising their teenage daughter, and are both feeling deeply unsatisfied by their stalled careers and their relationship, which they hide poorly with biting conversations, obsessive redecorating, and copious amounts of weed. We also meet their enigmatic neighbors, Piña (a clever nod to a revelation of the couple’s lifestyle) and Hawk (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton), whose wild, vociferous nightly romps have become increasingly disruptive—and intriguing—to Joe and Angela.

All of these dynamics make for a combustible atmosphere when Angela invites the neighbors over for a dinner party. Over the course of the night, there are plenty of awkward, combative moments with an undercurrent of sexual tension. But when a revelation—and an invitation—leads the night in a more intimate direction, real truths begin to emerge. Buried feelings, motivations, and desires erupt to the surface.

The result is easily one of the funniest films of the year. The tension crackles—both sexual and seething with resentment—between the couples, with each delivering a powerhouse performance that effortlessly alternates between sharp comedic timing and devastating vulnerability. Despite taking place in a single location with just four characters, the film moves at a brisk, propulsive pace as conversations and dynamics shift, evolve, erupt, and resolve. Wilde proves to be the surprising comedic standout, holding her own while volleying effortlessly with Rogan, while Cruz and Norton’s chemistry oscillates between intoxicating and utterly unbearable in exactly the right measure.

In short, it’s one of the best films of the year and certainly the best comedy.

But is it for the lesbians? The answer is a moderate yes. Cruz’s character, Piña, is queer, and the women do share a kiss. And frankly, anytime Cruz and Wilde are on the screen—let alone together—there is something here for the sapphics. The film is not explicitly queer. Though anyone can relate to the complicated dynamics of long-term relationships and waning connection, or the thrill of exploring and discovering your most liberated sexual self, this film presents both of those ideas with candor and hilarity. You will laugh, but don’t forget the tissues—you will need those too.

The Invite debuted in select theaters on June 26, 2026, and opens nationwide on July 10, 2026. Watch the trailer below.