“One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.” — Oscar Wilde
THE INVITE is hands-down the best movie released so far in 2026. Audiences should do themselves a favor and RSVP to this dinner invite for career-best performances from Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, and Penélope Cruz. (The only reason I’m leaving Edward Norton off that list is that he’s turned in so many top-tier performances that greatness is always expected from him.)
THE INVITE succeeds so smashingly by taking a single environment and pairing it with a script full of contentious energy and dialogue. It’s stuffed with cringe-worthy comedy that, despite featuring no action scenes, the entire movie feels like a thrill-ride adrenaline rush. It’s also the type of movie that benefits from being seen with the largest possible crowd. That way, as each left turn happens, your jaw can drop right alongside your fellow moviegoers.
So why is THE INVITE the best film so far in 2026 and the clear early favorite for the Oscars (at least until THE ODYSSEY comes out next week)?
- The Theme: The marriage themes on display mix Richard Linklater’s depth, Woody Allen’s comedy, and Neil Simon’s wit. It’s an adult comedy that’s comfortable with the story it’s trying to tell.
- The Actors: are so damn good. Audiences should relate to each couple’s misery in THE INVITE. Every actor is Oscar-worthy in their own right, especially Cruz (who steals every scene) and Rogen (who stretches his acting chops further than I’ve seen outside his work in THE STUDIO).
- The Script: Rashida Jones and Will McCormack deliver some of the sharpest, best lines audiences will hear this year. From “We only get a few chances for meaningful relationships” to the podcast bit where they restart a walking-in-the-door moment, it’s all brilliant.
- The Music: Devonté Hynes’ score is an intense classical arrangement that twists a few covers to great effect, all to heighten the tension.
Final Thought: I don’t just want to see THE INVITE again. I want to watch others experience it for the first time. It’s that special of a film, and one I’m sure to revisit once it hits streaming.
It’s available in theaters now.
