Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite” Sells to A24 in Major Sundance Acquisition

Olivia Wilde’s latest film, The Invite, has emerged as one of the most notable acquisitions to come out of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, with A24 securing distribution rights after a competitive multi-day bidding process.

The deal reached the eight-figure range, exceeding $12 million after offers began near $10 million and climbed over several days of negotiations. A24 ultimately prevailed over Focus Features and a late-stage bid from Warner Bros’ newly launched contemporary film label, while several other companies exited the process earlier.

The sale stands out in an otherwise restrained Sundance marketplace, where few films have generated sustained bidding wars. Interest in The Invite reflects a combination that has become increasingly uncommon in the independent film space: an established filmmaker, a recognizable ensemble cast, strong early reception, and a clear intention for a theatrical release.

Wilde directed and co-starred in the film alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton, marking her third feature as a director following Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling. The project reunites her with Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures, which produced , continuing a creative partnership that has already shown both critical and commercial promise.

A central issue in the negotiations was Wilde’s preference for a traditional theatrical release. At a time when many independent films premiere primarily on streaming platforms, theatrical distribution still carries weight. It shapes how a film is marketed, how audiences encounter it, and how long it remains visible beyond its initial release. For a distributor like A24, whose identity is closely tied to theatrical releases, that alignment matters.

The Invite is a relationship comedy set over the course of a single evening, following two couples brought together for a dinner that gradually unravels as personal tensions surface. Wilde and Rogen portray a couple already on uncertain footing, while their upstairs neighbors, played by Cruz and Norton, introduce an unexpected dynamic that pushes the evening off course. The screenplay, written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, is adapted from the Spanish film The People Upstairs. Wilde has said she approached the production like a stage play and shot the film in chronological order, a method that allows performances to build naturally.

Critical response at Sundance helped elevate the film’s profile. Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman praised the project as a sharply executed ensemble comedy that balances humor with surprise, and early audience reaction helped position it as one of the festival’s most sought-after titles.

From a business perspective, the sale reflects how independent films are evaluated at major festivals. Buyers weigh not only price but also release strategy, marketing commitments, and alignment with a distributor’s broader slate. The film was represented in negotiations by UTA Independent Film Group and FilmNation, with multiple agencies representing the cast and creative team, a structure typical of high-profile independent productions.

The acquisition comes during a transitional moment for Sundance itself. The 2026 edition is among the final festivals to be held in Park City before the event relocates to Boulder in 2027, and this year’s sales activity has been notably more measured than in previous years.

A24 has not announced a release date or detailed distribution plans for The Invite. The film nevertheless leaves Sundance as one of the festival’s clearest success stories, shaped by a rare convergence of creative confidence, audience response, and distributor commitment.