Seth Rogen’s streaming hit turns a dinner invitation into an uncomfortable night. Now, The Invite has reached No. 1 on HBO Max, according to SlashFilm’s October 24 report.
After arriving on the service October 23, the R-rated comedy quickly climbed its movie chart.
What is Seth Rogen’s The Invite about?
At first, Joe and Angela seem like a couple who could use a quiet evening. Instead, they invite their upstairs neighbors over, setting up a dinner that tests their already shaky marriage.
Meanwhile, Rogen plays Joe, and Olivia Wilde plays Angela while also directing the film. Across the table, Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz play neighbors Hawk and Piña.
Soon, complaints about noise give way to much more personal questions. Rather than relying on big action scenes, the story builds tension through talk, awkward pauses and clashing personalities.
Behind the camera, Wilde keeps most of the action inside one apartment. Consequently, the guests have little space to escape when the conversation takes an uncomfortable turn.
How did Olivia Wilde’s comedy reach HBO Max?
Previously, Wilde directed Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling before taking on this smaller, more contained story. This time, she works from a script by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.
In fact, the movie adapts Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs, also known as Sentimental. Meanwhile, its mix of marriage trouble and adult humor keeps the focus on four people with very different expectations.
Following its Sundance premiere, the A24 release earned positive reviews before reaching theaters over the summer. Later, Deadline reported worldwide ticket sales above $55 million.
SlashFilm critic Nina Starner praised the film, writing, “Wilde creates a perfectly claustrophobic atmosphere, and in doing so, delivers one of the year’s standout films.”
Now, HBO Max viewers can watch that dinner unravel from the comfort of their own homes.
