Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wilde's sex comedy is wedded hiss; explicit language, pot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Invite
What's the Story?
In THE INVITE, hapless housewife Angela (Olivia Wilde) has been married for more than a decade to Joe (Seth Rogen), a one-hit-wonder rocker turned music teacher. They bicker and get under each other's skin, but they try to put on a good face when Angela invites the cool couple who live upstairs—Piña (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton)—to dinner. Piña and Hawk have been keeping Joe up at night with their loud sex noises, and Angela worries that her husband will embarrass the couple. But instead, the guests arrive with their own agenda, derailing the evening—and Joe and Angela's future.
Is It Any Good?
The question isn't whether Wilde's comedy is funny (it definitely is), it's how many marriages will it end? The Invite begins with a quote from Oscar Wilde condemning marriage and then introduces viewers to unhappily wedded couple Joe and Angela, whose lives are rocked by an evening with their lovey-dovey neighbors, Piña and Hawk. Piña is a sex therapist, and while the movie is more talk than action, things get pretty racy and raucous.
Beyond all the sexy conversations, Piña asks some pointed questions, and for couples going through a rough patch, this might prove to be an awkward movie to watch together—and even more awkward to watch as a family. It's a conversation starter, no doubt, but whether that conversation will end up being one you have with your partner or your teen, you probably want to preview it first to be sure it's a conversation you're ready to have.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their own beliefs about marriage and relationships. What do you think makes partnerships work, and what makes them fail? Do you have any advice on what makes for a happy relationship? How does that compare to the characters' opinions in The Invite?
Are drinking and drug use glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences for their use? Why does that matter?
Communication is a theme: One couple is great at it, the other isn't. How does the film show why good communication is an important life skill?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What does it contribute? Is a certain kind of language expected in a film like this?
What do you think the movie's primary message is? What will you take away from watching, and is that the same as the intended "message"? How do movies influence our attitudes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 26, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : August 11, 2026
- Cast : Seth Rogen , Olivia Wilde , Penelope Cruz , Edward Norton
- Director : Olivia Wilde
- Studio : A24
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual material, language throughout, and drug use
- Last updated : August 31, 2026
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