Olivia Wilde's 'The Invite' is now streaming on HBO Max: cast, story and how to watch

“The Invite,” the dinner-party dramedy directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, arrived on HBO Max on Friday, Oct. 23, giving viewers who missed its summer theatrical run their first chance to watch it at home. The A24 release stars Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton alongside Wilde, and it drew wide attention as it landed on streaming.

Deadline first reported the plan in September: the film streams exclusively on HBO Max starting Oct. 23 and makes its debut on the HBO linear channel at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 24.

What is ‘The Invite’ about?

The story centers on Joe (Rogen) and Angela (Wilde), a married couple whose relationship is, in Deadline’s words, “on thin ice.” They invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors, played by Norton and Cruz, over for a dinner party, and the night “spirals into unexpected places.”

USA Today describes the film as a mix of “marriage drama, dark comedy and a dinner party gone off the rails.” The HBO Max listing, as shown by TV Insider, asks whether the couple has “reignited the spark in their troubled marriage — or lit the match that burns it all down.”

Who is in the cast?

Wilde directed from a script by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones. David Permut, Ben Browning and Megan Ellison are producers, according to Deadline. TV Insider lists Devonté Hynes as composer and Adam Newport-Berra as cinematographer. The film is rated R and runs 1 hour 47 minutes.

Is it a remake?

Yes. Deadline reports that “The Invite” is an English-language remake of “The People Upstairs” (“Sentimental”), the 2020 Spanish film by Cesc Gay.

How did it do in theaters?

According to Deadline, the indie premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival and became a theatrical hit, grossing more than $55 million worldwide over the summer. USA Today notes it has picked up awards-season buzz.

How to watch ‘The Invite’

• HBO Max: streaming exclusively from Oct. 23.
• HBO (linear): TV debut Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. ET.
• Through a bundle: USA Today notes HBO Max can also be added through a Sling TV subscription; pricing varies by plan and add-ons.

What’s next for Olivia Wilde?

Deadline reports that Wilde’s next directing project is “Naughty,” a holiday comedy for Universal Pictures starring Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage.

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