A24's 'The Invite' Is the Best Movie of 2026 So Far — Ed Norton and Penélope Cruz Deliver a 96% Rotten Tomatoes Masterpiece

While everyone's been busy obsessing over Toy Story 5 at the box office or binging Obsession on streaming, A24 quietly dropped what might genuinely be the best film of 2026. It's called The Invite, it holds a staggering 96% on Rotten Tomatoes from 143 critics, and if you haven't heard of it yet — you're about to.

What Is "The Invite" and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

Directed by Olivia Wilde, The Invite is a taut, dinner-party-gone-wrong thriller that pairs Ed Norton and Penélope Cruz as Joe and Angela, a married couple whose relationship is, to put it mildly, on thin ice. They invite their mysterious upstairs neighbors — played by Seth Rogen and Wilde herself — over for dinner. What starts as a seemingly innocuous evening spirals into something far darker and more complicated. The official logline asks: "Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?"

What makes this film especially remarkable is Wilde's journey behind the camera. Her previous directorial effort, Don't Worry Darling (2022), landed a dismal 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and was swallowed by behind-the-scenes drama. The Invite isn't just a comeback — it's a total creative reinvention. Going from 38% to 96% is the kind of turnaround that makes you wonder what Wilde learned from the fire and channeled into this film.

The Cast Is Stacked — And They're at the Top of Their Game

Let's talk about this ensemble, because it's genuinely ridiculous in the best way:

• Ed Norton — One of the most intense, unpredictable actors of his generation, Norton brings his trademark volatility to Joe. It's the kind of role that reminds you why he's been nominated for three Oscars.
• Penélope Cruz — Cruz plays Angela with a simmering, layered intensity that ranks among her best English-language work. She's been on an incredible run since Parallel Mothers and shows no signs of slowing down.
• Seth Rogen — Playing against type, Rogen dials back the stoner-comedy energy for something more unsettling. It's a reminder that, as he showed in Steve Jobs and Take This Waltz, he's genuinely effective in dramatic material.
• Olivia Wilde — Pulling double duty as director and co-star, Wilde plays the enigmatic neighbor with a controlled, mysterious energy that keeps you guessing throughout.

Where It Stacks Up in 2026's Best Movies

To put that 96% in perspective, here's where The Invite sits among the top-scored films of 2026 on Rotten Tomatoes:

• Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma — 100%
• Is God Is — 97%
• The Invite — 96%
• The Sheep Detectives — 95%
• Project Hail Mary — 94%
• Obsession — 94%
• Toy Story 5 — 92%
• 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple — 91%

That's not just critical acclaim — that's sustained excellence across 143 reviews, which is notoriously hard to maintain. And the audience score backs it up too, sitting at 93%. When critics and audiences agree that strongly, you know something special is happening.

The Verdict: Don't Sleep on This One

A24 has had an incredible 2026 already, and The Invite might be their crown jewel. It's the kind of mid-budget, adult-driven drama that Hollywood rarely funds anymore — a character study wrapped in tension, powered by four A-listers operating at peak form. With Oscar season looming, expect The Invite to be a serious contender in Best Picture, Best Director, and acting categories.

The Invite is set for wide release soon. If you've been waiting for the one film this year that actually lives up to the hype — this is it.