A24's The Invite Is the Best Movie of 2026 You Haven't Seen Yet — And It Just Dropped a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes

A24's The Invite Is the Best Movie of 2026 You Haven't Seen Yet — And It Just Dropped a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes

While everyone's been busy watching Toy Story 5 dominate the box office and Obsession take over streaming conversations, a quiet masterpiece just landed in theaters with a staggering 96% Rotten Tomatoes score. The Invite, directed by Olivia Wilde and distributed by A24, is here — and it's already being called one of the best films of the year.

With a cast that includes Ed Norton, Penélope Cruz, Seth Rogen, and Wilde herself, this is the kind of ensemble that makes movie fans sit up and pay attention. Based on the critical reception? It absolutely delivers.

What Is The Invite About?

The premise is deceptively simple: Joe and Angela's marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?

Pairing off Norton and Cruz as a married couple opposite Rogen and Wilde's characters, the film turns what sounds like a dinner party premise into something far more intense. Critics are calling it a darkly comedic, psychologically layered thriller that keeps you guessing from the first scene to the last.

How Does It Compare to Other 2026 Movies?

For context, here's where The Invite sits among the highest-rated films of 2026 on Rotten Tomatoes:

• Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma — 100% (but limited reviews)
• Is God Is — 97%
• The Invite — 96% (from 143 critics — the most reviews among top-tier 2026 films)
• The Sheep Detectives — 95%
• Project Hail Mary — 94%
• Obsession — 94%
• 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple — 91%
• Toy Story 5 — 92%

What makes The Invite stand out is the sheer volume of reviews — 143 critics weighing in means this isn't a niche favorite. It's a widely recognized, consensus pick for best movie of 2026 so far.

Olivia Wilde's Directorial Comeback

After the polarizing reception of Don't Worry Darling (which scored just 38% on Rotten Tomatoes), Wilde's return to the director's chair feels like a massive redemption moment. Critics are praising her sharp direction, tight pacing, and the palpable tension she builds around a single location — most of the film takes place during that one fateful dinner party.

The audience score sits at 93% too, meaning regular viewers are loving it just as much as critics. That's rare territory — usually there's a gap, but The Invite is bridging both worlds.

Why You Should Watch It This Weekend

If you're looking for something that's not a sequel, not a franchise entry, and doesn't rely on CGI spectacle — The Invite is exactly that movie. It's pure storytelling, incredible acting, and the kind of dinner party premise that turns into a wild ride.

And honestly? With Ed Norton and Penélope Cruz playing a couple on the edge, and Seth Rogen showing a side of his range we rarely see, this could be a strong contender come Oscar season 2027.

Hit up your local theater and grab tickets before the hype machine really kicks in. This one's going to be a word-of-mouth phenomenon.