A24’s summer comedy The Invite grossed $379,000 on just seven screens in New York and Los Angeles during its opening weekend, recording a per-screen average of $54,000 — one of the best limited openings in Hollywood so far in 2026.
The film, directed by Olivia Wilde, sold out shows in both markets with strong audience word of mouth. It stars Wilde and Seth Rogen as a couple hosting a dinner party for their upstairs neighbors, played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. The premise builds from there into territory the trailers have been careful not to give away.
What the Per-Screen Average Actually Means
A $54,000 PSA from seven screens is not a modest result. For comparison, films that go on to become genuine indie hits typically need PSAs in the $20,000 to $30,000 range at this stage to justify wider rollout. The Invite came in nearly twice that. Deadline called it one of the top limited openings of the year to date.
The sold-out screenings and strong exits suggest the film travels well by word of mouth, which matters more than the opening number for a limited release strategy. A24 built its reputation on exactly this pattern — open small, let the audience do the marketing, expand when demand is confirmed.
Olivia Wilde’s Return to Directing
Wilde’s last feature as director was Don’t Worry Darling in 2022, which earned $67 million worldwide but generated significant off-screen controversy that dominated its press cycle. The Invite is a quieter rollout, with the focus squarely on the film rather than anything surrounding it.
The ensemble she assembled is genuinely strong. Rogen and Norton are not obvious pairings on screen, and Cruz brings European formality to what sounds like a very American social comedy. Early reviews have been positive without being breathless about it.
The Expansion Plan
A24 plans to roll The Invite into additional top markets next weekend before a nationwide release on July 10. If word of mouth holds through the next two weeks — and the PSA suggests it should — the film could land as one of the better mid-budget adult comedies of the summer, a category that has been thin in recent years.
The July 10 nationwide date puts it in competition with whatever else opens that weekend, but A24 has a track record of making these limited-to-wide expansions work when the early numbers support it.
The Invite opens nationwide on July 10 — its opening week PSA is already making that expansion look like a straightforward call.
FYI (keeping you in the loop)
Who stars in The Invite (2026)?
The Invite is directed by Olivia Wilde and stars Wilde herself alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. It opens nationally across the US on July 10, 2026.
References
Deadline. (2026). Indie Film Box Office: Comedy The Invite A Top 2026 Limited Opening. Published June 28, 2026.
Yahoo News. (2026). Rare Summer Comedy The Invite Banks A Top Limited Opening Of The Year — Specialty Box Office. Published June 28, 2026.
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