• A24 has acquired U.S. rights to Olivia Wilde’s comedy The Invite after a bidding war at Sundance.
• The film stars Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton and premiered to strong reviews.
• The purchase reportedly totaled about $10 million; Wilde favored a traditional theatrical release.

H2: A24 secures a major Sundance pickup
Indie studio A24 has purchased U.S. distribution rights to Olivia Wilde’s comedy The Invite after a competitive bidding process at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. A person familiar with the deal told the Los Angeles Times the purchase price was roughly $10 million. The deal marks one of the festival’s more notable acquisitions this year.

H3: Cast, premise and early response
The Invite — which premiered over the weekend in Park City — features Olivia Wilde alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. The film centers on a tense dinner party among neighbors, a setup that festival audiences and early critics called both funny and unnerving. The film currently holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes following its Sundance debut.

H3: Theatrical preference and what it means
Sources say one motivating factor for Wilde’s team was a preference for a traditional theatrical release, a strategy A24 is known to support. The studio has a track record of shepherding indie titles through art-house runs and awards seasons, making it a natural fit for a director seeking a broad theatrical rollout rather than an exclusive streaming premiere.

H4: Sundance market in context
The Invite’s sale comes amid a quieter period for big-money festival deals. In recent years streaming platforms have pulled back from paying large sums to lock up films, and studios have tightened acquisition budgets. Still, buyers like A24 and Neon are active: Neon announced separate acquisitions this week for horror titles Leviticus and 4 X 4: The Event, underscoring that strong festival buzz can still result in notable deals.

H4: What’s next for The Invite
A24’s purchase covers U.S. rights; terms for international distribution were not disclosed. The studio has not yet announced a release date, but sources indicate plans favor a theatrical window. With recognizable stars and positive early reviews, The Invite is positioned for a visibility push that could include festival screenings, critics’ outreach and a theatrical rollout in select cities before widening.

H3: Why this deal matters
The Invite’s acquisition signals that theatrical-minded filmmakers can still command competitive offers at Sundance. It’s also a reminder that, when a film combines star power, strong festival reaction and a director’s desire for a big-screen release, traditional distributors remain willing to invest.

For now, audiences can watch for official release details from A24 and anticipate when The Invite will arrive in theaters.

Image Referance: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-01-28/a24-acquires-olivia-wildes-the-invite-in-major-deal-out-of-sundance