The Invite is quickly becoming one of critics and audiences favorite films of the year. Olivia Wilde‘s remake of the Spanish-language The People Upstairs has tapped into a kind of awkward, painful vein of comedy that’s been sorely missed. The film walks a fine line between its character-driven humor and marital drama, and the four actors are all exemplary. As with any film that captures widespread attention and inspires such praise, The Invite has left many viewers wanting more.

There are many films that fit a similar bill to what The Invite provides, particularly those which Wilde has listed as major influences when making it. Beyond those, there are also films by the same creatives that also offer something different but equally enjoyable. If you’re a fan of The Invite or its cast, then these are the must-watch movies for you.

‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ (1966)

There are many films featuring dysfunctional marriages, several of which Wilde has specifically singled out as inspirations on The Invite, such as Scenes from a Marriage or Husbands and Wives. The greatest of all of these, and the clearest influence, is the Mike Nichols classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Based on a play, as was The People Upstairs, the film transcends its theater origins thanks to Nichols direction and the incredible quartet of performances. It’s a far more dramatic piece, but just as equally enthralling.

George (Richard Burton) and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor) are a married couple who like to play games, push buttons and blur the lines between fantasy and reality. That makes for an awkward evening of personal revelations and confrontations when they host younger couple Nick (George Segal) and Honey (Sandy Dennis). Just like The Invite, the tension is all in the performances and the action is all in the emotions of the best directed and acted marital drama of all time. Both Nichols and his entire cast were nominated for Academy Awards, with both Taylor and Dennis walking away with Oscar gold.

‘Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice’ (1969)

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Another film that was an obvious influence on The Invite, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice was a seminal film in depicting polyamory. It may not seem as groundbreaking now more than fifty years later, but it’s still a fun, funny time capsule of both the free love era of the ’60s and Hollywood’s own sexual revolution. Directed by the underrated filmmaker Paul Mazursky, it’s another well-acted, Oscar-nominated story of marriage and sex.

Bob (Robert Culp) and Carol (Natalie Wood) are a couple who have discovered sexual liberation at a retreat. Their friends Ted (Elliot Gould) and Alice (Dyan Cannon) are more conservative and don’t know what to make of their newfound freewheeling ways. The whole film culminates with a proposed foursome that gets further than it does in The Invite. Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice may not be considered as subversive as it once was, but the performances and comedy haven’t aged a day.

‘Take This Waltz’ (2011)

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If you’re in the mood for another comedic drama about crumbling relationships co-starring Seth Rogen, then look no further than Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz. The actress-turned-director has proven to be an insightful chronicler of highly sensitive content in films like Away From Her and Women Talking. The more comedic Take This Waltz doesn’t involve as high-stakes drama as those other films, but is still a keenly observed film about relationships and the loss of passion.

Margot (Michelle Williams) is married to Lou (Rogen). They love each other, but the spark in their marriage has long since faded. When Margot feels that spark with artist Daniel (Luke Kirby), it threatens to tear her apart emotionally. Take This Waltz isn’t necessarily a revelatory film, but it succeeds thanks to the light touch that Polley maintains in exploring the subtleties of relationships and infatuation, and the solid performances of its cast.

‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ (2012)

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The sharp screenplay for The Invite was written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, which should come as no surprise to anyone who saw their earlier film about a marriage coming to an end, Celeste and Jesse Forever. It’s a charming romantic comedy and a hidden gem of the genre that works because of the self-aware script and the insanely likable cast. It’s an honest and refreshing depiction of a disintegrating marriage that actually makes you want to believe in love.

Celeste (Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) are high school sweethearts whose marriage has come to an end. They decide to remain friends, against the advice of others, but their emotions eventually get the better of both of them as they struggle with their separation separately before trying to move on. Celeste and Jesse Forever isn’t quite as caustic as other divorce movies, and that’s part of what makes it emotionally effective. Not every failed marriage should be considered a failure, and it’s simply nice to see that represented on screen.

‘The Overnight’ (2015)

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Take the discomfort of The Invite and amp it up to more outrageous levels, and you might get something like The Overnight. It’s a comic sex romp directed by Patrick Brice, who brings the same kind of nervous energy to it that infects both of his Creep films. Much like Celeste and Jesse, it’s flown mostly under the radar, but, for anyone who loves the tension in The Invite, The Overnight is a must-watch.

Alex (Adam Scott) and Emily (Taylor Schilling) are new in town and looking for adult friends when they meet the eccentric Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) and Charlotte (Judith Godrèche). The couple invites them over for pizza and, once the kids are put to bed, things take a turn towards debauchery. The Overnight works best when Brice employs horror techniques for comedic effect, and the actors, especially Schwartzman, play off that disconcerting tone well. It’s a dark comedy that isn’t going to be for everyone, but deserves more attention than it’s been given.

‘Booksmart’ (2019)

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The assuredness with which Wilde directs The Invite is all on display in her raucous debut Booksmart, a film which many labeled as a female Superbad when it came out but which is more than just a gender-swap of that classic teen comedy. It’s a whipsmart coming-of-age film that has a huge amount of empathy and is energized by two outstanding lead performances. It’s certainly a very different flavor of comedy to that which is employed in The Invite, but it’s a perfect showcase for Wilde’s versatility as a director.

As graduation looms, seniors and best friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) take solace in the fact that their unpopularity has been worth the fact that they will be attending prestigious schools in the fall. When they discover that their far more popular peers also have bright futures ahead of them, they decide to spend one night partying like they’ve never partied before. That set-up leads to some of the wildness you’d expect, including a Barbie-themed drug trip and some awkward sexcapades, but Wilde also uses the premise to explore underneath the stock labels that so many high school comedies are too quick to try and apply.

‘The Drama’ (2026)

While The Invite and fellow A24 film The Drama seem to be superficially similar, they offer vastly different viewing experiences, with the Zendaya–Robert Pattinson joint offering a dark contrast to Wilde’s decidedly lighter film. Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, and produced by Ari Aster, the film offers a portrait of a couple about to exchange vows whose entire future together is put in jeopardy by a dark revelation.

Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are set to walk down the aisle in a week’s time when a conversation with friends reveals a horrifying secret from Emma’s past. The revelation has Charlie questioning everything he knows about Emma, while she begins to deteriorate from stress-induced nightmares. The Drama is even darker than it was advertised as, picking at a particularly potent social issue that it isn’t quite well-equipped enough to handle at times. It’s still affecting in moments, and extremely uncomfortable in others, and it has two very committed and talented actors in the lead role. If The Invite didn’t make you squirm enough, you might see if you can handle The Drama.

The Drama

Release Date

April 3, 2026

Runtime

105 minutes

Director

Kristoffer Borgli

Writers

Kristoffer Borgli