How Indie Comedy ‘The Invite’ Crashed The Summer Blockbuster Party; Is The Next Stop Broadway?
News Source
•Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:30:00 +0000
📰 What Happened
A small movie just crashed the summer blockbuster party. Indie comedy The Invite has made over $55 million worldwide. It did this while The Odyssey and Spider-Man filled theaters. Earnings split evenly between the U.S. and abroad.
Olivia Wilde directed the film and stars in it. Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Ed Norton join her. A24 paid over $10 million for domestic rights after a Sundance bidding war. The movie earned $25.6 million at home and $29.7 million abroad.
🔍 The Backstory
The Invite started with a big splash at Sundance. It got a standing ovation at its world premiere there. A24 then won a days-long bidding war to take the film. The studio is known for turning smart indie movies into hits.
FilmNation handled international sales and produced the movie with Permut Presentations and Megan Ellison's company. Big markets like Italy, France and Spain have not opened yet. Boss Glen Basner says the global momentum is just getting started.
🎯 Why It Matters
The Invite proves you do not need a giant budget to win audiences. A funny, clever comedy can still compete with superheroes. That is good news for filmmakers and for anyone tired of watching the same big franchise movies.
A small movie just crashed the summer blockbuster party. Indie comedy The Invite has made over $55 million worldwide. It did this while The Odyssey and Spider-Man filled theaters. Earnings split evenly between the U.S. and abroad.
Olivia Wilde directed the film and stars in it. Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Ed Norton join her. A24 paid over $10 million for domestic rights after a Sundance bidding war. The movie earned $25.6 million at home and $29.7 million abroad.
The Invite started with a big splash at Sundance. It got a standing ovation at its world premiere there. A24 then won a days-long bidding war to take the film. The studio is known for turning smart indie movies into hits.
FilmNation handled international sales and produced the movie with Permut Presentations and Megan Ellison's company. Big markets like Italy, France and Spain have not opened yet. Boss Glen Basner says the global momentum is just getting started.
The Invite proves you do not need a giant budget to win audiences. A funny, clever comedy can still compete with superheroes. That is good news for filmmakers and for anyone tired of watching the same big franchise movies.