Edward Norton recently traveled from Los Angeles to London, where he discussed his new film, The Invite, which explores the challenges that marriage can pose to intimacy and sexual relationships. Directed by Olivia Wilde, who also stars alongside Norton, the film has garnered strong emotional reactions from audiences, who connect with its candid and often difficult portrayal of long-term relationships.

The Invite, set in San Francisco, centers on the complex dynamics between two couples. Wilde plays Angela, a frustrated artist married to Joe, a struggling musician portrayed by Seth Rogen. Their strained marriage reaches a critical point during a dinner with their neighbors, Hawk (Norton), a former firefighter, and Piña, a therapist played by Penélope Cruz. The narrative confronts themes of marital dissatisfaction, desire, and emotional isolation, drawing comparisons to classic tension-filled dramas like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, but with a contemporary and sometimes provocative twist.

Penélope Cruz’s character, Piña, serves as a vessel for the ideas of psychotherapist Esther Perel, whose consultancy influenced the film. Perel’s theories highlight the concept that many relationships deteriorate sexually over time, a phenomenon sometimes described as “bed death.” The film examines how cultural expectations, particularly in the United States, shape the way couples experience marriage and intimacy. Wilde emphasizes the American cultural pressure to maintain marriages out of duty and the shame often associated with prioritizing personal pleasure or acknowledging marital failure. She contrasts this with attitudes observed in countries like France, where parenting and sexual activity are seen as more compatible.

The Invite is adapted from a Spanish play and has previous film versions produced in countries including Italy, Switzerland, France, and South Korea. However, the screening response reveals its distinctly American tone and concerns, reflecting input from writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who worked closely with the cast during a two-week workshop process. Norton and Rogen, familiar collaborators, contributed improvisation that infused the film with humor alongside its darker moments. Norton described the experience as entering a “flow state,” noting the shoot’s chronological structure and single-set filming over three weeks, which is uncommon in his career.

Both Wilde and Norton, parents themselves—Wilde with her former partner Jason Sudeikis, and Norton with his wife Shauna Robertson—have spoken about how the film rings true to their own observations of relationships and family life. Wilde described the creative process as simultaneously thrilling and exhausting.

Since premiering at Sundance in January, The Invite attracted significant industry interest, leading to a $12 million acquisition by A24 following a competitive bidding process. The film has been both a commercial success and a critical favorite, eclipsing the reception of Wilde’s earlier projects such as Booksmart (2019) and her more recent Don’t Worry Darling (2022). The Invite stands out for its honest, sometimes uncomfortable examination of marriage and intimacy, delivering a narrative that many viewers have found relatable and cathartic.