Olivia Wilde New Movies: “The Invite” Breaks Out at Sundance as a Second Premiere Signals a Career Pivot

Olivia Wilde’s “new movies” conversation has sharpened fast over the past few days, driven by a one-two punch at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival: a buzzy world premiere for “The Invite” (which she directs and stars in) and another high-profile appearance tied to “I Want Your Sex,” where she plays a larger-than-life artist in a bold, provocative indie.

Together, the projects point to a clear strategy: Wilde isn’t just stacking credits—she’s curating a lane that puts her back in the center of adult-focused, filmmaker-driven work, with Sundance acting as the springboard.

“The Invite” and why this Sundance premiere matters

“The Invite” premiered at Sundance on January 24, 2026 (ET) and quickly became one of the festival’s more talked-about crowd-pleasers. The headline moment—an unusually enthusiastic audience response—matters less as a viral anecdote and more as an indicator of something buyers and awards strategists track closely: the film plays in a room.

Wilde’s role here is double-duty. When a director also stars, the movie becomes a referendum on their taste and their command of tone. “The Invite” is built like a pressure cooker: a relationship story with escalating social tension, designed to keep the audience leaning forward. That’s the kind of material that can travel beyond the festival bubble if it lands with both critics and regular viewers.

“I Want Your Sex” adds a second, riskier signal

At the same festival, Wilde is also connected to “I Want Your Sex,” a film that leans much more aggressively into provocation and performance. The key detail isn’t just that she’s in it; it’s what the role represents: big swings, heightened character work, and a willingness to be polarizing on purpose.

From a career-management perspective, that’s a deliberate pairing with “The Invite.” One film positions her as a director who can deliver a sleek, adult comedy-drama with mainstream potential. The other frames her as an actor unafraid of maximalist material—useful leverage when you want filmmakers to imagine you outside the “prestige but safe” box.

What’s new and why now: the indie route as a control move

Wilde has spent the last few years navigating the tricky part of modern celebrity filmmaking: high visibility, high opinion, and a media environment that often turns set stories into the story. Sundance offers a different kind of spotlight—still intense, but more centered on the work.

Choosing a festival-forward launch does a few things at once:

• It reframes the narrative around craft and reception.

• It creates a market moment (distribution talks, packaging, positioning).

• It lets an artist “reset” the conversation with a tangible product people can react to.

In other words: this isn’t just about releasing a movie. It’s about regaining authorship of the headline.

Behind the headline: incentives, stakeholders, and the real bet

Incentives

• Wilde’s incentive is to be seen as an adult storyteller with range—capable of both mass appeal and edge.

• Sundance incentives favor discovery and momentum: the right premiere can turn into a bidding situation, or at minimum a strong platform for a later release.

• Buyers and distributors want movies that come with built-in attention but aren’t toxic. Wilde’s name supplies attention; the films need to supply confidence.

Stakeholders

• Cast and financiers who benefit if the movies land distribution quickly.

• Distributors and streamers looking for adult-skewing films that can cut through.

• Wilde herself, whose next directing job will be shaped by how these premieres are perceived: “crowd-pleaser craftsperson,” “provocateur,” or ideally “both.”

The real bet is that Wilde can occupy the sweet spot where few people live comfortably: commercial accessibility without flattening the material into something safe.

What we still don’t know

Even with a loud festival week, the biggest “new movies” questions remain unanswered:

• Release timing: When will audiences actually be able to see these films outside the festival circuit?

• Distribution: Who will pick them up, and will they go theatrical, streaming-first, or hybrid?

• Positioning: Will “The Invite” be marketed as smart relationship comedy, tense social drama, or both?

• Long-tail reception: Festival heat can cool quickly once broader audiences weigh in.

Until distribution and release plans are finalized, the story is momentum—not outcome.

What happens next: realistic scenarios (ET)

1. A distribution deal for “The Invite” in the immediate post-festival window if enthusiasm translates into market confidence.

2. A second wave of attention for “I Want Your Sex” as reviews and word-of-mouth frame it as either daring or divisive.

3. A strategic awards push for “The Invite” if it’s viewed as an adult crowd-pleaser with emotional bite.

4. New directing announcements for Wilde, using Sundance reception as proof she can deliver under pressure.

5. A recalibration moment if one film breaks out and the other splits audiences—forcing a choice about which lane to prioritize next.

Why Olivia Wilde’s new movies matter right now

These aren’t just two titles on a résumé. They’re a statement about where Wilde is trying to plant her flag: in projects that feel grown-up, risky enough to be interesting, and polished enough to be marketable. If “The Invite” turns its Sundance spark into a real release and “I Want Your Sex” expands her acting range in public, 2026 could read as the year Wilde shifts from “director under a microscope” to “filmmaker with leverage.”