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The Invitation

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for The Invitation Released Apr 8, 2016 1h 39m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 116 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
While attending a dinner party at his former house, a man starts to believe that his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister plans for the guests.
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The Invitation

The Invitation

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Critics Consensus

The Invitation makes brilliant use of its tension-rich premise to deliver a uniquely effective -- and surprisingly clever -- slow-building thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Max Weiss Baltimore Magazine Is this a film about grief masquerading as a horror film -- or vice versa? Rated: 3.5/4 Jul 26, 2016 Full Review Calvin Wilson St. Louis Post-Dispatch Psychological thrillers just don't get any better than this. Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 21, 2016 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Beautifully paced, the movie traces a steady arc from amiability to apocalypse. Apr 21, 2016 Full Review Isabella Liistro Loud and Clear Reviews There are no scenes, characters, or bits of dialogue that don’t belong. The tension builds and builds until we’re left with a masterful final shot that’s so subtle, but the implication is chilling. Jan 18, 2025 Full Review Brian Bisesi Horror Movie Club Podcast The Invitation is a tense and uncomfortable film, but being grounded in our main character’s perspective gives us a stake in each awkward event that unfolds. It is a vivid exploration of grief with a conclusion satisfying enough to justify the discomfort. Rated: 4/5 Nov 27, 2024 Full Review Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views The Invitation wants the viewer to question the concept of appropriateness, which is why it set at a dinner party in an affluent home in a beautiful location. Dinner parties do not display normal human interactions but superimpose roles on ordinary people Jun 12, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ralph R The Invitation is one of those movies that’s not trying to be a masterpiece, but still manages to keep you interested. The story itself is pretty predictable, nothing in the plot will really surprise you, but there’s something about the way it’s put together that just works. The writing isn’t anything to brag about, honestly, and a lot of the dialogue feels like it’s there just to fill the gaps. But I found myself actually enjoying the tension and awkwardness as the movie goes on. Acting-wise, no complaints. The cast does a decent job, and nobody feels out of place. The production is solid, with some really good use of the setting to make you feel trapped right along with the characters. Lighting and camera work do a lot of the heavy lifting here, creating that unsettling vibe the whole way through. It’s definitely a “watch once and move on” kind of movie, but I have to say, the last scene delivers a punch that sticks with you. It’s the kind of ending that almost makes up for everything you already guessed. Overall, worth a watch if you want some low-key suspense, but don’t expect it to blow your mind. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/25/25 Full Review Me A The movie was definitely a slow-burn (sometimes too slow) and seemed to be missing a certain elemental part of suspense (don't get me wrong...it was suspenseful, but there was just something missing that doesn't allow the viewer to get completely wrapped up with anticipation), but it was engaging enough. However, the last 20 minutes or so really ramp it up a notch. This movie intertwines elements of grief, delusion, denial, and impending doom efficiently, but there's always something just out of grasp missing that I can't quite put my finger on. The acting was decent for the most part, albeit some of the characters seemed a bit too cliche, and the revelation at the end left me quite irritated and definitely took some of the believability away, but I'd say overall, this is a solid thriller. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Nashville I. No other movie in history builds suspense better than this film. Seriously…Invitation does a unique, incredible job continuously building curiosity and confusion while just adding enough every 5 minutes to thicken the plot. Somehow, the movie feeds you just enough not to tease you, but feed you while at the same time raising the suspense MORE. Brilliant…just brilliant. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/25 Full Review Horror fan 4 A great thriller with a surprise twist. Tim Treakle Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/16/25 Full Review Leon G The invitation 2015 has an expected twist from the start. In my opinion it lacked depth and was too predictable. From the start it’s clear that something is off, and when finally the plot comes it is disappointing to say the least. The ending felt rushed and did not offer anything more to the story than your typical protagonist vs antagonist fight. There is noting really bad about this movie but I would not recommend spending your time watching this. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/15/25 Full Review Jonathan C Found the movie boring, the twist you can see from a mile away disappointing. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/17/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Invitation

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Movie Info

Synopsis While attending a dinner party at his former house, a man starts to believe that his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister plans for the guests.
Director
Karyn Kusama
Producer
Martha Griffin, Matt Manfredi, Phil Hay, Nick Spicer
Screenwriter
Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
Distributor
Drafthouse Films
Production Co
XYZ Films, Lege Artis Film, Gamechanger Films
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 8, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$231.7K
Runtime
1h 39m
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