Olivia Wilde has revealed that she pushed hard to secure a theatrical release for her comedy 'The Invite' after its successful premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival, the actor-director said she was passionate about the film reaching cinemas, with the support of many others. She said the decision was influenced by the extraordinary reaction the film received from its first Sundance audience, describing it as a 'chemical reaction' she wanted to investigate further. Wilde also said that there is pressure in the industry to skip theatrical releases, claiming that filmmakers are effectively 'bribed' to release their films directly to streaming platforms. Despite that pressure, she insisted on bringing 'The Invite' to the big screen, a move she believes was important for the film's reception.