Seth Rogen’s Psychological Relationship Thriller Officially Takes HBO Max’s U.S. Top Spot

A contender gains momentum

As the countdown to the 99th Academy Awards begins, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is described as the front-runner for Best Picture. The report also names You Can See Everything, Elsinore, La Bola Negra, Wild Horse Nine and Fjord as potential competition.

Among other films gaining attention is The Invite, which the report calls a standout of 2026. Its strong streaming performance could help it pursue an unexpected place in the Best Picture field.

The film and its cast

The Invite remakes the Spanish-language comedy The People Upstairs. Its cast includes Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz. Wilde directs the film, her third feature as a director after Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling.

Streaming success across markets

At the time of writing, The Invite was the most-watched movie on HBO Max in the United States. It was also the most-watched movie on Paramount+ in Australia.

The report presents those rankings as evidence of the film’s immediate popularity on streaming. It does not provide viewing figures or explain how the services measured their rankings.

Oscar context and earlier winners

The article says Nolan’s Oppenheimer won seven of its 13 nominations at the 2024 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It also notes that Ryan Coogler’s Sinners set a record for the most nominations earlier this year.

The report describes The Odyssey as a possible successor to Sinners and says You Can See Everything could become the first documentary nominated for Best Picture. These are presented as forecasts, not confirmed nominations.