To start any weekend off in the Hamptons, the possibilities are endless—maybe it’s drinks at Le Bibloquet followed by dinner at Sant Ambroeus, or the more relaxed route of a backyard barbecue with friends. This past Friday, though, the most enticing invite was a screening of The Invite at Regal UA East Hampton. With locals including Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes, Tory Burch, and Christie Brinkley in attendance, the cinema was the most buzzing destination in town.
Upon arrival, guests paused for photos before making their way through the halls of the theater and loading up on buttery popcorn and bubbling soda. Some peeked into the concession stand for a taste of nostalgia too, securing Sweet Tarts, Twizzlers, and Cookie Dough Bites to balance beneath their bags of popcorn.
As the lights dimmed, Jason Weinberg, manager to the movie’s director and star Olivia Wilde and her co-star Penélope Cruz, appeared as host for the evening and welcomed the crowd. “I f*cking love this movie so much,” he told the room. “Olivia is so appreciative that you’re all here. She just wants everyone to laugh themselves silly and have a great time.”
And Wilde’s wish was the audience’s command. Throughout the just-shy-of-two-hours film, the crowd’s energy matched the movie’s rhythm; laughing uncontrollably at Seth Rogen’s one-liners and dance moves, holding onto every word of Edward Norton’s monologue, and fighting back tears during the closing scene.
By the time the credits rolled, the rapturous applause said it all. Once cheers subsided, guests neatly shuffled out of the theater, sharing their initial reactions—calling it both “incredible” and an “emotional rollercoaster”—as they made their way to the next portion of the night.
Weinberg invited everyone to continue the fun at Si Si at East Hampton Point. Down a sandy path, a waterfront cocktail hour overlooking the marina awaited. As guests settled underneath string lights, sliders, tuna tacos, lobster rolls, and fried dumplings made the rounds. Guests also discovered nods to the film spotted at every turn—from charcuterie boards to a trio of signature cocktails cheekily named Sexy Swap, Double Date, and The Offer.
Actor Mickey Sumner, who sat on a loveseat overlooking bobbing boats, credited the shared experience of watching the film together as the reason for the more grounded tone of the after-party. “It’s given us all permission to talk about things that are scary, or intimate tonight—relationships, marriage, how you can get into these ruts,” she told Vogue, “I was just saying to my husband, ‘When was the last time we felt all these feelings in a movie theater?’”
Attendees spent the evening catching up with one another, continuing to reminisce on the themes of the film. Brinkley, fresh off a trip to France, told Vogue that this was her first outing since settling back into Hamptons life. “I put so much anticipation on this film,” she said. “And it really delivered. We all recognized ourselves in certain parts, or recognized each other in other parts.”
Listen to Wilde discuss The Invite on The Run-Through with Vogue podcast here.
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