The Best of Sundance 2026

THE INVITE

A causal dinner party quickly escalates into a brawl of wits for two unhappy couples in this standout comedy. Joe and Angela (Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde) are going through the motions in their marriage, each sensing trouble but too afraid to actually do anything real about it. Adding to their stress are the upstairs neighbors (Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz), a sexually adventurous duo who seem to be having the exact opposite problem in the relationship department. Angela’s need to shake things up leads to a casual invitation for both couples to meet and break bread but the results are far from benign. Wilde also directed “The Invite” and after her success behind the camera with “Booksmart,” it’s no surprise that she is capable of balancing comedy with a strong ensemble. Her scenes with Rogen in particular are the film’s strongest, aiming for more pathos in what a modern relationship truly looks like.

JOSEPHINE

Few films at this year’s festival came close to the emotional gut punch of “Josephine,” a movie that is as great as it is brutal. Focusing on the emotional fallout of an eight-year-old child after witnessing a crime in Golden Gate Park, writer-director Beth de Araujo keeps the camera close to her actors for most of the film. This claustrophobic feeling only adds weight to the story and allows young star Mason Reeves to shine as the titular Josephine, running away with the film in a manner that child performers rarely do onscreen. “Josephine” lives or dies by its lead performance and Reeves is more than up to the challenge, signaling the potential for a very strong future ahead. Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan balance out the core trio as her parents, who are left adrift in confusion and guilt after the brutal crime that sets the film in motion.

THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK

Smaller and intimate characters pieces are a staple in independent cinema but have sadly waned over the years due to time and various outside forces. The great pleasure of writer-director Noah Segan’s “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” is that it brings this almost forgotten genre back to life and it’s also very well made. John Turturro and Steve Buscemi headline the film as an aging pickpocket and his reliable connection to pawn off stolen goods, making their onscreen chemistry a slight wink to fans of their previous work. These two veterans have made many character-focused films over the years (and many of them together) so it’s no surprise that the duo are very comfortable the film’s story beats and fast-paced dialogue. Segan and producer Rian Johnson (“Knives Out”) use them to great effect in spotlighting this classic genre.

All photos courtesy of Sundance Institute.