OLIVIA Wilde has said she had to battle to get her film The Invite into cinemas, claiming the industry is increasingly set up to nudge filmmakers away from a theatrical run.

Speaking at a press conference during the Locarno Film Festival, the actor-director described how getting a movie on the big screen can feel like an uphill slog — not because audiences don’t want it, but because of the way deals are now structured.

Wilde argued that filmmakers are being “bribe[d]” to avoid theatrical releases, suggesting there are financial incentives designed to make streaming the easier, more attractive option.

Her comments land in the middle of an ongoing tug-of-war over what a film release should look like in 2026: a classic cinema-first rollout, or a faster path to streaming where titles can be marketed as immediate at-home events.

For Wilde, the point wasn’t nostalgia — it was about access and impact. A cinema release still offers a different kind of visibility, not to mention the cultural weight that comes with audiences watching together, in the dark, on an actual screen.

The Invite did ultimately get the theatrical release she wanted — but Wilde’s message was clear: if filmmakers don’t fight for cinemas now, the default option may quietly disappear.