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Robert Pattinson is generating some of the loudest career buzz of his career with "Primetime," A24's new psychological thriller inspired by the rise and fall of NBC's "To Catch a Predator." Directed by Lance Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut, the film premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 5 to a lengthy standing ovation before opening in US theaters September 25.
Pattinson plays a heightened, "vampirish" version of Chris Hansen, the journalist who built a television empire luring men into staged confrontations with decoy minors. The screenplay, written by Ajon Singh, draws from Luke Dittrich's 2007 Esquire article on the real-life 2006 sting that ended in the suicide of Texas prosecutor Bill Conradt — a tragedy that ultimately led to the show's cancellation. Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and singer-turned-actress Phoebe Bridgers round out the supporting cast, alongside a cameo from former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Zucker playing himself.
Early reviews have been strong overall — the film holds a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and "generally favorable" marks on Metacritic — with widespread praise centering on Pattinson's transformation. Critics described his voice work and physicality as uncanny, calling it among the most striking performances of his career, alongside acclaim for Oppenheim's hallucinatory, fever-dream visual style.
Not every review has been glowing, however. Several critics argued the film stays too fixated on Hansen's ego and doesn't dig deep enough into what "To Catch a Predator" says about American media and audiences — especially when compared to the 2025 documentary "Predators," which covered similar ground.
Adding to the drama, Hansen himself has not stayed quiet. He wasn't involved in the making of "Primetime," has publicly questioned the filmmakers' motives, refused to sign an NDA required to preview the film, and has reportedly purchased advertising slots to run before theatrical screenings — turning the film's rollout into its own real-world media spectacle.
"Primetime" is now playing in US theaters, with international rollouts continuing through October.
