The Stream: What’s the point of this movie?
The Big Screen: Pattinson giving a deranged performance.
The Final Bill: Despite a great ensemble cast led by Pattinson, this movie doesn’t otherwise justify its existence.
– Trip Fontaine
Director: Lance Oppenheim
Writers: Ajon Singh
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Matthew Maher, Phoebe Bridgers, Bokeem Woodbine, Alex Winter, Anna Faris, Jonathan Lipnicki
Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller,
Rating: R for disturbing sexual material, graphic nudity, some violent content, and language.
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
Production Companies: A24, Icki Eneo Arlo, Range Media Partners, Range Studios, Square Peg
Platform: In theaters September 25, 2026
Notable Trailers: The Social Reckoning, Other Mommy, Everest: The Other Side, Paper Tiger, Club Kid, You Can See Everything
What’s up, Streamers! It’s a weird time at the movies, don’t you think? October is both the time when scary movies are supposed to be taking over theater screens, but also movies hoping to get awards attention start to pop up. I’m not sure we’ve gotten the best of either world yet. Now, here comes Primetime, which acts as if it is a little of both. In Primetime, Robert Pattinson plays former host of “To Catch a Predator”, Chris Hansen, as a monstrous predator himself desperately seeking notoriety through his sensational news program. The movie focuses on a time when the popular show has been bumped to a primetime slot which puts pressure on Hansen and his producer, Andie Bender (Merritt Wever), to ensure the show gets big ratings by catching must-see predators on their hidden cameras. Home-baked cookies and skeevy reality TV hijinks ensue.
Let’s just cut to the chase: the reason you’re thinking about seeing Primetime is Robert Pattinson, right? If that’s the case, you will not be disappointed. Pattinson goes for broke playing a fictionalized version of Chris Hansen as a narcissistic, self-centered television personality. Pattinson plays Hansen like the predators that come through his show. It’s a really interesting and entertaining portrayal. Luckily, Pattinson is balanced out by the more nuanced performances by Merritt Wever, as Hansen’s nimble producer, and Skyler Gisondo as the new decoy, Dan. Gisondo is very sympathetic in his role whereas Wever is more lowkey than Pattinson but she makes clear that the producer is as much a predator as Hansen. It’s an intriguing ensemble and point of view for the movie.
Aside from the actors, the movie has interesting production values. The cinematography references the news reels of the mid-2000s, so the movie looks like an episode of “Dateline”. That’s an interesting framing device, I guess. There’s also some good music throughout. My biggest issue with Primetime is that it doesn’t have anything new to say about “To Catch a Predator” or reality television that hasn’t already been said before. It seems to blame the ills of the genre on Chris Hansen, which doesn’t really feel justified. In the end, the movie is entertaining enough as it goes through the motions of reenacting this “Dateline” series, but beyond that, I don’t know why anyone would need to see this. It’s fine. *shrug*
Ultimately, Primetime is a decent reenactment of the behind the scenes of “To Catch a Predator” buoyed by an excellent Robert Pattinson performance and an interesting supporting cast. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t have much to say beyond what we already know about this reality program. It is shot in an interesting way, but its point of view isn’t distinct enough to justify its existence. Nevertheless, a bowl of popcorn could sustain you for a matinee showing.
