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Primetime

Play trailer 1:04 Poster for Primetime R Sep 2026 1h 49m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 270 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Verified Ratings
In 2006, To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.
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Primetime

Primetime

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Turning the camera's scrutinizing eye back onto To Catch a Predator's journalistic legacy, Primetime interrogates the slippery boundary between justice and lurid spectacle with crackling style and an outstanding Robert Pattinson.

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Audience Says

A fascinating look behind the curtain of a televised cultural phenomenon, Primetime approaches its provocative subject with sharp craftsmanship and striking visuals, even if its perspective may not resonate with every viewer.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube) 3 hrs ago
A kind of real head-spinner of a movie and I enjoy it enormously. Go to Full Review
Hannah Pettit London Evening Standard 23 hrs ago
3/5
The excellent performances and stylish, neo-noir atmosphere carry you along, but when it’s over, you’re left wondering what exactly it was that Primetime was trying to say. Go to Full Review
Geordie Gray The Australian 1 day ago
4/5
There are shades of Brian De Palma in his exacting, voyeuristic compositions. It is a ravishing film that is thrilling to look at. It’s also frequently funny. Go to Full Review
Stefania Sarrubba Digital Spy 4 hrs ago
Primetime is an uncomfortable look at a dark time in recent network TV's history, forcing viewers to reflect on collective responsibility and treading the fine line between public service and public spectacle. Go to Full Review
Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 6 hrs ago
4/5
The paedophilia topic gives everything a very dark sense of gravity, but an array of personality details and pitch-black humour continually add interest and resonance when we least expect it. Go to Full Review
Hadley Freeman Sunday Times (UK) 1 day ago
4/5
Pattinson is terrific here, nailing the presenter’s mannerisms, voice and furiously self-righteous vibe. An absolutely hypnotic performance that you can’t look away from, even when you desperately wish you could. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Pary 1 day ago Cinematography is great, but literally everything else is lackluster. If you are like me and was looking forward to a deep dive into TCAP and behind the scenes of classic TCAP episodes, you will leave disappointed. I understand movies exaggerate elements, but this is just grossly false or heightened for unnecessary reasons. Only worth a watch if on mute. See more CTBoone57 3 days ago Great filmmaking and excellent performances from Robert Pattinson and Skyler Gisondo! See more Steven 3 days ago The movie’s a little sporadic, solid film. See more Matthew G 5 days ago Worth the watch See more Terry Jackson 5 days ago Right off the bat, this movie felt like a parody of *To Catch a Predator*. Chris Hansen is depicted as this Dracula-inspired character, and Robert Pattinson did a solid job in the role. However, I don’t think it was an Oscar-worthy performance. The guy handling the chat logs with the predators to me he was getting bricked up by talking to these sick men was definitely a choice. I just wish the filmmakers had reached out to Chris Hansen instead of making a movie that relied so heavily on fantasy and information they seemingly read off Wikipedia. The subplot involving the decoy felt completely unnecessary, especially with him singing “Seasons of Love” throughout the movie. The whole film felt unreal and cringey, and I don’t think A24 was the right studio for it because they were unable to deliver a somewhat coherent story I walked out of the theater because I said to myself “Decoy Dan is gonna sing Seasons of Love while on the phone with the predator that is gonna kill himself huh?” And boy was I right! In my opinion, this is a movie I wish I had waited to rent instead of seeing it in theaters. 🤷🏾‍♂️ See more Jeff 6 days ago very disturbing See more Read all reviews
Primetime

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Primetime

Primetime: Exclusive Movie Clip - Airplane Primetime: Exclusive Movie Clip - Airplane 2:23 Now Playing Primetime: Movie Clip - I'm Chris Hansen Primetime: Movie Clip - I'm Chris Hansen 1:03 Now Playing View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In 2006, To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.
Director
Lance Oppenheim
Producer
Robert Pattinson, Brighton McCloskey, Lars Knudsen, Ari Aster, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, William Iannaccone
Screenwriter
Ajon Singh
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Range Media Partners, A24, Icki Eneo Arlo, Square Peg
Rating
R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Disturbing Sexual Material|Some Violent Content)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 25, 2026, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 3, 2026
Runtime
1h 49m
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