Robert Pattinson's latest film, Primetime, premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, September 5, and marks a bold departure in the actor's career. The movie, which releases in UK cinemas on October 30, 2026, and in the US on September 25, sees Pattinson portray real-life paedophile hunter Chris Hansen, a former Dateline NBC correspondent who became famous for his To Catch a Predator show from 2004 to 2007.
Pattinson's performance is being hailed as his most creative yet, flipping between a grounded imitation of Hansen—already a popular meme—and wilder, unpredictable swings. According to Tori Brazier, Senior Film & Entertainment Reporter at Metro, "He's never been so free on screen, something you can't help but admire." The film, directed by Lance Oppenheim and written by Ajon Singh, drops audiences directly into Hansen's famous sting scenarios, avoiding a traditional biographical structure.
A daring portrayal of a controversial figure
The film opens with Hansen preparing to confront a suspected online predator as part of a sting organised by Perverted Justice, where an adult poses as a minor. Pattinson's Hansen is heard practising lines from suspected paedophiles, including unsettling quotes like "I will undress you and you will undress me" and "For a virgin to have sex, it hurts." The first sting involves a veteran (Tony Revolori) who is confronted after mentioning condoms to decoy Del Harvey, played by singer Phoebe Bridgers in her acting debut. Pattinson theatrically enters from behind a curtain, asking if his target has a "big night planned," a moment that breaks the tension and signals the film's unexpected tone.
Oppenheim, known for his work in documentary filmmaking, has dubbed the film's style 'docufantasia', blurring the lines between fiction and reality. This is exemplified by former NBCU TV CEO Jeff Zucker playing himself in a scene where Hansen is pitted against Lost as his show moves to a coveted new slot, making him giddy with excitement. The film also explores Hansen's growing showmanship, showing him telling a fellow plane passenger how he singlehandedly convinced the network to commission the show, and waking his young sons in the middle of the night to watch preview tapes.
Dark humour and moral questions
While dealing with the dark material of the programme, Primetime leans into humour, some of it pitch dark and far more than anticipated given its topic. The emotional heart of the film is Dan Plum (Skyler Gisondo), a fictionalised decoy looking for his big break who gets a baptism of fire thanks to Crazyfrog73, played by former child star Jonathan Lipnicki from Stuart Little. Hansen is dispatched by producer Andie (Merritt Weaver) to keep Dan in play after his emotional whiplash.
The film raises questions over To Catch a Predator's morality and grey areas, as the team start looking for a 'whale'—someone considered part of the establishment—to sensationalise their coverage and attract higher viewing figures. This drives a wedge between producer Andie and Xavier, founder of Perverted Justice. The portrayal of Hansen is not entirely flattering, showing him using his full onscreen credit when complaining about a broken vending machine, and a scene with his wife Mary (Anna Faris) hints at a foot fetish. The film also runs with a 2011 tabloid report of his alleged affair with a local TV journalist in Florida.
Pattinson's career-defining performance
Pattinson, who also produces the film, delivers a highly charged performance consistently dialled up to the maximum. The passion for his crusade turns Hansen a little delusional and slightly crazed as the pressure mounts. Brazier notes, "You can't tear your eyes away from it." The film leaves no doubt about how Hansen's qualities—tenacity, drive and pizazz—all fed To Catch a Predator's success.
The verdict: audacious, imaginative and darkly funny, Primetime is not what was expected. As Brazier concludes, "Robert Pattinson in predator-catching mode has to be seen to truly understand how it can work so well." The film's big tonal fluctuations, including an unexpected journey into the supernatural, make it harder to pigeonhole, but it cements Pattinson's status as one of the most daring actors of his generation.
