‘Primetime’ Reviews: What Critics Say About Robert Pattinson’s Chris Hansen Movie

Robert Pattinson’s unsettling performance as To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen is earning strong early reviews, while critics remain divided over the film’s provocative style.

September 5, 2026: Robert Pattinson is getting a major dose of critical attention for his latest transformation. The actor stars as To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen in A24’s Primetime, which premiered at the 2026 Venice Film Festival ahead of its theatrical release later this month.

Directed by Lance Oppenheim and written by Ajon Singh, the film takes inspiration from the controversial NBC series and the real events surrounding Hansen’s rise to television fame. Rather than presenting a straightforward biopic, Primetime uses a highly stylized approach to explore media sensationalism, morality, celebrity and the blurred line between journalism and entertainment.

Early reviews are largely praising Pattinson’s performance, with several critics describing his portrayal as unsettling, strange and remarkably committed. At the same time, some reviewers have found the movie’s deliberately aggressive style overwhelming or its satire somewhat heavy-handed.

What Is ‘Primetime’ About?

Set in 2006, Primetime follows Hansen at the height of To Catch a Predator, the NBC program that became known for sting operations targeting adults who attempted to meet minors for sexual purposes.

The movie isn’t presented as a conventional factual recreation of Hansen’s life. A24 describes it as a story in which Hansen sets out to make television history, while the filmmakers use the real-world program as a jumping-off point for a broader examination of television culture.

Pattinson plays a fictionalized version of Hansen, alongside Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine.

The film also marks singer Phoebe Bridgers’ feature acting debut.

Critics Are Particularly Impressed by Robert Pattinson

If there is one consistent theme across the early reviews, it is praise for Pattinson.

Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri called the performance a “stunning demonstration” of Pattinson’s range and argued that it is difficult to imagine another actor pulling off the role in quite the same way.

The review highlights Pattinson’s unusual voice work, physical mannerisms and ability to make the fictionalized Hansen simultaneously charismatic, unsettling and deeply contradictory.

Pattinson reportedly spent considerable time studying Hansen’s voice and mannerisms before filming. He said the voice was particularly difficult to reproduce and that he repeatedly listened to Hansen’s podcast while practicing the distinctive delivery.

That preparation appears to have paid off.

The performance isn’t simply an impersonation. Critics are responding to the way Pattinson turns Hansen into an exaggerated character whose confidence, ambition and insecurity constantly collide.

Vulture Says Only Pattinson Could Have Done It

Vulture’s review is particularly enthusiastic about Pattinson.

The publication’s headline, “No One But Robert Pattinson Could Have Done Primetime,” sums up its view of the performance.

Ebiri argues that Pattinson plays Hansen as a bundle of contradictions, moving between righteous television host, insecure celebrity and increasingly obsessive figure.

The review also praises Merritt Wever, describing her performance as another major strength of the film.

The review’s broader argument is that Primetime isn’t simply interested in recreating To Catch a Predator. It uses the program to examine what happens when television turns morality into entertainment.

The Hollywood Reporter Finds Pattinson “Queasily” Effective

The Hollywood Reporter also focused heavily on Pattinson’s transformation.

Its review describes the actor’s take on Hansen as “queasily” effective, emphasizing how the performance captures the uncomfortable tension between Hansen’s public persona and the film’s darker interpretation of the man behind the camera.

The film’s central question is not simply whether the predators being confronted are dangerous.

Instead, Primetime asks what happens when the people hunting those predators become fascinated with the spectacle themselves.

That gives Pattinson a complicated character to play — one who can appear righteous one moment and deeply self-interested the next.

IndieWire Calls Pattinson “Creepy Good”

IndieWire is similarly positive about the actor.

Its review, titled “‘Primetime’ Review: Robert Pattinson Is Creepy Good as Chris Hansen,” praises the film’s unsettling atmosphere and Pattinson’s performance.

The review also points toward one of the film’s major ideas: Hansen isn’t portrayed as a character who exists in isolation.

Instead, his persona is shaped by the television industry, the people around him and ultimately the audience watching at home.

That makes the movie less about one television personality and more about the culture that made To Catch a Predator such a phenomenon.

TheWrap Finds the Film Divisive

TheWrap takes a more mixed position.

Its review calls Primetime a “searing exploitation screed” and describes Pattinson as “delightfully gonzo,” praising the film’s technical ambition and commitment to its unusual style.

But the review also makes clear that the movie won’t work for everyone.

TheWrap’s Ben Croll describes the film as intentionally aggressive, with distorted visuals, intense colors and a heightened performance style. He notes that viewers may either find themselves completely caught up in its approach or left feeling somewhat detached.

In other words, Primetime appears to be deliberately designed to provoke a reaction.

The Film’s Style Is Almost as Extreme as Its Subject

One of the most frequently discussed elements of Primetime is its visual style.

Rather than presenting the story as a straightforward period drama, Oppenheim reportedly uses warped imagery, saturated colors and an almost nightmarish presentation to recreate the strange atmosphere of early-2000s television culture.

Vulture described the film as looking somewhere between an unearthed videotape and a bad dream.

TheWrap similarly noted the film’s exaggerated visual approach, comparing its aesthetic to an extreme, almost surreal version of early-2000s broadcast television.

That style appears to be intentional.

Instead of asking audiences to nostalgically revisit To Catch a Predator, the filmmakers want viewers to feel uncomfortable with the culture that produced it.

Critics Are Divided on the Film’s Satire

While Pattinson’s performance is receiving widespread praise, the film itself is generating more mixed reactions.

TheWrap argues that Primetime sometimes pushes its central satire so aggressively that its message becomes less subtle.

The movie repeatedly connects To Catch a Predator to larger ideas surrounding surveillance, militarization, media spectacle and the post-9/11 political climate.

Vulture also highlights these parallels, noting how the film connects the television show’s pursuit of “bad guys” with the language and imagery associated with America’s early-2000s “War on Terror.”

For some critics, that makes Primetime more ambitious than a traditional biographical movie.

For others, the sheer intensity of the approach may make the film feel overly obvious or exhausting.

Chris Hansen Doesn’t Think the Portrayal Is Accurate

The real Chris Hansen has also made it clear that he isn’t completely comfortable with the film.

Hansen previously described Pattinson’s performance as overly dramatic, although he acknowledged that the actor had created a convincing imitation of his voice and mannerisms.

He also emphasized that the film is fictional and said Pattinson’s character does things Hansen himself never did.

Hansen has said he wasn’t consulted during production and has questioned the Hollywood motivation behind the project.

He also declined to participate in a private screening after being asked to sign an agreement concerning the unreleased film.

Pattinson addressed Hansen’s concerns during the Venice Film Festival and said he hoped Hansen would ultimately like the movie.

Robert Pattinson Says the Character Was “Irresistible”

Pattinson has explained that he initially became involved with Primetime as a producer before ultimately deciding to play Hansen himself.

According to the actor, the character became too interesting to pass up.

He described Hansen as an “irresistible” role because of the contradictions built into the character and the complicated cultural legacy surrounding To Catch a Predator.

Pattinson is also a producer on the film, making the project a particularly personal creative undertaking for him.

The actor has already had a busy 2026, appearing in The Drama and The Odyssey, with Dune: Part Three also on the horizon.

What Are Critics Saying Overall?

The early consensus appears to be stronger for Pattinson than for the film as a whole.

Critics are repeatedly praising his willingness to go completely against type and embrace an uncomfortable, exaggerated character.

The movie itself is being described as ambitious, disturbing, stylish, provocative and deliberately strange.

Some critics appreciate its willingness to question the morality of turning real-world criminal investigations into entertainment. Others feel that its aggressive visual and thematic approach can overwhelm the material.

That split may ultimately be part of what makes Primetime interesting.

It’s clearly not trying to be a conventional biopic.

When Does ‘Primetime’ Hit Theaters?

Primetime is scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 25, 2026.

The film is directed by Lance Oppenheim, with Ajon Singh writing the screenplay. It is produced by A24, Range Media Partners, Icki Eneo Arlo and Square Peg.

The film premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival, where it is one of the movies competing for the Golden Lion.

The Bottom Line

Early reviews suggest Primetime is shaping up to be one of Robert Pattinson’s strangest performances yet.

The biggest praise is going toward the actor’s transformation into Chris Hansen, particularly his voice, physical performance and ability to turn a recognizable television personality into something much more psychologically unsettling.

The film itself is proving more divisive, largely because of its deliberately aggressive style and its willingness to question the morality behind To Catch a Predator and the broader culture of televised true crime.

Whether audiences embrace or reject that approach, Primetime is already generating the kind of conversation A24 films often thrive on.

And with Pattinson at the center of it, the movie is certainly giving audiences another unexpected chapter in the actor’s increasingly adventurous career.

HOLR has the latest news on Robert Pattinson, A24, Primetime, the Venice Film Festival and the biggest movie reviews of 2026.

FAQs

What is Primetime about?
Primetime follows a fictionalized version of Chris Hansen in 2006 as the To Catch a Predator host attempts to make television history. The movie explores media sensationalism, morality and the relationship between journalism and entertainment.

Who plays Chris Hansen in Primetime?
Robert Pattinson plays a fictionalized version of Chris Hansen, the former host of To Catch a Predator.

Is Primetime a true story?
The movie is inspired by real events and the real To Catch a Predator program, but it is a fictionalized film rather than a documentary or exact retelling of Hansen’s life.

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