Primetime Review Roundup: Robert Pattinson’s Chilling Turn as Chris Hansen

When A24 slipped the new thriller Primetime into the Venice Film Festival’s lineup last weekend, nobody expected the audience to rise for almost eight minutes. Yet there it was—a near‑standing‑ovation, claps that seemed to stretch into the night, and a lot of murmuring about one thing: Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of former ‘To Catch a Predator’ host Chris Hansen.

Directed by newcomer Lance Oppenheim, the film follows the controversial TV personality as he stalks alleged predators across the internet, turning real‑life fear into prime‑time ratings. Alongside Pattinson, you’ll spot Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers and Bokeem Woodbine, but it’s Pattinson who, according to most critics, carries the entire weight of the story.

“He is equal parts cracked and chilling,” wrote David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter. “Pattinson paints Hansen as a ruthless ratings‑hunter with a grandiosity complex and a chip on his shoulder because he’s not Stone Phillips.” It’s a line that sticks, partly because it captures the baffling mix of arrogance and vulnerability that Pattinson brings to the role.

Marshall Shaffer at The Playlist went a step further, calling the performance “the most locked‑in turn of its kind since Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler.” The comparison isn’t accidental—both actors play men who are fascinated, perhaps even addicted, to the spectacle of other people’s desperation.

BBC’s Nicholas Barber gave the performance a more theatrical spin: “Exaggerated without ever feeling arch, Pattinson is completely immersed in Hansen’s strangeness.” He added that the actor never asks the audience to sympathise, instead letting us loathe him while still being enthralled. “It’s a pleasure to watch him,” Barber concluded, “and arguably the best work yet from the most intriguing actor of his generation.”

Even Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri, never shy about tossing a few barbs, praised the chameleon‑like qualities of Pattinson’s turn, noting that he “plays him like a man whose voice and demeanor could change at will.” In short, the consensus is clear: Pattinson is delivering a performance that could very well be his first serious Oscar conversation.

That said, the film itself isn’t universally loved. Some reviewers, while applauding the lead, feel Primetime leans too heavily into “sicko‑silly” territory, lacking the deeper psychological curiosity of documentaries like Predators. The Los Angeles Times hinted that the movie’s uneven tone might leave viewers puzzled about its ultimate purpose.

Off‑screen drama adds another layer of intrigue. Chris Hansen himself, who originally questioned Hollywood’s motives for making a biopic, recently told Entertainment Tonight that Pattinson “practiced imitating me” and that the trailer offers “a pretty good imitation.” Yet in a candid chat with Fox News’s Jesse Watters, Hansen claimed he didn’t attend any screenings because A24’s lawyers wanted him to sign away his rights to his name and image—a legal nuance that has fueled further speculation.

When asked about Hansen’s comments at the Venice press conference, Pattinson simply shrugged and said, “I hope he likes the movie.” A brief, almost shy response that somehow feels fitting for a man playing a man who thrives on public spectacle.

All things considered, Primetime lands in theaters on September 25, armed with a 93 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and a mountain of buzz. Whether you walk out feeling unsettled, amused, or a mix of both, one thing is certain: Robert Pattinson’s turn as Chris Hansen is the talk of the town, and the awards‑season conversation is already humming.