⭐️⭐️ 2 out of 5 rating

It’s been a busy year for Robert Pattinson following his appearances in The Drama and The Odyssey in 2026, with Dune 3 coming later in the year. This latest release stars Pattinson as TV host Chris Hansen in a depiction partially based on the real-life events of a Primetime TV show that captures predators/paedos.

Robert Pattinson is excellent, supported by Merritt Wever as a TV producer and Skyler Gisondo as a young actor/decoy. All deliver admirable performances, but the film is not without big issues…

Critics from The Independent and many other outlets have heaped praise on this movie. How often do we watch films that critics rave about only to find them absolute bores? This film is a good example, and quite frankly, it is so boring and repetitive. Regardless of whether Pattinson’s performance is Oscar-worthy or not, I wanted to fall asleep. The only exception professionally was The Guardian, which also didn’t rate the film highly (surprisingly).

The movie spends an hour or more cycling through entrapment situations while insinuating that Hansen may have a dark secret. However, this turns out to be less of a twist and not particularly earth-shattering in the context of the film.

The only good part is the ending, which caught me off guard and thankfully meant it was all over. I’m aware others in the audience shared my thoughts including my wife. At best, it’s one to wait and stream so you can judge if it’s your cup of tea. Personally, I would pass on this one as a waste of your time.

A classic example of audience reaction differing hugely to critical consensus.

⭐️⭐️ 2 out of 5 rating

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Trailer, synopsis and full score below.

Directed by Lance Oppenheim, Primetime is a dark, psychological media-thriller starring Robert Pattinson as a fictionalized version of host Chris Hansen during the peak of the mid-2000s reality-television sting show To Catch a Predator. Framed as a razor-sharp satire of tabloid morality and institutional greed, the film follows the host’s ruthless pursuit of network ratings under the guise of a righteous crusade. As his performative zeal drives the production crew and young decoys into increasingly exploitative territory, Hansen’s public crusader image is pushed to the brink when a high-profile sting goes fatally wrong and his own messy private life threatens to spill into the press. Ultimately, the movie transforms the circus of early-2000s sensationalism into a eerie, claustrophobic drama about the corrupting nature of fame, power, and turning human ruin into primetime entertainment.

Online synopsis 

Film Rating

Music/Sound

1 out of 5

Story/plot

3 out of 5

Acting/Performances

4 out of 5

Overall

2 out of 5

Certification: 15
Running time: 110 minutes
Screening type: 2D