Primetime film starring Robert Pattinson earns $19.2 million at US box office

The A24 film ‘Primetime’, directed by Lance Oppenheim, has seen a strong theatrical opening, earning $19.2 million in its first weekend in the United States. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, the former host of Dateline NBC’s ‘To Catch a Predator’. Rather than a traditional biopic, the movie is described as a media satire and psychological thriller that explores the behind-the-scenes pressures of reality television and the ethics of sting operations.

The film focuses on the period around 2006 when the show moved to a high-stakes primetime slot. It examines the tension between public service and the pursuit of television ratings, as well as the personal toll on Hansen and his production team. Critics have noted Pattinson’s transformative performance, which mimics Hansen’s specific vocal tics and mannerisms.

Chris Hansen has publicly criticized the film, calling it ‘pure fiction’ and ‘overdramatized’. He expressed dissatisfaction with the production, noting that A24 did not consult him and that the portrayal is detached from his actual reality. In a satirical response, Hansen also mocked the film for omitting his signature celebratory dance moves following successful stings.