Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen in the film "Primetime," which was released in theaters on September 25, 2026. A24 is the distributor of the film.

Hansen stated in August that he left A24 offices without seeing the film due to a legal agreement. He described the production as detached from his actual experiences. He said it was so bizarre and so in-and-out of reality. He added that he’s not objective because the character is him, but that the film was so detached from reality or anything he’s experienced then or now doing the investigations.

He gave Robert Pattinson's performance a D grade. He said he found the impression overly dramatic "but that his family thought it was a" pretty good imitation. He said he’d never seen anything quite like it and wasn’t sure what the point of it was.

Pattinson offered his perspective on the role. "I would hope the amount of inspiration his character has given a lot of people for years is some kind of compliment," Pattinson said. In the film, Hansen’s character repeats the phrase What would have happened if I wasn’t here? To suspected predators.

A24 sold merchandise featuring the quote. Another line delivered by Pattinson states, "There used to be a pillory in every civilized town. Now there’s a television with me on it."

A24 labeled the film as inspired by true events rather than a biopic. The company posted a production photo of Pattinson styled to look like Hansen’s headshot. Skyler Gisondo plays the character Dan, a decoy, in the film.

Merritt Wever appears in the film. The film is set in late 2006.

The story draws from Hansen’s tenure as a correspondent for "Dateline NBC" in the mid-2000s. He hosted the show "To Catch a Predator," which launched in 2004. On the series, his team paired with the civilian watchdog group Perverted Justice.

The series used adult decoys to pose as minors online. After online conversations became sexual, the crew invited men to a home to meet the decoy for a sting. He confronted men who arrived at the sting locations. Police were often waiting outside to arrest the men. NBC stopped airing the original series in 2007.

The timeline includes the case of Bill Conradt, a chief felony assistant district attorney in Rockwall County, Texas. Police and NBC cameras entered Conradt's home prior to his suicide in November 2006. He told the Hollywood Reporter he does not regret the sting involving Conradt.

In the film, his character tells a decoy about a reporting trip to India where residents enacted justice by their own hands after children went missing. A 2022 Washington Post investigation identified at least 160 copycat predator-hunting groups in the U.S. A March 2025 New York Times report found there have been more than 170 violent vigilante attacks by predator-hunting groups since 2023. Skeet Hansen was featured in the 2025 MTV documentary "Predators." He cofounded the streaming service Trublu in November 2022.

He stated he would post his full reaction to the film on his podcast and YouTube channel, "Have A Seat With Chris Hansen," at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a seven-minute ovation.

Why It Matters

The film’s marketing and content choices reflect a specific interpretation of historical events. A24 labeled the film as inspired by true events and sold merchandise featuring quotes from the script. The narrative includes elements such as a character earning a SAG-AFTRA card and references to international justice, which he characterized as pure fiction. These creative decisions occur against the backdrop of his continued media presence, including his cofounding of the streaming service Trublu in November 2022.

Timeline

2004: "To Catch a Predator" launches. Late 2006: The film "Primetime" is set during this period. November 2006: Bill Conradt shoots and kills himself after police and NBC cameras enter his home. 2007: NBC stops airing the original "To Catch a Predator" series.

November 2022: He cofounds the streaming service Trublu. 2022: A Washington Post investigation identifies at least 160 copycat predator-hunting groups in the U.S. March 2025: A New York Times report finds more than 170 violent vigilante attacks by predator-hunting groups since 2023. 2025: Skeet Hansen is featured in the MTV documentary "Predators." September 25, 2026: "Primetime" is released in theaters.

How Sources Differ

Sources present different details regarding Robert Pattinson. Primary and additional sources state that Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen in the film "Primetime". The primary source notes that A24 posted a production photo of Robert Pattinson styled to look like Chris Hansen’s headshot. He said he found Robert Pattinson’s impression overly dramatic but that his family thought it was a pretty good imitation. Rolling Stone and the Hollywood Reporter report that he gave Robert Pattinson's performance in 'Primetime' a D grade.

Sources also differ on details concerning Chris Hansen. While primary and additional sources confirm Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen in the film "Primetime", he stated on Fox News’ "Jesse Watters Primetime" in August that he left A24 offices without seeing the film due to a legal agreement. Additionally, he stated that most of the film 'Primetime' is pure fiction, with only some reality mixed in, according to reports.

Discrepancies exist regarding the film "Primetime" itself. An additional source states that in the film "Primetime," his character repeats the phrase What would have happened if I wasn’t here? To suspected predators. Primary and additional sources confirm that A24 sold "Primetime" merchandise featuring the quote: What would’ve happened if I wasn’t here?.