Let’s celebrate 2026 as the year of Robert Pattinson. He’s had movies perfectly distributed throughout the year: “The Drama” in April, “The Odyssey” in July, “Primetime” in September, and “Dune: Part Three” in December, with “Here Comes the Flood” potentially joining the lineup.
With that in mind, here’s the first trailer for Lance Oppenheim’s “Primetime,” set to compete at Venice next month, with Pattinson portraying Chris Hansen in a highly stylized dramatization of “To Catch a Predator.” The trailer makes this one look intense, strange, and cinematic, with Pattinson nailing Hansen’s voice and mannerisms.
Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, and the rest of the cast also get shout-outs. Some might scoff at how over-the-top this looks, but I precisely like how insane it looks. Pattinson is locked in, and I’m absolutely watching it.
The logline for “Primetime” reads: “In 2006, ‘To Catch a Predator’ host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.” Hansen is an American television journalist best known for hosting the NBC investigative series “To Catch a Predator,” which used hidden-camera sting operations to confront men accused of attempting to meet minors for sex. It’s the kind of show that would almost certainly never be greenlit by a major network today. It made for riveting — if morally questionable — television.
So, although we don’t know much about what the film will specifically tackle, the fact that it’s set in 2006 says a lot — that was the year the show’s most controversial moment occurred. In November of that year, Texas assistant district attorney Bill Conradt died by suicide at his home as police and NBC personnel arrived to confront him during one of the show’s investigations. Conradt’s case stemmed from a four-day operation in Murphy, Texas, that resulted in the arrests of 25 men.
Oppenheim is primarily known for his documentary work, including HBO’s “Ren Faire” and the Sundance gem “Some Kind of Heaven” — both visually accomplished non-fiction works. “Primetime” has test-screened a few times already, and word has been fairly positive.
“Primetime” hits theaters September 25 via A24.
Can we finally admit that Pattinson’s acting range and his post-Twilight career have been highly successful? He’s turned into a genuinely strong actor. Just watch “Good Time” and tell me that’s not a great performance.
Letterboxd, the app where film Twitter went to live, is finalizing a sale to The New York Times in a deal that values the site at $330M, according to a report from, who else, the New York Times.