Former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen graded Robert Pattinson's lead performance a "D" following the theatrical release of the drama thriller Primetime. The film arrived in American theaters after earning $2.7 million in Thursday previews.
- A24 produced the feature with a budget of $15 million.
- Box office projections place the opening weekend gross between $16 million and $20 million.
- The title holds an 87% Rotten Tomatoes approval score across 143 reviews.
- Screenwriter Ajon Singh penned the script.
- The supporting cast features Skyler Gisondo, Merritt Wever, and Alex Winter.
Lack of Production Consultation
Hansen evaluated the dramatization during an interview on his podcast with Fox News host Jesse Watters. Director Lance Oppenheim did not contact Hansen during pre-production or filming. Hansen stated that Oppenheim never consulted him about the sting operations.
"At the end of the day, I wasn’t blown away by it either way,"
Chris Hansen, Former To Catch a Predator host
"I think because the character is so detached from reality, from anything I’ve ever experienced then or now doing the investigations — I’m not sure what the point of it was."
Chris Hansen, Former To Catch a Predator host
Objections to Personal Depiction
Hansen pushed back against the personal subplots written into the film. The story presents him as an aloof and detached father. Hansen rejected that depiction as an invented characterization. He described the portrayal as mean-spirited and false.
"In all honesty, what bothered me most was it portrayed me as an aloof, detached father to my sons, which was so far from reality, and for them to do that really is just a cheap shot with no entertainment, literary or benefit to any viewer or society. It’s just mean-spirited, untrue and unworthy of the viewer’s time."
Chris Hansen, Former To Catch a Predator host
Primetime is currently screening in theaters across the United States.
