Robert Pattinson’s new thriller ‘Primetime’ premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. The film received a standing ovation lasting around seven minutes. Other reports placed the applause closer to eight or nine minutes. Either way, the crowd reaction was strong.
The screening took place inside Sala Grande during the 83rd edition of the festival. Massive crowds gathered outside the Palazzo del Cinema, chanting Pattinson’s name in the heat.
About the film
‘Primetime’ is directed by Lance Oppenheim and produced by A24. Pattinson plays a fictionalized version of Chris Hansen, the television host known for ‘To Catch a Predator.’
The story is set in 2006. It follows the show’s move from a segment on ‘Dateline NBC’ to its own primetime series. The film draws from Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article, ‘Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die.’
Oppenheim has said the movie is not a straightforward biography of Hansen. Instead, he uses the real television figure and the show’s format to explore what happens when real people and criminal cases become <a href="https://comicvibe.com/caesars-entertainment-czr-stock-could-be-undervalued-as-shares-fell-72/” title=”Caesars Entertainment (CZR) Stock Could Be Undervalued As Shares Fell 72%”>entertainment.
The cast
Pattinson also serves as a producer through his banner, Icki Eneo Arlo. The supporting cast includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers and Bokeem Woodbine. Former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Zucker appears in the film as himself.
Other attendees at the premiere included Chloé Zhao, Amanda Seyfried, Mona Fastvold and Ari Aster. Pattinson’s partner, Suki Waterhouse, was also there.
A romantic moment on camera
As the crowd applauded, Waterhouse leaned forward and kissed Pattinson on the lips. Venice seating rules place actors in the front row of the balcony, with partners seated one row behind. The couple reportedly shared another kiss on the red carpet earlier in the day.
Chris Hansen responds
The real Chris Hansen has spoken publicly about the film without seeing it. He went to an A24 screening but left after refusing to sign a standard non-disclosure agreement.
Based on the trailer alone, Hansen called Pattinson’s portrayal ‘overly dramatic.’ He admitted his family thinks it is a fairly good imitation.
Pattinson addressed the comments at Saturday’s press conference. He said he hopes Hansen likes the movie and that the character has inspired people for years. He added that something about Hansen remains hard to define, even after studying hours of the original footage.
Release details
‘Primetime’ is competing for the top prize at Venice this year. It is set for a US theatrical release on September 25, 2026.
This marks Oppenheim’s first narrative feature. He previously directed the series ‘Ren Faire’ and the films ‘Spermworld’ and ‘Some Kind of Heaven.’ Oppenheim has described his goal as building ‘an institutional portrait of To Catch a Predator at the height of its success.’
Pattinson has several other major projects this year, including roles in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ and Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming ‘Dune: Part III.’
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