Robert Pattinson's Primetime First Reactions Are In

Published Sep 5, 2026, 8:58 AM EDT Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Sign in to your ScreenRant account A24's divisive new movie, Primetime, is facing the music. Directed by Lance Oppenheim, the movie shows a whole new side of Dateline: NBC's How to Catch a Predator and its host Chris Hansen. A24 has taken what was known around the world and flipped it on its head. During the 83rd Venice Film Festival, an early screening of Robert Pattinson's latest role as former How to Catch a Predator host Hansen was shown, with audiences giving their verdict on the upcoming movie, Primetime. Letterboxd was flooded with early reactions to the upcoming movie, with users such as Alexoide stating that "It’s like combining Better Call Saul with the atmosphere of the Backrooms, and it looks stunning. Robert Pattinson, your character, is absolutely repulsive, congratulations." Another user, Olix_Mov, stated that "Pattinson gives his best performance of the year. Perfect run time that squeezes everything in until the demise of Hansen's first iteration of the show." Another Letterboxd user named Kya praised the cast, and more specifically the musician Phoebe Bridgers, by stating, "Phoebe Bridgers is so good as an actress I forgot I was watching Phoebe Bridgers." On X, Ren Geekness shared their thoughts on A24's new movie and said: "Robert Pattinson is truly unstoppable this year! A grimey & stylish throwback exploration of the cost of ambition in the pursuit of doing the right thing. Oppenheim's riveting documentary-feel really puts you on the edge of your seat. Skylar Gisondo nearly steals this." Alex also shared their thoughts with hopes of a potential Oscar nomination for leading man, Pattinson, by saying, "Robert Pattinson is so good in #Primetime. An electric, thought-provoking ride about a pedo-hunter that flew too close to the network sun. Enhanced by a vibrant visual identity and a killer supporting cast, this could be the package that carries him to his first Oscar nomination." Lay was also a fan of Pattinson in Primetime and gave this glowing review on X: "To say it quick, this was really good and funny?! Robert Pattinson incredible as usual one would say, Phoebe is surprising really great and has a great role but the best part of it all is genuinely the directing style. The Colors. The Neons. The Editing. (Produced by Ari Aster)." More to come...