The Plot of Primetime

Primetime is the drama and crime movie coming out. The plot focuses on the true story of Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson) who creates the TV show "To Catch a Predator," a controversial segment of Dateline NBC. The show airs from 2004 to 2007, and uses hidden cameras to orchestrate undercover operations that lure adult men into homes under the pretense of meeting minors, only to have them arrested.

Movie Trailer

"Come on in. What would have happened if I hadn't been here," says Chris Hansen in the released trailer, while images of televisions in split screen alternate. "You see how it looks, right? At the end of the day, men have to be held accountable for the decisions they make. You watch television. Well, there's something you should know. My name is Chris Hansen. You're about to become part of television history." A female voice responds. "We're going to become the number one show on TV."

The Movie Cast

Robert Pattinson starred in Mickey 17, The Batman, Tenet and will be in Batman 2 and Here Comes the Flood.

Also present is Anna Faris, recently seen in Spa Weekend: she stars in the TV series Mom in the role of Christy Plunkett, and worked on The Estate. "It's a tiny part, but it was a gift," she said. "Watching Robert Pattinson work was an education in itself, and being part of such a performance-based movie was thrilling."

The cast is completed by Phoebe Bridgers, indie-rock singer-songwriter; Merritt Wever and Sean Bridgers.

Direction and Production

The direction is by Lance Oppenheim, who directed the docuseries Ren Faire, about the succession struggle at the Texas Renaissance Fair; Spermworld, which tells the story of the sperm donation world, based on a New York Times article.

Filming took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Sri Lanka, from February to March 2025: it was the first Hollywood production to shoot on the island after 43 years, since the time of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1983.

Production is by A24, Icki Eneo Arlo, Range Media Partners and Square Peg. Filming began in March 2025 and concluded on March 28 of the same year, then entered post-production. The movie is released in the United States on September 11, 2026.