The 2026 portrayal of the iconic 2000s TV show To Catch a Predator has arrived as Primetime, a film that became highly anticipated after its sudden trailer release back in August. Robert Pattinson’s striking resemblance to the show’s host, Chris Hansen, was one of the main talking points, with little known about how the film would execute this controversial story.
To put it bluntly, this movie doesn’t live up to its potential, with its slow buildup and inconsistent themes. Although Robert Pattinson’s Chris Hansen portrayal has been the biggest reason behind the hype surrounding the film, this movie isn’t really about Chris Hansen. It’s more about the show, the decoys, and the morality of it all.
This film ultimately makes the viewer question whether this form of guerrilla journalism is ethical, even if it serves justice. The main characters in the film all have their own intentions, and some of them may be questionable, but the main theme is essentially about how far the media can go to entertain you, even when the topic is as serious as catching predators.
Skyler Gisondo’s performance as the decoy Dan Plumb was interesting because of how he captures the emotional side of dealing with some of these predators, while also portraying someone who wants to become a successful actor yet remains largely unknown and unrecognized despite being part of one of the most popular shows on television.
With all that being said, this film has tons of shortcomings and inconsistencies, especially when it comes to the story of Chris Hansen. Robert Pattinson plays Chris incredibly well, yet the struggles introduced in Chris’s personal life aren’t really explored or acknowledged much throughout the film. It could’ve been much better to see him deal with these problems instead of focusing almost entirely on the show.
Chris Hansen also isn’t presented as a likable character, which undermines his work which led to dozens of convictions. Painting him as a villain or morally ambiguous character just isn’t fair, and it takes away from the passion behind his work. There should’ve been more emphasis on how impactful Chris’s work was instead of making him appear to be egotistical or manipulative.
The ending also doesn’t do the film any justice because we don’t really get to see anything unravel the way it should’ve. This film just doesn’t leave you with anything significant after the credits roll; all the information that could’ve led to a fantastic film is sloppily tied together, and the result ultimately isn’t that rewarding.
Overall, Primetime does have its moments where it impresses the viewer, but there’s just so much more that could’ve been done to make the film more memorable. Is it worth the watch? Maybe, but it’s definitely not the greatest film of the year, and the hype just doesn’t hold up to the final presentation.
By Ed Roobi