A24's 'Primetime' starring Robert Pattinson receives strong early reviews at Venice
The drama about the controversial TV series 'To Catch a Predator' premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has earned a 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating, with critics praising Pattinson's performance and the film's thematic depth.
A24’s new film Primetime, directed by Lance Oppenheim and starring Robert Pattinson as former "To Catch a Predator" host Chris Hansen, debuted at the Venice Film Festival. Early reviews are largely favorable, giving the movie a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics highlighted Pattinson’s portrayal, describing it as intense and magnetic, and noted the film’s exploration of how populism can fuel moral decay.
"Primetime is a film about the way populism fuels moral decadence — but in such a subtle way that its proponents don’t realize it," wrote Damon Wise of Deadline.
The BBC’s Nicholas Barber called Pattinson’s work "extraordinary" and suggested the film could become an Oscar contender, while Variety praised the ensemble cast and called the movie an "edgy, exploratory thesis" on Hansen’s ambitions. Some outlets, such as Awards Watch and Indiewire, gave the film a B grade, noting that it skillfully recreates the television show’s mechanics but leaves its moral implications ambiguous. Screen International described the film as "visually striking" yet "dramatically contrived," and Next Best Picture gave it a 7/10, highlighting both Pattinson and co-star Skylar Gisondo.
Overall, reviewers see Primetime as a sharply observed thriller that interrogates the spectacle of televised justice, even as opinions differ on its narrative resolution.