Primetime

Despite broadly being about the host of a television series in the late 2000’s, that description doesn’t really get close to describing Primetime.

This is a far more incisive, cutting, thought-provoking and prescient tale which brings debate around social justice, audience appetites, fame and the culture at large.

A none-more-A24 piece that could be on the showreel for the now surely legendary producers, this is very much an arthouse piece but really nails those hot button issues.

Presented in murky close ups, largely 4:3 aspect ratio, camcorder footage and a hazy sheen, it’s a stunning film visually and houses another towering performance from Robert Pattinson to add yet another hit to his stacked year (seriously, what a run he has been on in 2026. It's arguable that he and Zendaya have had two of the all time best years for actos.)

Pattinson’s Chris Hansen is the host of To Catch a Predator, delighting in his moral crusader role as he also struggles to connect with his own family and two young sons.

As the show is moved to a peak slot up against Lost, the drive to present more shocking content to appease the new primetime audience consumes Hansen and his team.

It throws up so many interesting talking points and never lets you settle, veering wildly from comedic moments to outright horror at points.

However, it never feels like the tone is off and absolutely nails its sense of time whilst still clearly presenting modern parallels.

It’s a deliberately uncomfortable film and experience, and one where its presentation could have been wildly different, but another brilliant addition to the canon of A24 and Pattinson.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️