Robert Pattinson continues his impressive streak with Primetime, an A24 biopic that has just debuted with a stellar 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. This initial score, based on 20 reviews, not only positions the film as a critical darling but also makes it Pattinson's highest-rated live-action movie to date, surpassing the 93% achieved by his earlier 2026 release, The Odyssey.

Primetime delves into the infamous NBC series To Catch a Predator, with Pattinson portraying host Chris Hansen. The narrative is loosely inspired by Esquire's article "Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die," which recounted the tragic death of Bill Conradt following an encounter. Critics at the Venice Film Festival were quick to praise Pattinson's portrayal, describing his performance as Chris Hansen as intensely erratic, yet electric, capturing the character's descent into madness as the dark nature of the show consumes him. His mannerisms and voice were noted as uncannily accurate.

Lance Oppenheim, making his feature debut, also earned significant accolades for his direction. Reviewers highlighted his stylistic approach, crafting a film that expertly navigates the line between gritty thriller and horror, enhanced by grainy visuals that perfectly complement the era depicted. Beyond Pattinson, the supporting cast received praise, with Merritt Wever and Phoebe Bridger delivering strong performances, and Skyler Gisondo's turn as a decoy being a particular standout.

This critical success further bolsters Pattinson's already busy and triumphant 2026. Following Primetime, he is set to close out the year with Dune: Part Three, where he takes on the antagonistic role of Scytale. With The Drama and The Odyssey also earning critical acclaim this year, Primetime's early reception firmly places Pattinson in contention for upcoming awards season, particularly in the Best Actor race.

However, Primetime's journey to release hasn't been without its real-world complexities. The actual Chris Hansen, who was not involved in the film's production, has publicly voiced his opinions on Pattinson's portrayal and the released footage. While acknowledging Pattinson's performance as a "pretty good imitation," Hansen found it "overly dramatic" and stated his preference for Denis Leary in the role. He also expressed skepticism about Hollywood's motives behind the film. Hansen notably refused a private screening offered by A24, alleging that the condition was to sign a contract relinquishing rights to his name, image, and brand. In a unique move, he has reportedly purchased pre-show advertisements for every Primetime screening, directing audiences to his streaming service, TruBlu.

Pattinson and Oppenheim have addressed Hansen's comments. Oppenheim expressed his excitement to hear Hansen's thoughts if he eventually watches the film. Pattinson, who also serves as a producer on the movie, shared his hope that Hansen would ultimately like it, clarifying, "I never really set out to make a movie about Chris Hansen. I would hope in some ways, like, the amount of inspiration that his character has kind of given certain people who are involved in this [film] for like years now, I hope is some kind of compliment."

Primetime is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 25, 2026.

| Robert Pattinson's Top 10 Highest-Rated Starring Movies | Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | | :------------------------------------------------------ | :----------------------------- | :----------------------------- | | Primetime (2026) | 95% | N/A | | The Odyssey (2026) | 93% | 97% | | Good Time (2017) | 91% | 82% | | The Lighthouse (2019) | 90% | 72% | | The Childhood of a Leader (2015) | 90% | 54% | | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) | 88% | 74% | | The Lost City of Z (2016) | 85% | 58% | | The Batman (2022) | 85% | 87% | | High Life (2018) | 83% | 42% | | Mickey 17 (2025) | 77% | 73% |