Primetime Opens in Theaters With $19.2 Million Weekend, Strong Reviews

A24’s crime thriller Primetime opened in theaters across the United States on September 25, 2026, earning an estimated $19.2 million from 2,863 domestic locations in its first three days. The film stars Robert Pattinson as former Dateline NBC correspondent Chris Hansen and is directed by Lance Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut.

The film premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2026, where it received a standing ovation. It also screened at Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest before its wide release. Primetime is based on journalist Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article ‘Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die,’ which examined a 2006 sting operation in Murphy, Texas.

Showtimes and Availability

Primetime is playing in standard 2D format at major theater chains across the country. Regal Cinemas lists showtimes at locations including Regal Thornton Place in Seattle, where a subtitled screening is scheduled for Monday, September 28 at 12:50 p.m. in Auditorium 6.

Marcus Theatres’ Cedar Creek Cinema is offering multiple daily showtimes, including 1:50 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:10 p.m., and 8:50 p.m. Phoenix Theatres has listed showtimes at Chartiers Valley for 4:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 9:20 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, with additional screenings through the weekend.

In the New York area, the Cranford Theater in Cranford, New Jersey, has a Sunday afternoon screening scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Auditorium 2, with matinee pricing at $9.85. The Terrace Theater in Charleston, South Carolina, is showing the film from Friday, September 25 through Monday, September 28.

Internationally, Primetime opened in Indian theaters on September 25, with tickets available through BookMyShow and District by Zomato. The film is screening in English only in India. In Poland, the film is scheduled for release on October 9, 2026, with screenings listed at cinemas in Katowice, Jelenia Góra, and Grybów.

Cast and Story

Robert Pattinson leads the ensemble cast as Chris Hansen. The film also stars Merritt Wever as Andie Bender, Skyler Gisondo as Dan Plumb, Phoebe Bridgers as Del Harvey, Matthew Maher as Xavier Von Erck, Bokeem Woodbine as Cortland Gunn, and Anna Faris as Mary Joan Hansen. Alex Winter appears as Bill Conradt.

The film depicts the production of the Dateline NBC segment To Catch a Predator, focusing on the behind-the-scenes operations of the sting operations and the toll they took on those involved. It explores the blurring of lines between journalism, entertainment, and the pursuit of ratings.

Primetime was produced by Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, William Ixan, Robert Pattinson, Brighton McCloskey, Lars Knudsen, and Ari Aster. The film runs 110 minutes and is rated R for disturbing sexual material and language.

Critical Reception and Box Office

Primetime holds a Certified Fresh rating of 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes based on critic reviews, with an audience score of 84 percent from over 100 verified ratings. The film debuted with a 100 percent Tomatometer score from 26 reviews following its Venice premiere.

BBC critic Nicholas Barber awarded the film five stars. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Pattinson’s performance earned strong reviews, and the film received a nearly eight-minute standing ovation at Venice.

The film opened at No. 4 at the domestic box office with $19.2 million, making it one of A24’s strongest debuts. The film was produced for approximately $15 million. Globally, Primetime earned $20.067 million in its opening weekend.

Box office analysts noted that the film performed well despite playing in fewer theaters than some major competitors. The Washington Post reported that one demographic in particular helped propel the film’s opening weekend performance.

Chris Hansen Responds

Chris Hansen, whose career inspired the film, has publicly criticized the portrayal. In an appearance on the podcast Have a Seat with Fox News host Jesse Watters, Hansen said the A24 production failed to capture his sense of humor and described Pattinson’s version of the character as distant, dark, and unlikeable.

Hansen said about 14 members of his current team watched the film together and later exchanged views through messages. He acknowledged some visual elements but said members of his team found the story difficult to engage with after the opening portion.

Hansen stressed that audiences should view Primetime as a fictional interpretation rather than an accurate account of his career. He said the movie does not represent the real people involved in his investigative work or the effort that went into producing the original television series.

In a post on X, Hansen wrote, ‘I’m not the most objective reviewer of this movie since A24 made it without my consult and consideration, and they use my name, image, and likeness.’ He previously declined a private screening, saying A24 required him to sign a very restrictive agreement barring legal action against the studio.

A24 released the film’s final trailer on September 15, with tickets going on sale the same week. The studio shared the release date poster on Instagram in July. Primetime remains in theaters nationwide, with showtimes varying by location and theater chain.