The first teaser trailer has officially dropped for A24’s brand-new crime-drama biopic, Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson. The film takes a deep dive into the hit investigative show To Catch a Predator, which became a jaw-dropping staple in American households during the mid-2000s. Thanks to this upcoming release, we now live in a world where the exact same actor can play both Batman and Chris Hansen.
Directed by acclaimed documentarian Lance Oppenheim in his narrative debut, the movie boasts the heavy-hitting tagline, “Are you ready to make television history?”—something the original reality series achieved with ease. Back in its heyday, the show was absolute “must-see TV.” True to form, this initial trailer feels incredibly eerie and unsettling. It portrays Hansen as a mysterious, intense figure, creating a fascinating contrast with the actual predators he caught attempting to meet minors online.
Primetime TV
For those who don’t remember the premise, To Catch a Predator featured adult decoys who entered online chat rooms posing as underage children whose parents were away. The trailer leans heavily into that tense atmosphere. It begins with raw surveillance footage popping onto the screen before Pattinson’s voice cuts through the static as Hansen, asking, “What would have happened if I wasn’t here?”
From there, the teaser transitions into stylized footage of him walking through dark hallways and bracing the rain before opening a car door to confront a target. He delivers the iconic line: “You see how this looks, right?” Filled with shadowy cinematography and sharp, rapid-fire cuts, the teaser leaves audiences guessing about the film’s exact narrative direction.
Ultimately, it will be fascinating to see how Oppenheim and A24 choose to balance the line between journalism and entertainment in this story. Check out the trailer below, and let us know in the comments if you’ll be buying a ticket this fall!
