Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Robert Pattinson’s Primetime Earns Nine-Minute Venice Ovation
Primetime is a new movie starring Robert Pattinson.
It was shown for the first time at the Venice Film Festival.
The audience stood and applauded for nine minutes.
Pattinson plays television journalist Chris Hansen.
The story is set in 2006, when Hansen worked on To Catch a Predator.
The movie shows Hansen working with police and online decoys.
Hansen was invited to see the movie but did not sign the required nondisclosure agreement.
He said the agreement was unusually strict, while the article says preview audiences were asked to sign it to prevent spoilers.
The movie will come out in the United States on September 25.
A24’s Primetime received a nine-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival world premiere.
Robert Pattinson plays Chris Hansen during the making of To Catch a Predator in 2006.
Lance Oppenheim directed the film from a screenplay by Ajon Singh.
Hansen said he rejected an extensive nondisclosure agreement and was not shown the film.
Primetime is scheduled for release in the United States on September 25.
- Who
- Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen; Lance Oppenheim directed the film and Ajon Singh wrote the screenplay.
- What
- Primetime received a nine-minute standing ovation at its world premiere.
- When
- The premiere took place at the Venice Film Festival; the United States release is scheduled for September 25.
- Where
- The world premiere was held at the Venice Film Festival.
- Why
- The film portrays Chris Hansen’s 2006 effort to make television history through To Catch a Predator.
Production’s explanation
Chris Hansen’s concerns
Nondisclosure agreement
Production’s explanation
The article says the agreement was required of preview audiences about a week before viewing an unreleased film, to prevent spoilers and protect intellectual property.
Chris Hansen’s concerns
Chris Hansen said the terms were unusually restrictive and would have affected his name, image, brand, and potential legal rights, so he refused to sign.
Hansen’s private screening
Production’s explanation
The production team invited Hansen to a private screening but did not show him the film after he declined to sign the agreement.
Chris Hansen’s concerns
Hansen said he traveled to the screening but could not attend because he would not accept the agreement.
- Film
- Primetime
- Distributor
- A24
- Standing ovation
- Nine minutes
- Director
- Lance Oppenheim
- Screenwriter
- Ajon Singh
- United States release
- September 25
- Additional cast
- Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and Phoebe Bridgers