A24’s unsettling television drama has translated festival attention into a strong North American opening, with viewers under 30 making up most of its initial audience.
Robert Pattinson’s Primetime has attracted attention on both the festival circuit and at the box office, pairing an unconventional filmmaking approach with a strikingly young audience.
The film screened in competition at the 2026 Venice Film Festival, where it reportedly received a seven-minute standing ovation. Pattinson plays Chris Hansen, the television journalist associated with To Catch a Predator, in director Lance Oppenheim’s first narrative feature.
Oppenheim brings a documentary background to a story about the machinery of sensational television. Presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio, Primetime uses a tightly enclosed visual style that early reviewers described as unsettling and reminiscent of arthouse horror. Rotten Tomatoes’ first-review roundup highlighted praise for Pattinson and the supporting cast, alongside criticism of the film’s depth and treatment of its subject.
That challenging material did not prevent a substantial theatrical debut. Primetime opened with an estimated $19.2 million in North America, according to the Associated Press’s report published on 27 September 2026. Its reported production budget was approximately $15 million, before marketing expenses.
The audience breakdown was particularly notable: approximately 69% of opening-weekend ticket buyers were under 30. The result suggests that a story rooted in early-2000s television could connect with viewers beyond those who watched the original programme during its broadcast run. The figures alone, however, do not establish whether Pattinson, festival publicity or the subject matter was the strongest attraction.
The release has also drawn objections from Hansen himself. In an October interview with Variety, he criticised the project and discussed considering legal action against A24. Those comments represent his position on the film rather than a legal finding about its portrayal.
The dispute adds another dimension to a film already concerned with the relationship between real people, public spectacle and entertainment. Adapting recognisable media history can bring an immediate audience, while also inviting scrutiny over whose perspective shapes the story.
For A24, Primetime’s opening offers encouraging evidence that a distinctive adult drama can draw younger cinema audiences. Its longer-term performance will show whether that initial curiosity develops into sustained demand.
Sources:
Variety — Hansen’s criticism and potential legal action
Venice Film Festival — Official competition entry
Rotten Tomatoes — Primetime first reviews
ABC News / Associated Press — Opening figures and audience demographics
