NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT) — Chris Hansen has finally watched Robert Pattinson portray him in the new film “Primetime,” and the former “To Catch A Predator” host says much of what audiences see on screen is “pure fiction,” while giving Pattinson a failing grade for what he described as an over-the-top, dark and detached portrayal of his real-life persona.
Hansen, who became nationally known as the host of the hit NBC investigative reality show, watched “Primetime” in a packed Times Square theater before sitting down with Fox News host Jesse Watters for a special episode of his “Have A Seat With Chris Hansen” podcast to discuss his reaction.
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WATCH: Chris Hansen calls "fake news" on Robert Pattinson’s new movie Primetime, blasting it as "over the top" and calling Pattinson’s version of him "unhinged" while grading acting a "D."
"98% of that movie that I just saw was pure fiction."
Watch his full breakdown with… pic.twitter.com/6i5KqCk5Lp
— THECOUNT.com ™ © (@THECOUNTnews) September 26, 2026
The film, directed by Lance Oppenheim and starring Pattinson as a fictionalized version of Hansen, opened in theaters Sept. 25. The movie dramatizes the world surrounding “To Catch A Predator,” the Dateline NBC series that made Hansen a household name by confronting men who had arranged online meetings with people they believed were underage.
Hansen has repeatedly criticized the film’s portrayal of him, but his reaction after finally seeing it was even more pointed.
“98% of that movie that I just saw was pure fiction,” Hansen told Watters.
Hansen also spoke with moviegoers outside the Times Square theater after the screening, saying many of those he encountered also considered the movie over the top. He described the experience of secretly sitting among the audience and watching a fictionalized version of his life unfold on the big screen as surreal.
According to Hansen, the film’s portrayal was so far removed from his actual experiences that he found it difficult to recognize the character as himself.
Hansen described Pattinson’s version of him as “so detached, so unhinged, so dark, so unlikable,” and said the performance turned him into something resembling a character from a horror movie.
“They make him look like a character in a horror film,” Hansen said. “There’s all kinds of green hue on his face. He’s obviously having a mental breakdown.”
When Watters asked Hansen to grade Pattinson’s performance, Hansen gave the Oscar-nominated actor a D.
“Tough grade, but I’m kind of the only guy that counts in this one,” Hansen said.
Hansen did acknowledge Pattinson’s talent as an actor while making clear that he strongly disagreed with the way the actor’s version of Hansen was constructed for the movie.
He also objected to the suggestion that “Primetime” should be viewed as a “love letter” to him or to the work surrounding “To Catch A Predator.”
“If this is a love letter, I’d hate to get a poison pen letter from this director,” Hansen said.
Hansen said the film’s depiction was insulting to people who have spent years working to combat child exploitation. He also took issue with the movie’s portrayal of him as an aloof father, saying that aspect of the fictionalized story did not accurately represent his life.
The controversy surrounding “Primetime” began well before Hansen actually saw the film. He previously said he declined to participate in a private screening after being asked to sign an agreement that, according to Hansen, would have affected his rights involving his name, image and likeness. A source cited by TheWrap said the document was a standard nondisclosure agreement intended to prevent spoilers. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Hansen had therefore been publicly criticizing the film without having seen it. That changed when he went to a Times Square theater and watched the movie himself. Afterward, he said he was not blown away by it, but emphasized that audiences should ultimately make up their own minds about the movie. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
“It’s a movie, and I’ll continue to do the work I do, and people can watch the movie and make up their own minds,” Hansen said after the screening. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Oppenheim has previously explained that “Primetime” intentionally blends reality and fiction. The director described his approach as “docufantasia,” saying the movie uses the real-world phenomenon surrounding “To Catch A Predator” while creating a fictional narrative around it. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
The movie is inspired in part by journalist Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article about the “To Catch A Predator” era and the controversial events surrounding one of the show’s stings. Pattinson serves as both star and producer, while Oppenheim directed the feature and Ajon Singh wrote the screenplay. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Hansen’s criticism comes as “Primetime” itself has generated considerable attention for its stylized portrayal of the television journalist. Reviews and coverage of the film have noted its deliberately surreal and psychologically dark approach, with Pattinson’s character presented as an intensely driven and morally complicated television personality. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Despite his objections, Hansen said he does not intend to let the film consume his attention. He said lawyers have told him they would be interested in exploring possible legal options related to the movie, but he would rather move forward with his own work.
That work includes his upcoming sanctioned documentary project, “I’m Chris Hansen,” as well as his continuing true-crime projects.
For Hansen, the biggest issue with “Primetime” appears to be less about an actor playing him and more about what he considers a fundamental disconnect between the fictional character presented on screen and the person who actually conducted the investigations that made him famous.
“Primetime” was released in U.S. theaters Sept. 25 and stars Pattinson alongside Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers and others. The film is directed by Oppenheim and distributed by A24. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
New York City, where Hansen watched “Primetime” in a Times Square theater and later discussed the movie with theatergoers, is the largest city in New York State and a major center of the U.S. film, television and media industries.
Google Maps: Times Square, New York City
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