Primetime (2026)★ 7.3/10

109 min · September 5, 2026

Crime
Drama
Thriller
Biography

Directed by: Lance Oppenheim

Written by: Ajon Singh, Luke Dittrich

In 2006, To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.

Original title

Primetime

Storyline

Is a dramatization of real life events. 2006. Chris Hansen is one of the on air correspondents of the popular Dateline NBC (1992). He arguably sees himself as one the primary reasons for the success of the show, and thus in some respects is bigger than the show itself. An offshoot of it primarily featuring him is To Catch a Predator (2004). With the production team using the services of the vigilante group Perverted Justice, decoys, of the age of majority but posing as minors online, on the telephone and ultimately in person, lure sexual predators into a face-to-face meeting at a private home, where the decoy in question gets the perpetrator into a position when Hansen will then confront him with cameras and subsequently the police for the television viewing audience to see. While not understanding its popularity, NBC network brass can see it, thus making the decision to move the show to primetime, which only inflates Hansen's ego. Along for the ride is the show's pragmatic producer, Andie Bender. whose own mentality suits this type of in-your-face show. In this move to primetime, one of the new hires is the male decoy, twenty-three year old Dan Plum, a neophyte but "serious" actor whose primary goal is to receive a credit that will garner him his SAG card, which, in the way he approaches it, thus may be contrary the goal of the show itself. But as network brass places the show in what is arguably one of the most difficult time slots airing opposite the juggernaut know as Lost (2004), Hansen believes he has to up the salaciousness of show, leading to potential risks to the safety of all involved. Another factor into what happens is his own personal indiscretions potentially being exposed leading to falling out of favor with the viewing audience and a threat to his marriage.

Rating

7.3 / 10 · 15,012

Companies

A24, Icki Eneo Arlo, Range Media Partners, Square Peg, Elevation Pictures

Release dates