Chris Hansen finally watched Hollywood’s version of his life — and Robert Pattinson did not get a passing grade.
The former To Catch a Predator host gave Pattinson’s performance a D during a new episode of Have a Seat With Chris Hansen, escalating a public dispute over A24’s Primetime now that he has seen the finished film.
His most personal complaint concerned its depiction of him as a father. Hansen said the movie portrayed him as distant from his sons, calling that characterization a “cheap shot.” thewrap.com
The film opened nationwide September 25, but Hansen’s objections began well before opening weekend. After criticizing the trailers and saying filmmakers had not consulted him, he attended a crowded screening in New York’s Times Square and delivered his verdict.
“It was so bizarre and so in and out of reality,” he said in an Instagram video posted after the screening.
Hansen acknowledged that reviewing a movie about himself came with an obvious complication.
“Obviously, I’m not objective because the character is me,” he said, before arguing that the story bore little resemblance to his experience conducting investigations.
“I’m not sure what the point of it was.”
His full YouTube reaction with Jesse Watters is available here. The discussion goes beyond the initial outside-the-theater response quoted in earlier reports.
Hansen argued that the film exaggerated his work into a dark psychological drama. But he also stopped short of telling audiences to stay away, encouraging viewers to reach their own conclusions while stressing that he considered the portrayal fictionalized. Here’s What He Thought
Director Lance Oppenheim, meanwhile, has made clear that a conventional biography was never his goal.
In a release-day essay published by A24, Oppenheim described Primetime as a “fever dream” examining the different versions of Hansen’s public persona and the television operation surrounding him.
The director also revealed an unusual starting point for his fascination: a personalized Cameo video his wife bought from Hansen in March 2024.
According to Oppenheim, Hansen congratulated him on his documentary Spermworld, delivered his famous invitation to sit down and promoted his streaming projects. The combination of serious journalist and self-aware entertainer stayed with the filmmaker.
Oppenheim later showed the video to Pattinson and discovered the actor also knew the show. A script by Ajon Singh helped turn that fascination into a feature film. A24
That background helps explain the disagreement. Hansen is challenging the accuracy of a recognizable portrayal bearing his name. Oppenheim is presenting a stylized examination of television, ambition and celebrity.
A24’s official synopsis places the story in 2006, with Hansen pursuing television history. Pattinson leads a cast that includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo and Bokeem Woodbine. The studio’s film page includes promotional material and the trailer. A24
Even the dispute over an advance screening remains contested. Hansen claimed the agreement he was asked to sign would surrender rights to his name and image. TheWrap reported that a knowledgeable source described it as a standard confidentiality agreement intended to prevent spoilers, not a transfer of those rights.
Despite his complaints, Hansen praised Pattinson’s talent and gracious public comments. He also expressed uncertainty about pursuing legal action. thewrap.com
For audiences, the distinction matters: Primetime offers a filmmaker’s dramatized interpretation. Hansen’s newly released response provides the real-life subject’s sharply different account.
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