Chris Hansen Calls A24's Primetime "Detached From Reality" After Seeing It in Theaters

A24’s new film Primetime takes on the 2006 rise of To Catch a Predator, with Robert Pattinson stepping into the role of Chris Hansen. But when the real Hansen finally saw the movie in theaters, he didn’t hold back. In an Instagram video, he called it“so bizarre and so in-and-out of reality,”saying it felt“detached from reality or anything I’ve experienced then or now doing the investigations.”

Part of the story is how he ended up watching it in the first place. A24 offered an advance screening, but Hansen declined because he refused to sign the NDA the studio required, which Variety noted is standard practice. Instead, he bought a ticket like everyone else, then went a step further and purchased pre-show ads at Primetime screenings to promote his own streaming network. He even shared a screenshot of a negative viewer review on his Instagram story.

Hansen expanded on his reaction across his podcast and YouTube channel, Have A Seat With Chris Hansen, making it clear he has plenty to say about how Hollywood handled his story. It’s the latest example of the tension between true-crime adaptations and the real people at the center of them. So here’s the question: if a studio made a movie about your life, would you sign the NDA to see it early, or wait and buy a ticket like Hansen did?