Robert Pattinson Gets Seven-Minute Standing Ovation for ‘Primetime’ in Venice

VENICE — Robert Pattinson received a huge response at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday as his new film Primetime premiered in competition and earned a seven-minute standing ovation.

The actor plays television host Chris Hansen in the A24 film, which dramatizes the making of the popular To Catch a Predator series. Pattinson’s performance drew strong applause from the packed audience, with fans also cheering director Lance Oppenheim and singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, who makes her acting debut in the movie.

Among Pattinson’s biggest supporters was his partner, Suki Waterhouse. As the applause continued after the credits, Waterhouse leaned forward from her seat and kissed Pattinson.

The crowd outside the Palazzo del Cinema was equally enthusiastic. Large groups of fans gathered under the intense Venice heat, repeatedly chanting, “Robert! Robert! Robert!” Pattinson, Bridgers and co-star Skyler Gisondo spent time signing autographs and taking selfies with fans.

Primetime is inspired by Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article, “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die.” The film focuses on the production of To Catch a Predator, the controversial television series in which Hansen confronted suspected child sexual predators during undercover sting operations.

Oppenheim, known for documentaries including Some Kind of Heaven and HBO’s Ren Faire, makes his feature-film debut with Primetime. The movie is competing for Venice’s prestigious Golden Lion.

Chris Hansen Questions the Film

The real-life Chris Hansen has criticized the project, saying he was not involved in its creative development and had not seen the finished film.

Hansen has said Pattinson’s portrayal is too dramatic and does not accurately represent him. He has also emphasized that the movie should not be treated as a factual account of his career.

“He’s saying things I never said and doing things I never did, and that’s not who I am,” Hansen previously said. “I think people should remember that it is a work of fiction, only based on real-life events.”

Pattinson addressed Hansen’s reaction during a press conference on Saturday, saying he hopes the television host will appreciate the film after seeing it.

“Obviously, I hope he likes the movie,” Pattinson said, adding that Hansen has had an “electrifying” presence and has inspired many people over the years.

A Busy Year for Pattinson

Primetime arrives during an especially busy period for Pattinson. The actor has also appeared in The Drama and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, while Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part III is also on his upcoming slate.

Pattinson traveled to Venice from London, where he is filming The Batman: Part II. He is returning as Bruce Wayne, the billionaire who becomes Gotham City’s Batman.

During the press conference, Pattinson also joked about balancing his demanding work schedule with life as a new father.

“When you get the momentum going, it’s strangely not that hard,” he said. He added jokingly that having a baby gave him less reason to go out at night and therefore “twice as much time” to work.

With its strong Venice debut, a high-profile cast and Pattinson at the center of the story, Primetime has quickly become one of the festival’s major talking points.