Why Primetime Makes A Perfect, Disturbing Double Feature With This Streaming Doc

"Primetime" is a frequently funny but ultimately bleak look at the phenomenon that was "To Catch a Predator," with Robert Pattinson delivering an unhinged turn as host Chris Hansen. If you somehow missed the "Predator" era, it was a reality TV show in which suspected pedophiles were lured to locations by decoys posing as minors. The implications were clear: these suspects were showing up assuming they were about to engage with sex (rape, to be more specific) with children. Instead, they were confronted by Hansen, who asked them to explain themselves before telling them they were free to leave. At that point, local police, working with the show, would swarm in and take the suspect into custody.

This is not exactly lighthearted, feel-good material, but "To Catch a Predator" became a huge hit and a pop culture touchstone. "Primetime" is making the somewhat bold claim that maybe, just maybe, the show wasn't such a good thing. This is a controversial statement to some, since many believe the show was doing a public service by outing potential pedophiles. But, as "Primetime" suggests, the show occupied a morally dubious area and Hansen and his crew were more interested in sensationalism and ratings than anything resembling justice.

"Primetime" isn't the first movie to take this approach. Last year, David Osit's excellent, disturbing documentary "Predators" covered similar ground, although the doc is more reflective and introspective than "Primetime." But if "Primetime" has you wanting to delve more into this topic, you can and should stream "Predators" on Paramount+ right now.

"Predators" is not an easy watch. Not only does Osit look at "To Catch a Predator," he also examines modern-day imitators who have stolen the "To Catch a Predator" formula for amature "predator hunter" videos on YouTube. Whatever you think of "To Catch a Predator," that show at least worked with local law enforcement, while these YouTube imitators are basically working solo as vigilantes. It's all rather gross.

But again, the very nature of criticizing this stuff leads some to get defensive and proclaim that movies like "Predators" and "Primetime" are trying to defend child predators. "Primetime" is definitely not taking this approach — it portrays the predators are gross buffoons. "Predators" is a little more empathetic, but not sympathetic.

"This film is not about is it wrong to catch child predators," Osit said in a 2025 interview. "I'm certainly not making a defense of child predators. I never would. That's not the point. The point is that gray area shifted slowly, slowly, slowly to the point where how are we going to treat these men and what's going to happen to them is linked to how much are we entertained by it."

Ultimately, while "Primetime" and "Predators" are covering similar ground, they're also different in their approaches. "Predators" is far more thoughtful and subtle, while "Primetime" wants to hit you over the head with a sledgehammer. Both are worth watching.