A24’s ‘Primetime’ Earns $2.7 Million in Previews as Robert Pattinson’s Creepy Chris Hansen Scores at the Box Office — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- A24's "Primetime" earned $2.7 million in Thursday previews and is on pace for a $16-20 million opening against a $15 million production budget.
- Robert Pattinson plays "To Catch a Predator" host Chris Hansen in the film and has earned some of the best reviews of his career for the role.
- Chris Hansen publicly condemned the film as "identity theft," though the article notes he slammed it sight unseen.
- Brad Pitt's "Heart of the Beast" trailed with just $2 million in previews against an $82 million budget, leaving it reliant on older audiences and word-of-mouth beyond opening weekend.
- "Avengers: Endgame Encore" topped Thursday previews with $3.8 million and is expected to lead the weekend at $25-28 million, while Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil" reboot is projected at $24-26 million in its second frame.
- A24 ended blockbuster season with $237 million in summer grosses, outpacing Paramount ($192 million) and Warner Bros. ($165 million), led by its biggest-ever hit "Backrooms."
- Paramount, now under David Ellison since his 2025 acquisition, has grown more conservative with marketing spending, a regime change that could compound the stakes for "Heart of the Beast."
Why it matters: A lean $15 million budget yielding a $16-20 million opening would extend A24's run as the summer's most efficient box-office performer, beating the combined grosses of Paramount and Warner Bros. Meanwhile, David Ellison's cost-conscious Paramount now faces the challenge of recouping an $82 million Brad Pitt film on tighter marketing—giving "Primetime" a structural advantage beyond the reviews.
Ask SkimNews
