A24 thriller Primetime banned from Malaysian cinemas

Published: Oct 6, 2026 5:32 PM


Psychological thriller “Primetime” will not hit Malaysian cinemas after the Film Censorship Board prohibited its local release


The film’s distributor, Antenna Entertainment, confirmed the directive on X today, expressing regret to moviegoers who had been looking forward to seeing it.

“Unfortunately, the film has been banned by the Film Censorship Board.

“We sincerely apologise for any disappointment and thank everyone for your support and interest in Primetime,” the distributor said.


Cinema chain Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) also confirmed the cancellation on X, notifying moviegoers that the film would no longer be screened locally.


Neither Antenna nor GSC disclosed the reason for the ban, while the Film Censorship Board has yet to issue a public statement explaining the decision.

The movie was initially slated for release in Malaysia on Oct 1, before being postponed to Oct 8 and eventually cancelled.

Primetime is a psychological thriller from A24, the studio behind box office hits “Hereditary”, “Midsommar”, and “Everything Everywhere All at Once”.


The film, which marks director Lance Oppenheim’s narrative feature debut, is inspired by television host Chris Hansen and his controversial reality television series “To Catch a Predator”.

Starring Robert Pattinson in the leading role, it follows the host’s pursuit of a career-defining television story as he and his team use hidden cameras and decoys to confront men suspected of seeking sexual encounters with minors.


The film has received glowing reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives it an 86 percent critics’ score, while its audience score stands at 78 percent.


Critics have particularly praised Pattinson’s performance and the film’s stylised approach to examining the line between journalism, entertainment, and justice.

It premiered at the 78th Venice Film Festival and received a wide theatrical release in the United States on Sept 25.