To Catch a Predator was a reality TV show broadcast on NBC between 2004 and 2007, whose objective was to set traps for pedophiles who contacted minors on the internet and, when the time for a meeting came, surprise them with cameras, public exposure, and dramatic arrests. The format achieved huge audience success until one case got out of control and led to its cancellation. Yet the formula lived on, fueled by the expansion of the internet and a spectacle-driven culture.
Drawing from a personal trauma, director David Osit analyzes the series and its consequences: the psychological fallout, the social impact, and the moral contradictions at its core. Playing with its ethical ambiguity, the documentary—screened at Sundance and widely praised by critics—ultimately proves both forceful and reflective.
Credits
Year: 2025
Runtime: 96′
Country: USA
Direction: David Osit
Cast: Mark de Rond, Dani Jayden, Casey Mauro
Cinematography: David Osit
Subtitles: XXX
Genre: Documentary
Contact: The Film Collaborative
Wins & nominations
2025 | Sundance Film Festical
2025 | Critics’ Choice Awards | Nominated for Best Documentary True Crime
