“Predators,” a look into the rise and fall of the pedophile-baiting series “To Catch a Predator,” has sold to MTV Documentary Films following its debut at Sundance.

David Osit directed and produced the documentary, revolving around the hidden-camera reality TV show that ran on NBC from 2004-2007. On the “Dateline” spinoff series, journalist Chris Hansen worked in coordination with law enforcement while conducting sting operations that exposed adult men who were hoping to have sex with minors. The film raises questions about ethical lines in journalism as well as the public’s obsession true-crime stories.

MTV Documentary Films will release the film theatrically this fall. In a release announcing its purchase, the company said it plans “an aggressive awards campaign.” The movie will then stream on Paramount+ with Showtime. 

“I’m thrilled to work with MTV Documentary Films and am humbled to have ‘Predators’ included in their excellent slate of award-winning, incisive and thoughtful nonfiction programming,” said Osit. “I’m so glad that MTV Documentary Films is also committed to a theatrical release for this film, as I created ‘Predators’ with the intent of imparting an unexpectedly moving and shocking cinematic experience to audiences. I’m beyond excited that we’ll be able to share this film around the world.”

Reviews out of Sundance were overwhelmingly positive, with Variety’s Guy Lodge writing that “Osit’s brilliant, subtly needling film leaves us unnerved and alert, but not certain of our convictions — an outcome, perhaps, that more true-crime programming should pursue.”

In an interview with Variety, Osit referred “To Catch a Predator” as the “template for modern true crime TV.” In the decades since Hansen’s sting operations captivated the nation (for better or worse), the formula has popularized an endless stream of movies, documentaries, TV series and podcasts.

“It is the dominant medium, and I think we never have quite understood why it has the hold on us that it does,” Osit said. “A lot of those programs paint the world in Biblical terms. There is black and there is white. I’m more interested in seeing it as gray.”

In addition to directing, Osit produced, edited and filmed the movie. Jamie Gonçalves and Kellen Quinn produced the movie with Osit, whil Nicolás Nørgaard Staffolani also served as editor. The film was executive produced by Jennifer Ollman and co-executive produced by Arthur Bradford and Chad Beck. The film is presented by Sweet Relief Productions in association with Rosewater Pictures.

Overall, this year’s Sundance market was glacial with just a few movies — “Perfect Neighbor,” “Train Dreams” and “Sorry Baby” among them — scoring distribution out of Park City in the days following the festival. “Predators” was seen as one of the most commercial documentaries at Sundance.

“’Predators’ completely blew us away – chilling, riveting and stunningly revealing,” said Nina L. Diaz and Liza Burnett Fefferman, Co-Heads, MTV Documentary Films. “David, Jamie and Kellen have done a masterful job exposing the underbelly and ethical complexities around one of the most watched news shows on television.”

MTV Documentary Films recently earned two Academy Award nominations for thedocumentary feature “Black Box Diaries,” and the short “I am Ready, Warden.” Other releases include “Last Flight Home” and “The Eternal Memory,” which were also Oscar nominated.

Cinetic Media negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers with Lance McPherson representing MTV Documentary Films in the talks.