Warner Bros. Pictures mounts a tie-in with artificial intelligence service ChatGPT promoting “Supergirl” that also enable moviegoers to directly buy cinema tickets (ChatGPT screen movie grab above). Online ticketer Fandango is part of the promotion.
A press release hails the marketing initiative as a “first-of-its-kind ticketing promotion.” AI is washing across film marketing, mainly as a tool to quickly analyze data, particularly pulling threads together from diffuse fan conversations online.
For “Supergirl,” Warner Bros. Pictures executive VP-digital marketing Cameron Curtis says in an announcement: “As search evolves, we’re focused on meeting fans where they are — and now, where they buy.”
Says Fandango SVP Marketing & Partnerships Claire Ripsteen in the same press release: “We’re striving to remove friction between excitement and action, enabling fans to seamlessly find showtimes, explore theaters near them, and purchase tickets in just a few steps.”
The PG-13-rated “Supergirl” opens in domestic cinemas June 26, two days after some overseas premieres. The movie adapts the comic book intellectual property of Warner corporate sibling DC Studios, which is trying to become as potent as Walt Disney’s Marvel Comics. The “Supergirl” live-action movie reportedly cost $175 million to make, which makes it a big-budget release.
ChatGPT is part of OpenAI, which is the giant AI startup that has raised billions of dollars and has Microsoft is a big investor. Ticketing-service Fandango is owned by Versant, which operates cable TV networks.
Once in ChatGPT, users are prompted with questions to delve in deeper. The AI prompts include: “If you’d like, I can also help find showtimes near [CITY NAME] or explain how this movie connects to the new DC Universe continuity.” Another ChatGPT prompt asks users: “If you’d like, I can also help you find the best theater near [CITY AGAIN] and compare IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and standard showtimes.”
The prompts seem a little contrived, but AI is a nascent technology so it’s early days. Certainly, users can branch out with questions taking the AI conversation in any direction.
Expect ChatGPT to step up Hollywood interactions after its parent hired promotion executive Charlie Porch three months ago from Instagram. The AI platform says in a post: “At OpenAI [and ChatGPT], he’ll act as a bridge between AI and the creative class, working with talent, studios, and creators across film, music, fashion, and sports.”
Film promotions with consumer goods/service outfits usually evoke McDonald’s Happy Meals for kids, cars (like Lexus for “Wicked: For Good”) and Forever 21 (tied to the “Barbie” blockbuster). So, AI is a newish entrant in film promotions that is ideal because is suited to provide information and directly facilitate ticket purchases.
Tech services are regulars on the film promotion circuit. For example, Google, Meta, Enterprise, Dolby, LG, Amazon and Dell were tie-in partners in 2025 with Disney’s “Avatar: Way of Water.” McAfee online protection aligned with “TRON: Ares,” another Disney release from 2025.
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