Imagine: you walk up to an ATM, and instead of debiting money from your account, it offers to hand you 100 dollars absolutely free!
No loans, interest, fees, or unpleasant messages about an insufficient balance.
On the contrary β the ATM itself is ready to share money!
Sounds like science fiction? But the residents of Los Angeles have actually been given such an opportunity. 28 October 2026 β the start of the promotion. Los Angeles, USA.
An unusual bright green and pink ATM has appeared on the city streets, dispensing real money to people who manage to solve a special puzzle.
And the most interesting part β it's all completely legal!
True, there is one small difficulty: first you have to find the ATM.
Free money? So where's the catch?
The unusual promotion was organized by the film studio Amazon MGM Studios as part of an advertising campaign for a new film "How to Rob a Bank".
Instead of the usual advertising on buses, huge billboards, and endless trailers, the marketers came up with a completely different way to attract attention.
They decided to let people "rob" a special ATM themselves!
Without weapons, threats, hacking, or a subsequent acquaintance with the police, of course.
All that is required of participants is a bit of quick thinking, luck, and a readiness to run around the city.
From 28 October to 1 November, Los Angeles residents can take part in a kind of treasure hunt.
For this, the organizers created a special website, whoshungryla.com,where hints about the device's location are published.
Participants must register by providing their name and email address, receive information about the PIN code, and figure out where the ATM is located.
Then all that's left is to get to the right place, enter the correct combination, and hope the prizes haven't run out yet.
At long last, there's an ATM where what matters most isn't having money on your card, but how fast you can get around the city! π
How much can you get?
Of course, the organizers aren't planning to hand out millions of dollars to everyone who wants some.
The prize fund is limited.
The promotion includes ten cash prizes of 100 dollars, as well as movie tickets and certificates for food and drinks at movie theaters.
The gifts are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Moreover, each participant can claim only one prize during the promotion.
So turning an advertising campaign into a full-fledged source of steady income won't work.
Though the idea, you must admit, is tempting.
Imagine walking into a bank and saying:
"Hello! I'd like to withdraw some money."
"How much?"
"One hundred dollars."
"From your account?"
"No, from yours!"
And the most amazing part is that they actually give it to you! π€£
But why is there a man in a wolf mask standing next to the ATM?
And this is where an even more interesting part of the story begins.
In photographs and video recordings of the unusual device, you can notice a man in a wolf mask standing nearby.
He is holding a sign with the address of the website where hints for participants are published.
A wolf is also depicted on the ATM itself.
This is no coincidence.
In the new film "How to Rob a Bank," the main characters are a group of young robbers who don't just commit robberies but turn them into a veritable internet show.
They film their crimes, post the recordings on social media, and gradually become real celebrities.
At the same time, they hide their faces under animal masks.
Their popularity grows, but along with it, the attention of law enforcement intensifies.
At some point, an experienced FBI agent and a talented software specialist begin hunting the group.
That is precisely why the advertising campaign is built in the format of a game in which participants must find hints, crack codes, and hunt for money.
The result is a kind of school for budding robbersβonly instead of a criminal case, the winners are given one hundred dollars each! π
What is known about the new film?
The director of the picture was David Leitch, known for the films "Deadpool 2," "Bullet Train," "Atomic Blonde," and "The Fall Guy."
And that means viewers should expect spectacular action, impressive stunts, and a considerable dose of humor.
The lead roles were played by Nicholas Hoult, ZoΓ« Kravitz, Pete Davidson, Anna Sawai, Christian Slater, and John C. Reilly.
The screenplay was written by Mark Bianculli.
The worldwide release is scheduled for 13 November 2026.
And judging by the unusual advertising campaign, the creators clearly have no intention of limiting themselves to traditional methods of promotion.
An ATM that advertises the film better than any trailer
The most curious part of this story is the very approach to advertising.
Nowadays it is quite difficult for a person to attract attention with yet another movie poster or promotional video.
But if an ATM appears on the street that is ready to dispense money absolutely for free, the situation changes instantly!
People start photographing the device, sharing hints, discussing the rules, and looking for new places where it appears.
Some come for the money.
Others out of curiosity.
Still others simply to take an unusual photo.
And as a result, all of them become participants in the advertising campaign.
What's more, they advertise the film entirely of their own free will!
Perhaps this is one of the rare cases when viewers are genuinely glad that advertisers decided to spend money on them.
Usually, after all, everything happens the other way around.
But what if other companies start using advertising like this?
Imagine that others follow the example of Hollywood marketers.
Advertising a new restaurant?
Machines that dispense hamburgers for free appear all over the city.
A film about a luxurious life is coming out?
Devices that hand out gift certificates for expensive hotels are being installed on the streets.
And what if they're making a film about millionaires?
Well, in that case one would want to get not a hundred dollars, of course, but at least a hundred thousand!
True, judging by current prices, even a million dollars would still be hard to find.
And yet the idea is wonderful.
After all, usually after watching an advertisement a person feels a desire to spend money.
But here it's the other way around: after encountering the advertisement, they get a chance to receive it!
One can only hope that this advertising fashion catches on.
And that one fine day an ordinary ATM will also offer us a game like that.
Although, most likely, the dialogue will go something like this:
β Enter your PIN code.
β 1234.
β Congratulations! You guessed right!
β And now what?
β Now we'll charge you a participation fee! π€£
All in all, Hollywood has finally come up with an advertisement that viewers don't run away from, but on the contrary β run toward with all their might! π΅π
