In a bold and cinematic move, Cash App has revealed award-winning actor Timothée Chalamet as its latest brand collaborator, marking his first-ever partnership with a financial services platform.
The collaboration was unveiled through a film-inspired commercial spot that is anything but conventional. Directed by Aidan Zamiri, best known for his work with brat star Charli XCX and written by Eijah Bynum, who has previously worked with Chalamet on Hot Summer Nights. The short offers a glimpse into opposing intergenerational views around money, particularly amongst families, with Chalamet unwittingly bridging the divide between a father and son.
Cash App is no stranger to the entertainment space, and this latest effort follows high-profile collaborations with Ramy Youself, pgLang x Doechi, and Jackson Tisi x Shaboozey. These collaborations are all part of a broader strategy to position the brand at the intersection of culture, creativity, and financial access. In an unconventional move, the commercial will be shown in movie theatres across the U.S., airing before blockbuster hits such as Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This strategic placement of the film is designed to spark organic buzz and capture the attention of Gen-Z, millennials, teens, and families all in the same place.
The brand directly engaged with Timothee’s fandom on social media by surprising select individuals with $25 to go and see a movie, and in turn, be one of the first to see the new commercial spot. Recipients were picked based on their excitement and FOMO in missing the commercial spot, and fan reactions flooded in on X:
“iconic!! cash app doesn’t play about timmy! we need that commercial playing in every theater this summer! 😂”
“It feels like Timmy isn’t just involved in a simple commercial — it’s like he’s actually giving creative advice to Cash App.”
“am i about to pay $20 for a ticket to see the new superman movie just to watch a timothee chalamet cash app ad ?? oh absolutely.”
Cash App shows a fan-first activation that reflects Cash App’s unique ability to tap into social media trends and transform brand campaigns into shared events with fans.
