Time Warner (TWX) is hoping that an intriguing partnership with Wal-Mart (WMT 0.59%) will help increase awareness and ticket sales for June's theatrical release of Man of Steel.
Wal-Mart will be the exclusive seller for advance screenings at 2,379 theaters that will take place the night before the film's June 14 release.
Time Warner will benefit by having Wal-Mart promote the film through its more than 3,700 stores. Time Warner should also get a boost months later when the Superman reboot hits the home video market. Wal-Mart ticket buyers will receive codes to preorder the Blu-ray, DVD, or digital download with exclusive additional content, and that's a move that should boost retail sales down the line.
Time Warner stock could use the boost. Yes, the shares hit an 11-year high last week, but the media giant's fundamentals could afford to be more Superman and less Clark Kent these days. Analysts see revenue growing at a mundane 4% clip this year and through 2014. A hit movie could move the needle.
Wal-Mart will naturally be a big winner, too. In this video, longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz goes over what both companies stand to gain in this win-win arrangement.
