Following bans of major offenders like Screen Culture and KH Studio, YouTube has demonetized channels producing deceptive AI-generated fake movie trailers, as revealed by a Deadline investigation. Studios including Warner Bros., Sony, and Paramount have surprisingly claimed ad revenue from some fakes rather than issuing copyright strikes, prioritizing profits over enforcement.
The fake movie trailer phenomenon on YouTube has evolved from fan parodies to a deceptive, revenue-driven industry powered by AI. Early harmless efforts, like comedic fan videos, have given way to sophisticated fakes targeting popular franchises such as Marvel, Star Wars, The Last of Us, and more, misleading viewers with low media literacy.
AI tools enable rapid creation of fabricated footage and stitched clips. Channels like Screen Culture (1.4M subscribers since 2018) and others were demonetized in late March 2025 after Deadline's probe exposed their 'official' or 'concept' labeled fakes, such as a Legend of Zelda trailer fancasting Tom Holland and Anya Taylor-Joy using clips from other films. Despite demonetization, channels persisted until further violations led to terminations.
Deceptive tactics include burying 'parody' disclaimers in descriptions. A major revelation: Hollywood studios opted for ad shares over strikes. Warner Bros. Discovery monetized Superman and House of the Dragon fakes; Sony on Spider-Man titles; Paramount on Gladiator II counterfeits. Reviewed emails show studios avoiding bans (triggered after three strikes in 90 days), with no comment provided.
This risks fan confusion and IP harm, though some executives see buzz as positive. YouTube's steps—from demonetization to bans—represent an initial crackdown, but calls grow for stricter measures like automatic channel shutdowns in the AI content era.