C prod Amazon Prime Video
With increasingly extravagant videos, this young creator has captivated a global audience, even producing an extraordinary reality show for Amazon Prime Video, the “Beast Games”. But behind the philanthropic and spectacular appearance of its content, lie deep questions about the nature of this entertainment model.
A simple start to a meteoric rise
MrBeast’s story begins like that of many YouTubers: a passionate young man, posting videos from his bedroom. Among his first attempts were absurd concepts like repeating “Pewdiepie” 10,000 times or watching a video on loop for 24 hours. This quirky and authentic style earned him the attention of the first subscribers.
Very quickly, Jimmy understood the power of more scripted and “spectacular” content. His videos turned into mind-blowing challenges: giving away millions of dollars, buying an island to give to a subscriber or distributing thousands of meals. Financed thanks to the massive monetization of this content by sponsors and sponsors, these videos have made MrBeast the most followed YouTuber in the world, with 340 million subscribers in 2024.
“Beast Games” : le point culminant
Released on Amazon Prime Video, “Beast Games” represents the apogee of this race to excess. This show, billed at more than $100 million, features 1,000 participants competing for a prize of $5 million. Inspired by concepts like Squid Gamethe program mixes physical and social challenges where alliances and sacrifices are crucial.
Despite impressive audience success, reaching first place in 87 countries, the program is deeply divisive. Critics denounce exploitation of the participants and a staging of human despair for entertainment. Some even speak of “unhealthy reality TV”, where suffering becomes a spectacle.
Between philanthropy and ultra-capitalism
MrBeast presents himself as a modern philanthropist. He has funded surgeries to restore sight to 1,000 people, planted 20 million trees and distributed millions in goods and services. But on closer inspection, these altruistic gestures are part of a hyper-capitalist business model. Each donation, each “charity” video generates immense income, which, after deducting production costs, largely benefits his company.
Many critics point out this dynamic where aid becomes a product and the people helped, “extras” in a lucrative spectacle. In the United States, where social inequalities are glaring, MrBeast’s individual charity is sometimes seen as a temporary palliative, diverting attention from systemic failures. Why celebrate a surgery financed by a YouTuber, when a public health system could guarantee access to it for all?
A reflection of human nature
“Beast Games” also offers a reflection on human nature. The participants, often from modest backgrounds, are pushed to their limits for an improbable gain. This format recalls the excesses of reality TV: opportunistic alliances, cruel eliminations, and a staging of despair.
The show is based on the survival instinct and greed, highlighting both resilience and human fragility. But how far can you go to entertain an audience? Stuart Heritage, journalist at the Guardian, is very critical and denounces “a dehumanizing voyeurism, where the “losers” are sacrificed for the pleasure of the spectators. »
The representation of an era
MrBeast embodies both the opportunity offered by online platforms and the excesses they encourage. Behind the spectacular donations and extravagant challenges, its content raises questions about our relationship to entertainment, money, and solidarity.
Should we celebrate MrBeast for his creativity and his positive impact on certain lives, or criticize a system that transforms human misery into a lucrative spectacle? Give us your opinion.
