The 50m reasons to pay attention to Beast Games

Amazon Prime Video’s new reality competition series, Beast Games, hosted by popular YouTuber MrBeast, is attracting significant attention, despite a range of criticisms regarding its production quality.

The series, which debuted recently, features 1,000 contestants, all competing for a whopping $5 million cash prize — a sum that MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, frequently highlights as the largest in entertainment history.

Set against extravagant backdrops including a bespoke city and a private island, the series draws inspiration from the Netflix dystopian hit, Squid Game. Contestants face various challenges in a warehouse turned war zone, complete with trap doors and a pirate ship equipped with cannons. The production has been noted for its ambitious scale, involving 1,107 cameras to capture the action. Despite its lavish presentation, critics note that the show suffers from poor visual quality, frenetic editing and an overwhelming sound design, often described as garish.

However, its primarily Gen Z audience don’t care. They have flocked to it in their tens of millions.

The reception of Beast Games has underscored a pivotal shift in the television landscape, particularly regarding the boundaries between YouTube content and traditional television. MrBeast’s YouTube videos, which typically run between 15 to 30 minutes and boast over 360 million subscribers, maintain a similar hyperbolic style, famous for outlandish scenarios that push the limits of entertainment. Nonetheless, the series has reportedly become Amazon Prime Video’s most-watched unscripted programme, accumulating 50 million viewers within its first 25 days of release and reaching the number one spot in 80 countries.

This surge in popularity raises questions about the future of television. The format, audience engagement and content delivery are evolving, contributing to debates about the definition of television itself in a digital age. In a critical landscape where streaming has largely taken the forefront, many audiences are turning to platforms like YouTube as their primary source of entertainment.

According to YouTube’s statistics, more people are now watching its content on televisions than on any other device, leading CEO Neal Mohan to suggest that “YouTube is the new television.” Over a billion hours of content were streamed on TV screens last year, indicating a fundamental shift in viewing habits.

The convergence of platforms and content styles does raise ethical considerations. A director from MrBeast’s team highlighted the impact of algorithm-driven content creation, stating to Time that “These algorithms are poisonous to humanity. They prioritise addictive, isolated experiences over ethical social design, all just for ads.” This sentiment echoes broader industry concerns regarding the prioritisation of viewer retention over artistic integrity and narrative depth, as entertainment becomes an increasingly commodified product.

Moreover, the “MrBeast-ification” of content exemplifies the blurring lines between entertainment, television and influencer culture. As traditional Hollywood grapples with its own challenges to attract viewers, the rise of reality shows like Beast Games illustrates the shifting ground, with streaming platforms mirroring the low-production aesthetic that is becoming synonymous with viral internet content.

Source: Noah Wire Services