MrBeast’s ‘Beast Games’ Breaks Records as Amazon’s Most-Watched Unscripted Series

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – “Beast Games,” the reality-competition series hosted by YouTube sensation MrBeast, has become Amazon Prime Video‘s most-watched unscripted series ever, reaching 50 million viewers within 25 days of its Dec. 19 premiere. The show, co-created by Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, pits 1,000 contestants against each other in a series of high-stakes challenges for a $5 million grand prize.

The series, which blends over-the-top spectacle with intense competition, has drawn comparisons to Netflix‘s “Squid Game” for its dystopian aesthetic and large-scale challenges. Contestants, dressed in blue tracksuits and identified by serial numbers, face off in games ranging from trivia to physical endurance tests, all while being watched by hooded guards. The show’s production values are as extravagant as its premise, featuring a private Panamanian island, a Lamborghini, and even a “real pirate ship” with cannons.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is no stranger to grandiosity. With 344 million YouTube subscribers and annual revenues reportedly between $600 and $700 million, the 26-year-old has built a career on viral stunts and charitable acts. “Beast Games” marks his first foray into television, but it retains the same high-energy, high-stakes formula that has made him a Gen Z and Gen Alpha icon.

“What you are witnessing is real,” Donaldson declares in the show’s opening episode. “This is bigger than anything you can even imagine.” The series’ appeal lies in its sheer scale and the desperation of its contestants, many of whom are motivated by personal hardships. “I will die for this. I will die for five million dollars,” one competitor declares, highlighting the life-changing stakes at play.

Despite its record-breaking viewership, the show has drawn criticism for its lack of character development. With hundreds of contestants competing simultaneously, many are reduced to mere numbers, making it difficult for viewers to form emotional connections. “They literally look like ants,” Donaldson remarks at one point, underscoring the show’s focus on spectacle over individuality.

Internationally, “Beast Games” has performed exceptionally well, with 50% of its audience coming from outside the United States. Countries like India, the U.K., and Mexico have shown particularly strong viewership, contributing to its status as Amazon’s second-most acquisitive series of 2024, behind only “Fallout.”

Co-creators Sean Klitzner, Tyler Conklin, and Mack Hopkins, along with executive producers Michael Cruz, Matt Apps, and others, have crafted a show that thrives on excess and competition. Whether it’s the towering pyramid of cash or the sudden elimination of contestants through trap doors, “Beast Games” leaves little to the imagination. As Donaldson puts it, “Nothing need be imagined ever again.”