Top YouTube creators like MrBeast, the Sidemen, and Jake Paul are making waves far beyond the internet. In 2024, they’ve launched hit shows, packed stadiums, and struck major deals with streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon. As digital creators step into traditional entertainment, they’re changing how shows are made, who stars in them, and where audiences go to watch.
From YouTube to Netflix and Amazon: Creators Break Into the Big Leagues
The Sidemen, a UK-based YouTube group with over 150 million total subscribers, have taken a major leap into the mainstream. Their reality series Inside launched its second season on Netflix this year. The platform was so impressed that it ordered a US version of the show.
But the group didn’t stop there. In a landmark moment, they filled London’s Wembley Stadium with 90,000 fans for a charity football match. The event featured other online icons, including MrBeast and Jake Paul, further showing the scale of YouTube’s cultural impact.
Meanwhile, MrBeast—whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson—continues to push boundaries. His Beast Games, a reality competition inspired by Squid Game, premiered on Amazon and quickly became the streaming giant’s biggest audience draw. Costing a record $100 million to produce, it is the most expensive reality series ever created. MrBeast has already confirmed sequels with even bigger budgets.
Streaming Platforms See Creators as the Future
The rise of creators in traditional media isn’t random—it’s a strategic move. As platforms like Netflix and Amazon search for younger audiences, YouTube stars bring them ready-made fanbases. These creators already command millions of views, and fans eagerly follow them across formats and platforms.
Jordan Schwarzenberger, manager of the Sidemen, explained, “Creators want to step up their production value, and they need platforms that can support that. YouTube remains the engine, but Netflix and Amazon are the natural next step.”
Ben Woods, a media analyst at MIDiA, agrees. “YouTube creators are now mainstream intellectual property. Their audiences are loyal, and that’s gold for any platform trying to grow.”
YouTube itself has become the most-watched platform on US smart TVs, surpassing mobile and traditional cable. Videos by top creators now cost more than $1 million each to produce, and the quality often matches or exceeds that of TV productions.
The Creator Economy Is Growing Fast
Between 2021 and 2023, YouTube paid over $70 billion to content creators. MrBeast alone reportedly made $85 million in 2023, not just through YouTube ads, but also from sponsorships, merchandise, and investments.
The Sidemen have built a business empire around their brand. They’ve launched fast-food chains, a vodka brand, and even a venture capital fund worth $25 million. Their success shows that creators are no longer just influencers—they’re entrepreneurs shaping the future of media.
MIDiA Research predicts the global creator economy will reach $64 billion by 2031. Nearly 700 million people worldwide already create content in some form, although only a small number break into the top tier.
Still, the path is now clearer than ever. “We’re the test case for how creators can enter TV and beyond,” says Schwarzenberger. “And we’re showing that it works.”
A Shift That’s Just Beginning
The line between online and traditional entertainment is disappearing. With their creativity, audience loyalty, and business savvy, YouTube creators are becoming the new faces of media.
Streaming platforms need content that connects with young people. Creators have exactly that. And as production values rise, fans will follow whether it’s on YouTube, Netflix, or Amazon.
MrBeast, the Sidemen, and Jake Paul are not just YouTubers anymore. They’re global entertainment brands.