If Jackass, Survivor and Kitchen Nightmares produced a reality TV child, the resulting cataclysm might be this bizarre reality spoof. The video consists of a group of contestants, undertaking a series of quests in order to win a “Chocolate Factory.”
Garnering more than 40 million views in under 48 hours, this quirky salute to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, created by Mr Beast is actually a big-budget production. it gives us impressive set design, big prize giveaways, a lot of very dopey contestants, and a surprise appearance from Gordon Ramsay!
What is the Video About?
Contestants participate in a variety of challenges, with a loser eliminated from each round. It’s set in a ‘chocolate factory,’ with each challenge involving a candy-related theme. For example, in one round, contestants must throw giant menthol candy into a bottle of coke a cola the size of a small building. The first one to get it in wins that round. Another round features a room full of toilets, one of which is actually a cake built to look like a toilet. Whoever sits on the cake toilet, loses. Each round is very interactive, with Mr Beast playing Willie Wonka. And all his ‘Oompa Loompas,’ constantly heckling the contestants. The ultimate winner at the end of all the challenges wins ‘the chocolate factory.’
The video is shot in such a raw, eclectic way. As a newcomer to the Mr Beast Youtube series, I had to do a double-take before I realised the whole thing was legitimate. The winner of this bizarre set of challenges really does take away $500,000USD in prizes!
So Who is Mr Beast?
Jimmy ‘Mr Beast’ Donaldson, is one of the most famous YouTubers globally. He was even declared as the highest-earning YouTuber of 2021 by Forbes. He started making videos at the age of 12. Before he turned 19, his was channel receiving 122 million views a year. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of YouTube videos. And his empire is built on videos which feature elaborate pranks and eye-popping giveaways.
As of 2022, Mr Beast reportedly earns between three to five million dollars per month, according to the YouTube analytics service SocialBlade. However, his total net worth is not known; as he reinvests a huge amount of revenue into each new project. In fact, production on each of his videos starts from $300,000 USD. The highest cost of any video he’s ever produced is 3.5 million USD.
In January, Mr Beast launched Feastables, a line of chocolate bars. This Willy Wonka-esque “Win MrBeast’s Chocolate Factory” doubles as a promo. This is a clever and major tool in promoting the new merchandise. FIB estimates the cost of the “Willy Wonka Video,” factoring in prize money, set design, and celebrity cameos, to cost around 1.5 million USD to create.
Why Are These Types of Videos Becoming So Popular?
It might be that a vast amount of viewers appreciate the raw quality of these reality shows. They are fun and feature relatable geeks. The production also has quick pacing, helping to hold the attention span of the average Youtube patron. Unlike big-budget reality shows such as “Survivor”, Mr Beast videos lack the over-manufactured feel of a reality show, which is good.
Youtube content is starting to overtake the predictable series churned out by Network Television. These days, people want more sincere content. People are really responding to the gritty, ‘real,’ undertones of reality spoofs such as this. It makes sense that they identify with the players Mr Beast’s videos, because they actually feel relatable. This is apparent not only in each video’s enormous popularity but also by perusing the innumerable comment section below each video.
In a world where the youth of today tune in to Youtube more frequently than to the major television networks, self-made productions such as this will undoubtedly continue to grow in popularity.
You can watch the full video here:
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