YouTube sensation MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, is no stranger to success. From groundbreaking charity challenges to viral stunts, he’s built an empire. However, his latest venture, the reality show ‘Beast Games’, has not been met with the warm reception he might have expected. Released on Amazon Prime Video in December 2024, the series was initially hailed as a monumental success, but recent reviews reveal a sharp decline in audience approval. What went wrong with MrBeast’s ambitious reality TV project?
What is ‘Beast Games’?
Before diving into the criticism, let’s break down the concept behind ‘Beast Games’. Hosted by MrBeast, the show features 1,000 contestants competing through intense and high-stakes challenges for a $5 million cash prize. The show is structured similarly to traditional reality competitions but with an extreme twist: each episode presents more elaborate and often dangerous tests of skill, endurance, and strategy.
- The Premise: 1,000 contestants, one winner, and a cash prize worth millions.
- The Format: A weekly release of 10 episodes on Amazon Prime Video.
- The Host: MrBeast, the world-renowned YouTube star with over 341 million subscribers.
- The Prize: A whopping $5 million, making it one of the largest reality competition rewards.
Despite this tantalising premise, the reality of the show has fallen flat with many critics and viewers.
MrBeast’s Unprecedented Popularity and The Fall of ‘Beast Games’
MrBeast’s appeal lies in his extraordinary ability to give away life-changing sums of money in viral videos. His massive YouTube following has made him a household name, and it seemed like his transition into a full-blown reality series would be a guaranteed hit. In fact, the first episodes of ‘Beast Games’ initially attracted millions of views and positive reviews, cementing its early success. However, things have since taken a downward turn.
By January 2025, critical reviews for ‘Beast Games’ were plummeting. The early excitement quickly gave way to complaints about its lack of originality, unintentionally harmful messaging, and superficial entertainment value.
Why Are Critics Turning Against MrBeast’s Reality Show?
To understand the disappointment surrounding the show, let’s explore the main reasons why Beast Games is facing mounting criticism.
1. Unoriginality: Squid Game Comparisons
One of the most common critiques of ‘Beast Games’ is how closely it resembles Squid Game, the global hit K-drama that captivated millions. Critics have pointed out the striking similarities in both format and tone. From large-scale challenges that resemble life-or-death scenarios to the hyper-competitive atmosphere, the comparisons are unavoidable.
- Squid Game featured intense games with high stakes, where losing could mean literal death.
- Beast Games, on the other hand, offers huge sums of money as the prize but with challenges that feel more like cheap imitations of a popular formula.
The lack of originality has led many to label the series as unimaginative and derivative, with no fresh ideas of its own.
2. Shallow, Excessive Drama
While audiences might enjoy a bit of drama in reality shows, ‘Beast Games’ takes it to another level. Critics have complained about the show’s heavy reliance on unnecessary drama, petty rivalries, and backstabbing for the sake of entertainment. Rather than focusing on exciting or innovative challenges, the show seems more interested in highlighting contestants’ emotional meltdowns and conflicts.
- Audience Disconnect: Many viewers, particularly in these tough economic times, don’t find the constant focus on greed and competition to be entertaining. With so many struggling to pay rent and buy groceries, watching people compete over a $5 million prize feels out of touch with reality.
3. Exploitation of Contestants
Another major issue raised by critics and viewers is the alleged exploitation of contestants. Multiple claims of physical and mental mistreatment during the filming surfaced when several contestants filed lawsuits against MrBeast. Allegations of hostile working conditions, particularly for female participants, have tarnished the show’s reputation.
MrBeast has responded to these claims, stating they were “blown out of proportion”, but the accusations still haunt the series.
4. Monetary Focus Over Meaningful Content
Critics have pointed out that ‘Beast Games’ places too much emphasis on the financial prize and not enough on meaningful moments or personal stories. Unlike other reality shows that balance competition with character development, Beast Games feels like a glorified game of “who can outsmart and outlast everyone for the money.” In times of social unrest, this focus on extreme wealth feels tone-deaf.
What Are the Reviews Saying? A Breakdown
Let’s break down some of the major reviews from critics and audiences:
IMDB
- Current Rating: 5.3/10, a sharp drop from its original score of 7/10.
- Critics’ Feedback: Many IMDB users have compared the show unfavourably to Squid Game. The competition-heavy format and emphasis on money left many viewers disillusioned, especially during a period of economic hardship.
Rotten Tomatoes
- Tomatometer Score: 13/100% (critics)
- Audience Score: 63/100% (audience)
- Critics have deemed the show “rotten,” citing its lack of substance and reliance on shock value.
The Guardian
- Rating: 2/5 Stars
- Review Summary: The Guardian’s Stuart Heritage called it “undignified” and criticized its Squid Game-like themes. He felt that it was a show built entirely to showcase the worst in human nature, with little regard for actual entertainment.
IGN
- Rating: Negative
- Review Summary: IGN’s Chase Hutchinson was blunt: “MrBeast may be big on YouTube, but his Prime Video show Beast Games is a bust.” The review criticised the lack of originality and the uncharismatic hosting of MrBeast himself.
Metacritic
- Score: 38/100 (Critics)
- The review summary describes ‘Beast Games’ as “generally unfavorable” with the user score lagging at 3.7/10.
Final Thoughts: Is There Hope for ‘Beast Games’?
It’s still early in the game for ‘Beast Games’. With more episodes scheduled for release in 2025, it’s possible that MrBeast can address the concerns raised by critics and shift the narrative. However, as of now, the series seems to be faltering with dwindling ratings, growing backlash, and allegations hanging over its head.
If MrBeast hopes to recover from this critical failure, he may need to rethink his approach to entertainment, focusing more on creativity, empathy, and originality. For now, it seems like ‘Beast Games’ might be a costly lesson in the limitations of just throwing money at a formulaic reality show.
Relevant links for further reading
- MrBeast’s Official Website
- Amazon Prime Video – Beast Games
- Squid Game – Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes
- Metacritic
Photo credit: Deadline
