YouTubers Dominate Netflix
25 March 2025 | Written by Parker Floris
YY: Sidemen Inside S1
How did YouTubers get on Netflix?
(Spoiler warning ahead)
Earlier this year, we saw Beast Games become the most successful unscripted show in Prime Video history. Now, the Sidemen—the world’s largest internet group—have brought the second season of their hit reality show Inside to Netflix.
Yes, YouTubers are now making Netflix shows. And they’re working!
What is Inside?
After a wildly successful first season that racked up over 53 million views, the Sidemen have levelled up. Season two of Inside is a Netflix-backed, high-stakes reality series that places 12 creators in a basement bunker for a full week to compete for a £1 million prize pool.
The cast includes a cross-Atlantic mix of British and American creators:
The format? Simple. If contestants failed challenges or made purchases from the in-game “Shop” (think: hot showers, upgraded meals, or foam dart blasters), the prize fund dropped. Every “temptation” cost the group—literally.
Jason, for instance, docked the prize fund by £30,000 just for the chance to play in the Sidemen Charity Match.
In the reunion episode, Cinna offered a powerful critique: many contestants saw the money as “monopoly money”—but “when you really come from nothing, you know the value of the dollar”.
Netflix: Inside (Cinna)
How does Inside Break the Reality Show Mould?
Most reality shows rely on unknown personalities and forced drama. Inside flips the script.
The Sidemen hand-picked creators whose personalities would resonate with their audience.
Simon Minter (Miniminter) explained on-stream that the aim was to ensure that every audience member knew at least someone.
This strategy created cross-pollination between fanbases, boosted social commentary, and built in real emotional stakes.
And it worked! Even with the Sidemen working hard to keep the cast a secret before launch, the internet figured it out. Dylan, for instance, uploaded a video on his page about going MIA from uploading for a week—and the comment section nailed exactly why.
Commentary was also provided by none other than Steven Tries, whose savage one-liners and comedic roasts have become a Sidemen staple. He brought the exact kind of unfiltered humour the show thrives on.
Streaming Meets … Streaming?
In a perfect irony, some contestants streamed Inside live on Twitch—with full permission. Streamers like Cinna and Jason broadcasted the episodes to their audiences, sidestepping the growing crackdown on TV show watchalongs by obtaining official clearance.
Netflix: Inside
Netflix vs YouTube: Why Make the Jump?
Having already received tens of millions of views on their channel, why would the Sidemen move Inside to Netflix?
1. Legitimacy
Landing a show on Netflix still signals prestige. It’s a high-barrier platform—and even if your YouTube views rival TV ratings, the move offers mainstream validation for your brand and production capabilities.
2. Funding
Netflix can bankroll big projects. MrBeast’s reported $100M deal with Prime proves that platforms are willing to invest heavily in creator-led content. The Sidemen likely received a substantial budget to elevate Season 2 to Netflix scale.
3. Exposure
While the Sidemen’s audience will follow them anywhere, Netflix offers additional reach. The platform introduces them to global viewers who might never click on a YouTube video—but binge reality content by default. Plus, being categorised alongside mainstream titles boosts discoverability.
The Finale (And What’s Next)
By the final episode, the £1 million prize had dwindled to £293,672. The last three contestants—Cinna, Mya, and PK—faced off in a classic game of Split or Steal. The result? They all chose “Split,” taking home £97,891 each.
Immediately after the finale, KSI announced that the U.S. version of Inside is officially on the way.
Speaking to many creators in London, it is clear that even if you have a largely American audience, positioning yourself in the United States wields considerably greater results—financial, viewership and opportunities—than remaining exclusively in the UK.
So … Will Everyone Leave YouTube for Netflix?
It’s not about replacing YouTube—it’s about evolving past it. Netflix offers YouTubers scale, resources, and legitimacy, without losing creative control—as they have learnt to trust the projects creators can produce.
The creators who built their brands online are now entering the same rooms as legacy media giants—and doing it on their own terms.
The question isn’t whether creators belong on Netflix. It’s whether traditional media can keep up as creators dominate yet another medium.
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