YouTube Red (now Premium) introduced exclusive originals to justify its $10/month fee. But are they worth it? As someone outside the YouTube creator scene, I watched the first batch—Lazer Team, A Trip to Unicorn Island, Dance Camp, and Scare PewDiePie—to give you an impartial take.
Note: I'm not immersed in YouTube culture. I don't follow these stars, which keeps my perspective fresh and unbiased.
I went into Lazer Team blind, with only faint memories of Rooster Teeth's Red vs. Blue from 2003. I was surprised by the production quality—it looks and feels like a real feature film. Available in Ultra HD 4K, it's packed with effects that rival some theatrical releases. The score and visuals suggest it would shine in 3D. 7 Incredible 3D Movies That Are Actually Worth Watching In 3D
The story blends teen comedy and superhero tropes, echoing The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy. Performances are solid, though characters and jokes feel familiar. At 90 minutes, it drags slightly—a trim of 10-15 minutes would tighten it. Still, a pleasant surprise for a YouTube original.
Score: 7/10
Lilly Singh was new to me—I know old-school names like NigaHiga or Jenna Marbles. This doc assumes you're a fan, offering little insight into her appeal beyond vague 'unicorn island' metaphors for happiness. With over 8 million subscribers, she's clearly connecting with teen girls, but it didn't resonate with me.
Production is decent, but shaky handheld shots induced dizziness (like Cloverfield). I respect her hustle, and YouTube docs are a promising direction.
Score: 4/10
Teen musicals aren't my jam, but Dance Camp delivers Disney-style tropes: romance, laughs, shallow archetypes, simple plot. It targets young audiences with hashtags and social media nods, but feels forced and unpolished. Dance numbers disappoint—YouTube has better clips elsewhere.
Scenes work individually, but the whole leaves you shrugging. As one character says: “Wow. Um... there was effort.”
Score: 5/10
PewDiePie's horror game reactions go real-world in this 10-episode series. I watched the first two: a creepy hospital (effective) and fun alien ship (less scary). It's entertaining for 20-minute bites, though scripted elements raise authenticity questions—suspend disbelief.
Better than expected, but not addictive. A win for quick watches.
Score: 7/10
YouTube Red originals shine for fans of these creators, hitting their narrow demographic perfectly. If you're not hooked on the culture, skip it. Some worry it harms free content—4 Reasons YouTube Red Is Bad For The YouTube Community—but it boosts channels like these movie lovers: Love Movies? 4 Awesome YouTube Channels You Need to Watch or binge picks: 9 Popular YouTube Channels Perfect for Overwatching.
What do you think of YouTube Red originals? Share in the comments!
