Could a viral teen comedy be Netflix’s answer to YouTube?

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Inside a make-believe pizza shop overlooking Onondaga Lake, a team of digital creators, filmmakers and young actors spent months cooking up a show that they hope will serve Netflix something it craves: a fresh audience.

“Minimum Wage,” a mockumentary that follows teens who work at a pizza shop, has garnered more than 30 million views across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram since launching in May 2024.

Now, Netflix is betting that Gen Z audiences will watch the viral hit in its expanded form on the streaming giant — and pay to view it.

The media company’s decision to acquire the show reflects a broader shift in Hollywood’s battle for younger viewers, as streamers increasingly turn to internet creators and their built-in fan bases to drive subscriptions and engagement.

Of course, it’s not a new strategy. For years, the industry has tried to tap into YouTube’s massive roster of creators. Sometimes, it’s a success: Amazon Prime’s reality competition series with YouTuber MrBeast, for example, became the platform’s most streamed unscripted series of all time. Other times, however, it’s more of a bust — like Netflix’s “Haters Back Off,” a comedy series with former YouTube star Colleen Ballinger, aka Miranda…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business