YouTube has become the default screen for millions of people. It’s where you go when you want either light entertainment, deep dives, video game streaming, or something specific or weirdly niche. Unlike traditional streaming platforms, YouTube does not demand commitment from you. It just delivers. Whether it is a 12-minute video essay on rom-com tropes or a chaotic vlog filmed from someone’s kitchen at 2 a.m., it’s even become an alternative to Netflix or Prime Video for many people.
And the creators? They are not just influencers. They are storytellers, performers, and in many cases, full-fledged entertainers. Over the years, a lot of big names on YouTube have taken their talents beyond the platform and landed roles in major movies, headlined TV shows, and even directed critically acclaimed projects. Their transition is compelling because of their built-in audience, yes, but they also have a distinct creative voice that’s shaped by years of self-produced content and an acute understanding of what makes people watch.
Here are 11 YouTubers who made the jump to movies and TV, and made it work wonders.
Liza Koshy
‘Freakish’ (2016 – 2017), ‘Work It’ (2020), ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ (2023)
Starting on Vine with her signature high-energy sketches and expressive physical comedy, Liza Koshy quickly transitioned to YouTube, where her solo videos and character-driven bits earned her millions of subscribers and billions of views. Koshy’s content was all about fast cuts, exaggerated reactions, and turning everyday situations into something downright hilarious. She was also quite versatile. She hosted red carpets, produced her own series, and still made videos about something as simple as grocery shopping feel like an event.
Koshy became a go-to personality for brands, award shows, and eventually, Hollywood. Her acting debut came in Tyler Perry’s horror comedy film Boo! A Madea Halloween, but it was Hulu’s Freakish, a teen horror series, that made her more recognizable. Koshy played Violet, a tough, resourceful survivor of a chemical plant explosion. In Netflix’s Work It, she played Jasmine, a confident dancer who helps the team return to shape. And most recently, she voiced Arcee in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Kian Lawley
‘Shovel Buddies’ (2016), ‘Before I Fall’ (2017), ‘Perfect Commando’ (2020)
Before his name was attached to movie credits, Kian Lawley was already crushing it in the entertainment world. He rose to prominence through collaborative channels like O2L (Our2ndLife) and carved out a niche with his high-energy vlogs and lifestyle content that resonated with a massive Gen Z audience. By the mid-2010s, his digital fame grew enough for him to transition into a legitimate acting career, earning him roles in indie films and web series.
Lawley was originally cast as Chris, the boyfriend of Amandla Stenberg’s character in The Hate U Give, a powerful drama based on Angie Thomas’s bestselling novel about police brutality and racial negligence. However, a video revealed him making racist remarks, and he was removed from the project, replaced by Riverdale’s KJ Apa. His earlier performances in Shovel Buddies, and Before I Fall had shown promise, and he even won a Teen Choice Award for the latter, but this incident sort of created a bump in his YouTube-to-Hollywood journey. Lawley currently stars as the main character in Perfect Commando, a Finnish comedy series, alongside Katherine Hughes.
Mamrie Hart
‘Camp Takota’ (2014), ‘Dirty 30’ (2016)
Mamrie Hart has a brand of comedy that is uniquely and unmistakably hers. It is raucous, irreverent, and always laced with a wink. Her YouTube channel, You Deserve a Drink, became a cult favorite thanks to its boozy DIY cocktails paired with pun-heavy pop culture commentary. Hart’s background in improv and sketch comedy gives her video a theatrical edge, and her collabs with fellow creators like Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart only amplified her reach.
Her fearless energy made her a standout in the YouTube comedy scene, and it wasn’t long before Hart spilled the same energy over scripted projects. Her leap into film came with Camp Takota, a 2014 indie comedy co-starring Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart. It’s a modest film about three friends reconnecting at a summer camp. She followed it up with Dirty 30 in 2016, a birthday-gone-wrong comedy that banked on her strengths like offbeat humor and ensemble dynamics.
Grace Helbig
‘The Grace Helbig Show’ (2015), ‘Electra Woman and Dyna Girl’ (2016)
Grace Helbig has a comedic voice that has always been rooted in a kind of self-awareness that feels both performative and personal. Her YouTube channel, once known as DailyGrace and later rebranded under her own name, became popular due to her deadpan delivery, quick wit, and a knack for turning mundane observations into hilarious moments. Her content has it all, from advice segments to character-driven sketches.
In 2015, Helbig brought the same signature style to late-night television with The Grace Helbig Show on E!, a talk show that combined celebrity interviews with sketch comedy. It was short-lived, but it was one of the first times a YouTuber headlined a mainstream network show. A year later, Helbig donned a cape in Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, a reboot of the 1970s cult superhero series.
Jimmy Tatro
‘American Vandal’ (2017 – 2018), ‘Home Economics’ (2021 – 2023)
With LifeAccordingToJimmy, Jimmy Tatro built a comedic universe that pushed the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable. He delivered tightly scripted sketches that skewered frat culture, dating mishaps, and everyday ridiculousness of life, all with a rotating cast of collaborators. His writing is sharp, and he has the ability to play both the lovable bro and the clueless jock.
The channel’s success was evident in the millions of subscribers and hundreds of millions of views it had. Tatro’s creative control behind the camera, as a writer and director, hinted early on at ambitions that went beyond YouTube, and his breakout moment came with Netflix’s parody of crime documentaries, American Vandal, where Tatro played Dylan Maxwell, the prime suspect in a high school vandalism case. He followed that with Home Economics on ABC, playing Connor, the youngest sibling in a trio of adult siblings navigating chaotic family dynamics.
Ryan Higa (NigaHiga)
‘Tell Me How I Die’ (2016), ‘Detective Pikachu’ (2019), ‘Finding ‘Ohana’ (2021)
Ryan Higa, better known by his YouTube moniker NigaHiga, basically defined what viral comedy looked like in the platform’s early years. His sketches, often built around parody and wordplay, were wildly inventive. Hits like “How to be Ninja” and “Off the Pill” even became internet staples. Higa’s channel was also influential enough to set a tone for smart, self-aware, and fast-paced comedy led by YouTube creators.
Over time, Higa expanded into music videos, podcasts, and even short films. Though his cameo in Detective Pikachu was brief, Higa’s filmography includes more substantial roles that showcase his acting skills. In the 2016 thriller, Tell Me How I Die, he played Den, a college student caught in a deadly pharmaceutical experiment. He also appeared in Finding ‘Ohana, a Netflix adventure film set in Hawaii, where he played a supporting role.
Anna Akana
‘Ant-Man’ (2015), ‘A Million Little Things’ (2018 – 2023), ‘Jupiter’s Legacy’ (2021)
Another YouTuber who made the jump to movies and TV shows is Anna Akana. With a creative output that’s both witty and sincere, she launched her YouTube channel back in 2011 and turned it into a space for short films, monologues, and sketches that tackled mental health, relationships, and identity with honesty. With over 2.8 million subscribers, Akana made her videos look like mini indie films, complete with scripts and payoffs.
Akana is also a musician, author, and filmmaker, with a career that’s as introspective as it is entertaining. Her first major studio appearance came in Ant-Man, where she played the role of a journalist. It was a small role, but it marked her entry into the Marvel universe. She later took on a recurring role in ABC’s A Million Little Things as Dakota, a musician, and in Netflix’s Jupiter’s Legacy, she played Raikou, a sword-wielding assassin.
Colleen Ballinger
‘Haters Back Off’ (2016 – 2017)
Colleen Ballinger is among the few creators who built an entire fictional universe with her YouTube character. Her alter ego, Miranda Sings, was a satirical take on the self-absorbed, talentless performers who think they’re destined for stardom. With her bright red lipstick, off-key singing, and fake confidence, Miranda became a viral sensation. Ballinger’s commitment to the bit was total, and her ability to stay in character across interviews, live shows, and collaborations made Miranda one of the most widely known internet personalities.
Netflix’s Haters Back Off took Miranda Sings from YouTube to scripted television, giving the character a surreal origin story. Co-created by Ballinger, the show explored Miranda’s delusional quest for fame, her dysfunctional family, and the small-town quirks that shaped her. The show ran for two seasons, and while polarizing, it was quite bold for fully realizing a YouTube character in a serialized format.
Logan Paul
‘Valley Girl’ (2020), ‘WWE Raw’ (2021 – Present)
Logan Paul went from being a Vine prankster to one of YouTube’s most controversial figures, and his journey has been anything but quiet. His channel, known for outrageous stunts and fortified vlogs, amassed millions of subscribers and record-breaking views. Over time, Paul evolved from shock-value content to a more polished brand. He dabbled in podcasting, boxing, and even entrepreneurship. Despite setbacks (including a video from 2017), Paul managed to reframe his public image.
Paul’s love for spectacle made him a natural fit for crossover entertainment. His first major movie role came in Valley Girl, a 2020 musical remake of the 1983 cult classic. He played Mickey, a cocky party boy, letting his real-life persona seep into the retro setting. But it is his ongoing run in WWE Raw that’s more popular. Since debuting in 2021, Paul has become a legitimate in-ring performer, facing off against stars like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, and even headlining major pay-per-view events.
Lilly Singh
‘A Little Late with Lilly Singh’ (2019 – 2021), ‘The Muppets Mayhem’ (2023)
Lilly Singh built her entire career on relatability. Her YouTube channel, originally branded as IISuperwomanII, featured sketch comedy, cultural commentary, and motivational monologues. Her videos often highlighted her South Asian heritage and millennial angst. With over 14 million subscribers, Singh became one of the platform’s most successful creators and was known for her characters and rants. Humor-wise, she is goofy and grounded, and her popularity with fans positioned her as a voice for representation.
Beyond YouTube, Singh has authored books and even launched campaigns. In 2019, Singh made history as the first woman of color to host a late-night show on a major U.S. network with A Little Late with Lilly Singh. The NBC series offered a fresh alternative to the traditional late-night format, and while it had a short run, it was important in demonstrating Singh’s ability to hold her own on television. She followed up with The Muppets Mayhem on Disney+, playing Nora, a music executive.
