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10 best youtube channels for film video essays, according to reddit.

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Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 2 Review – 6 Hours In & Costner’s Western Still Seems Like TV [Venice]

One return of the jedi scene confirmed the jedi never learned from their mistakes, horrific star wars theory makes return of the jedi's ending so much darker.

With Wakanda Forever closing off Phase Four on November 11, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing for an introduction to its fifth phase, and many fans are excited to see what the franchise has to offer. Yet, many are also questioning how all these new Phase 4 characters connect to each other, with the multiverse looming as the main arc. After all, most Marvel movies are now somewhat disconnected.

Thankfully, there is a vast host of YouTube reviewers and analysts who are dedicated to explaining the intricacies of movies and anything fans might have missed. Most of these YouTube video essays are made by some key YouTubers who do an excellent job getting fans caught up in the worlds of Hollywood.

YourMovieSucksDOTorg

Some reviewers do a great job of taking apart popular movies to show why they're excellent. The film YouTuber YourMovieSucksDOTorg is best at showcasing just why fans may dislike certain movies. While that might be inherently more negative, it can still be enjoyable.

"His Toy Story 3 review blew my mind. I knew I hated it but he kind of showed me why," says a now-deleted Reddit user. While he addresses both beloved and critically panned movies, the panned movies tend to be the videos that draw the most love from audiences. Sometimes fans just need to know why a plot feels weak or repetitive.

Possum Reviews

Another YouTuber who tends to focus on movies that received overwhelmingly poor receptions, Possum Reviews has grown a large fanbase by putting his attention on reviewing "garbage" movies, as his possum icon indicates. "I really love watching Possum Reviews even though his reviews of blatantly bad movies are really cynical," says Redditor Owijs .

Most of his reviews tend to be funny, which helps to keep the content engaging even when the actual film he reviews is appallingly bad. While he sometimes addresses beloved movies, it's the mediocre ones that draw the most eyes.

While most moviegoers don't think about soundtracks, the YouTuber Sideways goes into detail on just how the best soundtracks in movies interact with each film and create an environment. Tackling both musical and nonmusical movies, the channel does an extraordinary job of teaching fans about sound in films.

"Genuinely such interesting analysis of music in shows/movies from a very funny, intelligent guy who always sounds like he’s having the best time talking about whatever he’s talking about," states Reddit user ameboleyn . His excitement, even when addressing movies like Cats , is palpable and keeps viewers as engaged as he is.

Red Letter Media

A YouTube channel focused on friends reviewing movies that are both good and bad, RedLetterMedia has picked up many fans through the years, and for good reason. With the channel often known for its dry humor, Redditor TylerKnowy described it as "a mix of comedy and insight."

The channel has different shows with each addressing several topics. From Re:View 's more positive view of film to the often maligning Half in the Bag , the channel has something for everyone — as long as everyone likes their sense of humor. Of course, given that they often tackle movies that divide critics and audiences , they can be contentious.

With videos ranging from 10 minutes to over an hour long, the YouTube channel FilmJoy has things for everyone to enjoy. Of course, while the channel offers several shows, most of the channel's supporters tend to find themselves more engaged by the Movies with Mikey show.

"Intelligent, funny and extremely heartfelt. His whole approach is to discuss beloved films and why they're so special," says Reddit user johnspost . Instead of focusing on cynicism and encouraging fans to dislike certain movies, it brings about positivity, which is somewhat rare among YouTubers.

This Guy Edits

While many film critics focus on acting, character development, plot, or setting, the YouTuber This Guy Edits focuses on the editing in film and how it affects each movie. Instead of critiquing individual movies, the channel educates the public to help them consider editing in their own review of films.

"I find myself analyzing cuts and sound design way more after watching This Guy Edits," shared Reddit user InuitOverit . Considering how many movies are edited after their initial release , it's got a wide array of content to sift through, which means fans have a lot to learn from a true professional.

Lindsay Ellis

A film critic who used her YouTube channel to launch a book of her own, Lindsay Ellis recently left the YouTube scene, but her remaining backlog of content is still fascinating to look through. "Her videos are really funny while also being very interesting," commented Redditor bman9919 .

Often, Ellis considered topics that most fans failed to consider and showcased just why she took that perspective. She focused on a wide array of issues, including animation, the influence of the filmmakers on each film, and even why the greatest movie musicals are no longer particularly popular.

Like Stories Of Old

The YouTuber Like Stories of Old is a critic who likes to go into depth with each video, which is why it's so rare to see content for his channel under 20 minutes long. It's also why he only tends to release videos irregularly, often with a month or more between releases.

"His voice and delivery is so unique and soothing... it's pretty remarkable how well constructed each piece is," says Redditor stumpcity . The channel addresses wide-ranging issues in Hollywood, like the Hero's Journey, entire genres in film, and archetypes within the industry. He offers a fascinating in-depth look at whatever topics he chooses, and it's why he's a beloved critic.

Every Frame A Painting

While there are many visually stunning movies that can awe viewers, the YouTuber Every Frame A Painting takes apart movies to show fans exactly why they come to love the looks and aesthetic of movies. It also takes a look at how to improve those very aesthetic through editing.

"They were mainly about filmmaking techniques, editing, shot composition, blocking, etc., instead of plot/story/theme like the majority seem to be," says Reddit user scoutcjustice . While unfortunately Every Frame A Painting has stopped producing videos, fans still have a lot to learn from the content the channel already produced, as the majority continues to be relevant today.

Thomas Flight

Often addressing topics like director preferences and the impact of particular films, the YouTuber Thomas Flight could give a masterclass in film criticism, as most fans would agree. "Thomas Flight does a really good job at highlighting technical details and is also great at explaining the historical reference points for many directors," posits Reddit user redditaccount001 .

With essays about editing, genres, and sound quality in movies, fans may come for the analysis of their favorite film and leave with a new appreciation for dynamic styles in film. The channel's in-depth analysis explains why each upload comes somewhat inconsistently, but the content is quality enough that fans hardly mind.

Next: 10 Best "Let's Play" YouTubers For Fans To Watch

The Best Video Essay Channels, Ranked

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If you’re a die-hard movie fan, you don’t have to be a hardcore collector to know that you can find a lot of your special features free on YouTube – from movie trailers and top-ten lists to reaction videos and cast-and-crew interviews. But the crème de la crème for any budding cinephile is YouTube ’s subculture of video essayists.

The best of these content creators, particularly those focused on dissecting and analyzing film and television, give viewers a lot of food for thought, making them consider things they hadn’t before, even when it comes to movies they have watched 100 times. There is an embarrassment of content out there, but this article seeks to separate the wheat from the chaff – we are recommending only the channels with the best, most refreshing, and most original analysis. If you're a film lover or budding buff, you owe it to yourself to check out these great video essay channels.

What’s So Great About That?

UK creator and pop-culture academic Grace Lee makes video essays examining themes and form in both horror and animated media; she has an affinity for the deeper, more unexpected thoughts evoked by her favorite genres. Whereas many content creators are quippy or sarcastic, Lee’s voiceover narrative approach is one of measured thoughtfulness.

Related: Explained: How Twin Peaks Changed Television

While her output as What's So Great About That? is not as large as some other creators on this list, that is far from a bad thing as Lee seems to focus more on quality than quantity. Each video discusses fairly narrow topics within a given property – examples include the “treachery of language” in the work of David Lynch or the concept of the “unnatural” in the original Evil Dead film.

You might mistake Canadian vlogger Sarah Z (pronounced “Zed”) for your best friend. She sits on the couch with a cup of coffee and speaks directly to you, a monologuist spending hours on end about all of her opinions, from toxic fandoms to true-crime documentaries.

But these monologues are not the boring, meaningless yarns that you might expect. Rather, Sarah’s channel is an ever-deepening trove of incisive and engaging media analysis encased in a shell of light and fluffy entertainment. The whole thing is driven by Sarah’s palpable excitement and enthusiasm for the topics she is covering, and a penchant for long, detailed videos that are extensively researched. Some videos will even stretch far beyond the one-hour mark, including a 90-minute video on geek culture and a full two hours on Dear Evan Hansen .

Another Canadian creator steps up to the plate in the form of Sage Hyden , a fantasy novelist whose essay channel Just Write seems particularly preoccupied with film’s place in the cultural conversation. In particular, Hyden is fascinated with the messages that movies send us, what they are trying to communicate (consciously or subconsciously), and how they shape our perceptions and prejudices.

For topics that can sometimes land on the serious side, Hyden’s tone and writing style are conversational and often funny, and his insights are fairly eye-opening. Topics include Willy Wonka and its relationship to misconceptions about poverty, the importance of the original Mulan film, and the cinematic lineage of the modern murder mystery Knives Out .

If you consider yourself an outsider or find yourself disagreeing with most of your friends on their favorite movies, you might find a mutual kinship with creator Yhara Zayd , whose videos examine film and television through lenses both personal and political. Zayd’s is not the kind of detached analysis you can expect from many YouTubers; rather, though she is very well-researched, she is also full of unapologetic hot takes, and her videos are brimming with the caustic personality of a modern-day Pauline Kael.

Related: These Are the Best Marilyn Monroe Movies

In some ways, Zayd has crafted the perfect synergy between the highly-opinionated critic and the relentless deconstructionist, enthusiastically dissecting and questioning the images and media we regularly consume. She also has a distinct knack for self-awareness, gazing inward as she gazes outward, a quality which separates her content from that of many of her peers. Zayd covers such divergent subjects as the commodification of the great Marilyn Monroe, reflections of housing discrimination in 1980s horror films , and the under-appreciated legacy of Not Another Teen Movie .

For something a little less personal but no less fascinating, it is worth checking out the prolific Susannah McCullough and her channel The Take . McCullough and her extraordinary team make what are probably the best “Explained” videos you’ll be able to find, along with character breakdowns, deconstructions of tropes, and the lessons movies can teach us. They’ve got videos that deconstruct and explain Donnie Darko , The Sopranos , Get Out , and many, many more. They’ve also nerded out with full series on different franchises, including detailed character analyses in shows such as Friends and Breaking Bad .

The writing is smart but accessible, and the arguments are utterly convincing. The videos themselves are breezily edited and full of poppy visuals. The channel also covers many, many genres and types of movies, so you are sure to find something on a movie or TV show you love. The Take offers incisive film analysis in a context that is fun and completely unpretentious.

Maggie Mae Fish

Decadent, performance-driven vlogs like ContraPoints and Philosophy Tube are all the rage these days, and film buffs finally have their own version in the form of Maggie Mae Fish . Ms. Fish is a singular, idiosyncratic voice who pivots wildly from dedicated film scholar to sketch-comedy caricature and back again. She typically sits center-frame in a variety of ornately designed sets, dressed in colorful outfits, while she patiently spoons out detailed, thoughtful analysis over the course of long videos.

For any video-essay enthusiast, Fish is the real deal – wickedly entertaining, subversive, accessible, and always thought-provoking. Her recent two-video series on Twin Peaks is catnip for any fans seeking a new perspective on the show – and an excellent dressing-down of Twin Perfect’s infamous 4.5-hour breakdown. She also deconstructs auteur theory through the works of David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick, and spends two hours discussing Loki ’s debt to Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker .

Lindsay Ellis

When it comes to distinct personalities, no vlogger quite matches the likes of the controversial but brilliant Lindsay Ellis . She is a brand unto herself, with an over-the-top, self-deprecating style that can only be described as a hopped-up, sleep-deprived, but no less informed, Adam Curtis. She is often seen drinking wine in her videos, breaking down popular media like Disney movies, musical adaptations, and The Lord of the Rings franchise.

Ellis is one of the originals of the medium, and her work is so singular that her influence has likely extended to all the other creators who occupy this list. Some of her most brilliant work includes “The Whole Plate,” a nine-video series that completely deconstructs the first Transformers film through the lenses of gender, sexuality, and film studies. Her most iconic work includes 40-minute videos ranting about the film adaptations of Rent and The Phantom of the Opera . Due to recent Internet events, she has stopped making videos on YouTube, but her existing videos are still there for all to see and are absolutely worth checking out.

Every Frame A Painting

Sometimes the most obvious answer is still the best one. Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou’s gorgeous video series Every Frame A Painting is still the benchmark against which all other video essayists are judged. You’ve probably seen their video on Edgar Wright and visual comedy, or the one on silence in the films of Martin Scorsese. The channel has been defunct for several years now, but the content still feels as fresh and original as it did when it was first published.

The topics covered are narrow and unexpected, but they all work extraordinarily well. The writing is tight and evocative, and Zhou’s voice is unforgettably soothing and inviting. The editing is also crisp and beautiful. Ramos and Zhou have become so renowned for their work that they were even invited to contribute to David Fincher’s Voir , a video essay project for Netflix.

Favoree's guide to YouTube

13 Best Video Essay YouTubers in 2024 According to Viewers

Tamara Indriana

First of all, what even is a video essay ?

The line between video essays and documentaries is often muddy. While both video essays and documentaries use audiovisual elements to convey ideas and narratives, they differ in their focus, narrative structure, visual style, and intended audience.

Video essays offer critical analysis and interpretation of visual media, while documentaries provide factual information on real-life events and experiences. One key tip to distinguish between the two is that documentaries focus on getting answers from primary sources , like conducting interviews.

Video essays have gained popularity in recent years, particularly on YouTube. The accessibility of digital editing tools and visual media makes it easier than ever for aspiring filmmakers, critics, and scholars to produce and share their own video essays with the world.

In this article, we have compiled a list of the best video essayists on YouTube. Join us as we unravel the intricacies of these digital storytellers who put their viewers on the edge of their seats.

If video essays are not your cup of tea and you’re looking for something more educational, check out our article on the best documentary YouTube channels .

13 Top Video Essay YouTube Channels in 2024

This list is compiled from the opinions of  Favoree  and  Reddit  users.

In no particular order:

1.  EmpLemon  – 1.2M Subscribers

Emplemon blends elements of documentary-style storytelling with humor and cultural critique. Through his videos, Emplemon tells stories about internet culture, dissecting its quirks with razor-sharp wit and insight.

His contents elicit a rollercoaster of emotions, from laughter at absurd internet phenomena to contemplation of the impact of online communities on society.

2.  ContraPoints  – 1.8M Subscribers

Natalie Wynn, better known as Contrapoints, makes incisive video essays about social topics. Initially gaining fame for providing leftist rebuttals to right-wing content, Wynn’s dark humor and elaborate productions captivate audiences.

While her style has evolved to include more intimate settings, Wynn’s content remains intellectually stimulating, featuring detailed philosophical discussions presented in a visually stunning manner.

Natalie is not only an icon for her video essays, she’s also one of the most influential Trans creators on YouTube .

3.  ColdFusion  – 4.7M Subscribers

ColdFusion is a prominent YouTube channel making high-quality videos on corporations and their scandals. The channel’s soothing narration style contributes to a relaxing viewing experience.

With professional editing and a focus on interesting subject matter, ColdFusion delivers compelling insights into the latest trends and developments shaping the world of business and technology.

Check out our article on the best economics YouTube channel if you’re interested in improving your financial knowledge!

4.  Wendigoon  – 3.4M Subscribers

Wendigoon’s exploration of horror and supernatural phenomena certainly gives viewers goosebumps. With a focus on topics like urban legends , paranormal encounters, and mysterious occurrences, Wendigoon delivers chilling narratives that leave viewers intrigued and unsettled.

The channel’s immersive storytelling and atmospheric visuals evoke a sense of unease, drawing audiences into the eerie world of the unknown. Wendigoon’s expertly crafted videos combine suspenseful narration with haunting imagery, creating an unforgettable viewing experience.

Can’t get enough of chilling true crime stories? Our article on the best true crime YouTube channels will help you find more creators to watch.

5.  hbomberguy  – 1.6M Subscribers

Hbomberguy is a highly respected YouTuber famous for his well-researched video essays. With a focus on various topics ranging from video games to social critiques of modernity, Hbomberguy delivers arguments backed by cited facts. His recent video that exposed Internet Historian has gotten the most attention and discourse.

Despite a sporadic upload schedule, his content is eagerly anticipated, offering deep dives into internet culture and thought-provoking analyses.

6.  Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell  – 21.8M Subscribers

Kurzgesagt is incredible at explaining complex scientific concepts and philosophical ideas in a simple way. Through stunning art and animation, Kurzgesagt brings these topics to life.

Covering a wide range of subjects from space exploration to biology, the channel’s videos are both educational and visually captivating, leaving viewers feeling inspired and enlightened. Kurzgesagt offers an immersive journey into the wonders of the universe, sparking curiosity and wonder in audiences worldwide.

7.  Fredrik Knudsen  – 1.2M Subscribers

A cult favorite, Fredrik Knudsen’s acclaimed series “Down the Rabbit Hole” investigates obscure corners of the internet and perplexing aspects of history.

Known for his unbiased and objective approach, Knudsen presents his subjects in a neutral manner, allowing facts to speak for themselves. His thought-provoking content offers insights into the complexities of human experiences and internet phenomena.

8.  blameitonjorge  – 1.7M Subscribers

Blameitonjorge is beloved for his videos centered around lost media, creepy events, and obscure topics. With a soothing and friendly voice, Jorge’s narration style is modest, respectful, and intelligently humorous, offering a refreshing contrast to typical list-making channels.

His videos cover a diverse range of subjects, including UFO sightings, nostalgia, horror movies, true crime, and Mexican urban legends, all presented with meticulous research and informative editing. Blameitonjorge’s efforts to uncover unanswered mysteries and controversies breathe new life into forgotten topics.

9.  Solar Sands  – 1.3M Subscribers

Solar Sands, an American YouTuber, specializes in video essays analyzing and reviewing art, culture, and archaeology. His long form contents concentrate on retrospectives on various aspects of artistic quality, including the history of low-resolution paintings in Minecraft and analyses of artists like Trevor Henderson .

Solar Sands’ content offers unusual insights into the world of art and culture, appealing to viewers interested in thought-provoking discussions and analyses.

10.  Philosophy Tube  – 1.5M Subscribers

Abigail Thorn, AKA Philosophy Tube, is a British YouTuber exploring philosophy, politics, and personal identity through theatrical presentations and insightful discussions. Abigail’s well-researched content creates a deeper understanding of complex topics and provides support for those grappling with personal identity.

Her inclusive and authentic approach transforms philosophical concepts into accessible narratives, while her openness about her transgender journey inspires self-acceptance in viewers. With a blend of academic rigor and theatrical flair, Philosophy Tube continues to educate and entertain her audiences.

Want a deeper understanding of philosophy without breaking the bank? Check out the best philosophy YouTube channels to learn more!

11. Super Eyepatch Wolf – 1.7M Subscribers

John Walsh, also known as Super Eyepatch Wolf , is an Irish YouTuber renowned for his analytical-style videos primarily focused on anime, with occasional forays into manga and video games.

Unlike many other anime YouTubers, his presentation style stands out for its calm and passionate delivery. His content resonates with audiences seeking thoughtful analysis and insightful commentary.

12. Folding Ideas – 920K Subscribers

Dan Olson or Folding Ideas is a YouTube channel offering long-form video essays on internet culture. From NFTs to nuggets, he makes any topic interesting and will leave you looking for more.

While the writing can occasionally seem overly clever, Dan Olson’s thoroughly researched insights provide valuable perspectives into tech grifts and other media. Despite only uploading every few months, the channel’s in-depth and insightful content is highly appreciated by viewers.

13. Jacob Geller – 1.2M Subscribers

Jacob Geller offers thought-provoking video essays that seamlessly blend topics such as video games, history, politics, and more. With a dark yet empathetic tone, Geller digs deep into philosophical, ethical, metaphysical, and psychological themes, using gaming as a springboard for discussions.

Whether discussing a specific video game mod or architectural design, Jacob’s talent shines through in his insightful videos, offering a deep exploration of video games with surprising depth.

Why are video essays important?

Video essays are important as they provide a platform for creators to offer nuanced interpretations and critical perspectives on various subjects. They serve as engaging educational tools, stimulating discussions and deepening understanding of visual media and cultural phenomena.

What are the benefits of video essays?

Video essays offer benefits such as fostering critical thinking, providing accessible and entertaining educational content, and offering a fresh approach to the analysis and exploration of visual media.

What’s the difference between a video essay and a documentary?

The difference lies in their focus, narrative structure, visual style, and intended audience. While video essays offer critical analysis and interpretation of visual media, documentaries provide factual information on real-life events and experiences, often by obtaining answers from primary sources through interviews.

Is video essay a genre?

Video essay is not a genre in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a format or style of content creation that can encompass a wide range of subjects and approaches, from film analysis to cultural critique.

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7 Film Essay Channels on YouTube You Should Be Watching 8 min read

The internet is one of the best learning tools of the modern era. Information is at our fingertips and learning something new has never been easier. There has, perhaps, never been an easier time to learn more about film too as film reviewers, critics, and filmmakers are now able to share their views with the masses with great ease. YouTube has become a great place to pick up on information quickly and in an entertaining way. Video essays have become wildly popular as a means of sharing perspectives on film, television, games, art, and more. The beauty of video essays is in their ability to reach not only people who have an existing interest in the topic but also those who may not be familiar with the topic. They are a great window into the topic of discussion and people have come to understand the video essay format as an interesting and entertaining way of opening our eyes to something new. Video essays work especially well for dissecting films and for those who are skilled in analysing film to share their views. They are incredibly accessible for both passionate film fans as well as casual viewers. Several channels which specialise in film essays have popped up recently due to the popularity of the genre. During our last livestream, we received requests for our recommendations on film essay channels, thus we’ve decided to scour the internet for the most informative and entertaining channels that you should be watching right now.

Accented Cinema

If Sinema.SG were to revitalise our YouTube channel , we would like to think it would look something similar to Accented Cinema for the topics covered. The channel have become hugely popular for their Asian and International film analysis videos. Although their videos on Hollywood movies get the most views, that does not stop them from also talking about Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even Thai cinema. Most recently they announced that they are researching for a video on Indian cinema and are accepting suggestions for films to put on their watchlist.

The channel has bridged Asian cinema to mainstream western audiences and is a great watch for those who want to expand their horizons. They cover popular Asian films, anime, and more obscure films. Their analysis is accessible and injects an entertaining amount of humour to appeal to even those who are not already interested in Asian cinema. Check out this channel and you may be pleasantly surprised!

Nerdwriter1

Nerdwriter is one of the most well-known film essay channels on YouTube and has been around for ten years. Run by a former editor at MSNBC and host at Discovery Channel, Evan Puschak has amassed a dedicated following on YouTube for his in-depth critiques and ability to dissect films and their techniques. He comments on both the technical aspects of filmmaking as well as the artistic aspects such as storytelling. His video essays are not limited to film, however, as he also talks about art, politics, philosophy, and even other YouTubers.

Nerdwriter’s style is defined by curiosity — you will notice him posing several open-ended questions throughout his videos and even his video titles are often phrased like questions. Rather than handing you the answers, he guides you with his own personal observations and inferences. Although he often gets grouped together with other informative channels like Vsauce and Kurzgesagt , Nerdwriter is not so much of an informative channel that creates videos exploring facts around a topic. Rather, Nerdwriter tends to be more philosophical and focuses on the journey of exploring the answers to the questions he poses in his videos rather than the answers themself.

Karsten Runquist

Karsten Runquist is one of the newer channels on this list and only began creating video essays about four years ago but was met with great success almost right away. Karsten’s videos are more personal and weigh in heavily on his personal views. His style is also a lot more casual and his humour makes his already interesting essays even more entertaining.

His channel ventures a lot more into animation than the other channels on this list, which is a great way to demonstrate how animation is just as much of an art in filmmaking as live-action. His essay on Studio Ghibli’s first 3-D film , Earwig and the Witch , was a great resource when I was writing my own analysis of the film. Yes, he does feature Asian cinema, such as in his video on Korean cinema where he discusses modern classics such as Parasite and Train to Busan . Aside from video essays he also does monthly round-ups of films he saw.

Every Frame A Painting

Some film essay channels look at film in general, but Every Frame A Painting focuses on something very specific — visuals. The channel was created by editor Tony Zhou and animator Taylor Ramos, who were motivated by an issue they both faced — having to “ discuss visual ideas with non-visual people ”. A good portion of their video essays shed a spotlight on Asian directors and actors, including Jackie Chan, Akira Kurosawa, Satoshi Kon, Bong Joon-Ho, and more.

They closed the channel in 2017 and have not been active for a few years. Nonetheless, the channel still boasts a catalogue of almost 30 well-crafted essays which new viewers can take their time to peruse through. Zhou’s article in the Medium discussing the closure of the channel also provides a great insight into how the duo took apart the films that they analysed as well as the challenges in creating film essays on YouTube.

Lessons From the Screenplay

Lessons From the Screenplay is another channel that specialises in one aspect of film. As the name suggests, they look at screenplays or scripts. A movie’s script can reveal to us a lot about the film’s intention, and how its characters and narrative is crafted. As the channel’s creator Michael Tucker says: “ I believe that a more informed audience raises the bar for storytelling. That examining the techniques used to tell great stories makes your own writing better and your appreciation for the stories deeper. ”

By demonstrating how the written script translates into moving images, Lessons From The Screenplay can be a great tool for writers. However, the channel can also provide even casual film watchers a deeper appreciation of film and a better understanding of how to pick up on a film’s message.

Sideways only uploads once every few months, but boy are their videos worth the wait. Their channel focuses on music in film, something which many moviegoers would overlook. They talk about how music can be used effectively as part of a film’s storytelling — how music can change the emotion of a scene, subtly hint at something in ways that the visuals cannot, or be budget wasted on what essentially becomes background noise.

They are also well-versed in music history and theory and able to break down music theory for viewers who do not have a music background. They discuss a lot of musical movies and help give audiences the vocabulary to articulate why certain musicals do not feel as effective as others. In watching Sideways’ essays, one can learn how music in film has a greater impact than we realise.

Cinema Therapy

Many of us love watching cinema as an escape from reality, but Cinema Therapy shows us just how real our favourite films can get. The channel has an extremely unique approach — they break down the psychology of characters and themes in films. Their videos are hosted by licensed therapist Johnathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright, who each provide a perspective on the films from their area of expertise.

Mental health awareness has grown a great deal during the last few years and Cinema Therapy has explored topics such as relationships, coping with trauma, gaslighting, bullying, and much more using films as examples. Their videos tend to be a little longer than your average film essay and they lean closer towards a podcast style as the two hosts bounce off each other like friends having a conversation.

Honourable mention:

This channel does not have that many videos in its library but this video essay on Treasure Planet is easily one of the best video essays on YouTube.

Treasure Planet is one of Disney’s most underrated gems and is a film that I personally will always have a soft spot for (as you can tell from my writer’s bio). It was a passion project that turned into one of Disney’s most complex, well-written, and technologically ground-breaking films ever made. This film essay explains why Treasure Planet was cursed to be a commercial flop and all the reasons why you should still check out the film. It is a long video but it is incredibly well-researched. With each point that is raised, the essay demonstrates how phenomenal Treasure Planet is and all the more how disheartening it is that Disney did not put their faith in the film.

If you love talking about film, especially Singaporean and Asian film, check out our live show Red Hot Red Dot! We have a new topic every week and we have the opportunity to include our audience as part of the live discussion. We stream live on Facebook and Twitch so make sure you tune in and make your voice heard!

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The Best Movie Analysis YouTubers

Film buffs, here are the best film analysis YouTube channels. From video essays to commentaries on filmmaking techniques, these popular YouTube movie channels discuss screenplays, fan theories, and everything in between. What are the best film analysis channels on YouTube? 

When ranking the best movie analysis YouTubers, Every Frame a Painting is definitely at the top. Whether he is analyzing how Jackie Chan does action comedy or how David Fincher frames his shots, Every Frame's Tony Zhou consistently posts quality content on cinema. Other good YouTube movie analysis channels include Now You See It, FoundFlix, New Rockstars, The Film Theorists, and ScreenPrism.  

Vote up the best movie commentary channels on YouTube, and add your favorite film analysis YouTube channels missing from this list. 

Every Frame a Painting

Lessons from the Screenplay

Collative Learning

The Film Theorists

StudioBinder

Redlettermedia.

The Best Video Essays of 2022

Sit back, relax: you might learn something.

Published January 6, 2023 Features , Lists , Movies , TV By Meg Shields Disclaimer When you purchase through affiliate links on our site, we may earn a commission.

This article is part of our 2022 Rewind .  Follow along as we explore the best and most interesting movies, shows, performances, and more from this very strange year.   In this entry, we explore the best video essays of 2022.

2022 has, inconceivably, come to an end. And in the spirit of reflection and gratitude, it’s time to appreciate the thing that had our back when times were tough; the thing that helped us wind down after a long day at work; the thing that made that first cup of coffee in the morning go down just a little easier: video essays.

This year, I had the pleasure of once again curating The Queue , a thrice-weekly column dedicated to highlighting short-form video content about films, television, and the craft of visual storytelling. As a result, the focus of the video essays below is movies and TV shows — if you’re wondering why there are no video essays on speed running mechanics or broadway musical drama, that’s why!

There were, it must be said, a heck of a lot of top-shelf video essays this year that fell outside the scope of this list (including, but not limited to, Jacob Geller’s poetic eulogy to sea monsters ; People Make Games’ anthropological exploration of VRChat , and Jenny Nicholson’s sarcastically long portrait of Evermore , the theme park that tried to sue Taylor Swift).

Once again, I had a doozy of a time narrowing down a short list of this year’s selections. So if you could all stop making such good #content, that would be great (just kidding, never stop). I want to sincerely thank all the essayists I’ve covered this year for their hard work. I hope I get to continue seeing you in my feed in 2023 and beyond.

Bergman Island: Art, Love, and the Unbearable Process of Making

French director Mia Hansen-Løve embraces the notion of autobiographical filmmaking. And the video essay above does a beautiful job illustrating how her first English-language film,  Bergman Island , draws attention to the process of its own making without sacrificing its own story. I love how this essayist unravels the tapestry of the film’s twisty relationship with metatext with tangible examples and accessible language.

This video essay on the metatextuality of Mia Hansen-Løve’s  Bergman Island   is by  Broey Deschanel  a self-described “snob (and YouTuber) whose video essays cover everything from new releases like Licorice Pizza  and  Euphoria  to camp classics like  Showgirls . You can subscribe to their YouTube account  here  and you can follow them on Twitter  here .

Realism and Fantastic Cinema

We’re living during an interesting time in visual effects, where more often than not, realism is the goal. The following video essay offers a convincing gospel that preaches a different approach, which proposes that “fantastic cinema” that actively doesn’t chase photorealism or expose its own trickery is different, special, and worth fighting for. If you’ve found other arguments against  modern CGI unconvincing — or if your love of practical effects starts and stops with fetishism — I urge you to give this a look.

This video essay on why the pursuit of realism in special effects is hurting the fantasy genre is by APLattanzi , a freelance filmmaker and illustrator who hails from the Philadelphia area. You can subscribe to them on YouTube  here . Their essays cover a large swath of topics, from film scores to short films. You can also find them on Letterboxd  here .

Gen Z needs more slacker movies

In all fairness, this video essay is preaching to the choir: I’m a huge sucker for slacker movies. And if for  whatever reason you’re not, this essayist articulates something that feels True about what the sub-genre offers to the 2020s, an age where we’re increasingly bumping up against the political spirit of fucking off and the price of who can afford to do nothing.

This video essay on why the younger generation (I’m dating myself, whoops!) need some new slacker movies   is by  Niche Nonsense , a video essay channel that provides, well, just that: niche nonsense. The channel was only created in mid-December of 2021. And you can get in on the ground floor and subscribe here .

Leslie Cheung & Hong Kong LGBT Cinema

Love letters are contagious, and if you’re unfamiliar with Hong Kong star Leslie Cheung , this is a great introduction to one of the greatest LGBTQ+ icons in film history and how he left his impact on the Queer Hong Kong films that came in the wake of his trailblazing.

These videos on the impact of Leslie Cheung on Hong Kong queer cinema is by  Accented Cinema , a Canadian-based YouTube video essay series with a focus on Asian cinema. You can subscribe to Accented Cinema for bi-weekly uploads here . You can follow them on Twitter  here .

The Secret Ingredient That Makes Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man’ So Great

When people say that modern superhero movies feel soulless, you don’t always get a lot of concrete examples or arguments as to why this is the case aside from a general feeling . Luckily, the above video essay takes the time to nail something specific about why Sam Raimi ‘s Spider-Man   trilogy feels so much more sincere and front-the-heart than modern, irony-poisoned Marvel fare.

This video essay on why everyday people make Sam Raimi’s  Spider-Man  films feel so special is co-written by  Patrick (H) Willems  and  Siddhant Adlakha .  You can find their own directorial efforts and their video essays on their channel  here . You can also find Willems on Twitter  here . And you can find Adlakha on Twitter  here .

The Lion King and Disney’s Sequel Curse

Frankly, I didn’t know that I  needed  an hour-long defence of The Lion King 1 ½ until it was sitting in my YouTube subscriptions. The Disney animated feature-length sequel landscape is, by and large, pretty mid. And while  The Lion King 2  is one of the better ones out there,  The Lion King 1 ½  is in a class all of its own. If you’re not familiar, the sequel takes place during the events of the first film, but it’s told from the perspective of Timon and Pumba. The following video essay does a stellar job describing why it rules, how it ties into Shakespeare, and why it’s a great example of self-aware filmmaking.

This video on the incredible Disney sequel  The Lion King 1 ½  is by Jace, a.k.a   BREADSWORD,  an LA-based video essayist who specializes in long-form nostalgia-heavy love letters. Impeccably edited and smoother than butter, BREADSWORD essays boast an unparalleled relaxed fit and an expressive narrative tone. Long essays like this take a lot of time to put together, and somehow BREADSWORD makes it all look effortless. You can subscribe to them on YouTube  here . And you can follow them on Twitter  here .

Twin Peaks Actually, ACTUALLY EXPLAINED (No, But For Real)

This is, quite frankly, one of the most lucid explanations of “why  Twin Peaks is the way it is” that I’ve ever seen. Maybe its my small screen ignorance showing, but the idea that TV reflexivity is the key that unlocks Twin Peaks really feels capital-t True. The above is the first of a two-parter, and will hit harder if you’ve seen all three seasons and  Fire Walk With Me . I’m also a massive fan of how this essayist choses to frame their work; the Socratic dialogue is alive and well.

This video essay on what Twin Peaks is about, actually, is by Maggie Mae Fish , a Los Angeles-based comedian, actress, and culture critic who releases short films and video essays on her  YouTube account . Fish has been featured on College Humor, Screen Junkies, and JASH. She was also a former lead actor and writer at Cracked.com. You can follow Fish on Twitter  here .

Nothing But Trouble is a Very Weird Movie

Even if you haven’t had the pleasure of watching Nothing But Trouble  with your own two, God-given eyes, you may still have heard rumblings of its notorious status. I appreciate that this video essayist takes the time to give complicated stories — like the making of this movie and why it came to be thought of as a massive bomb — the time they deserve to breathe and speak for themselves.

This video essay on why  Nothing But Trouble  is good, actually comes to us from  In Praise of Shadows , a video essay channel run by Zane Whitener  and based in Asheville, North Carolina. The channel focuses on horror, history, and retrospectives. Under their “Anatomy of a Franchise” banner, they break down horror properties including  Tremors ,  The Stepfather , and  Re-Animator,  in addition to  The Hills Have Eyes . You can check out the series’ playlist  here . And you can subscribe to the In Praise of Shadows YouTube channel  here . And you can follow them on Twitter  here .

Why The Bear Hits So Hard

There’s a special bond between cooking and the moving image and Hulu’s The Bear  is the latest piece of pop culture to bring the two art forms together. I love how this video essay balances its analysis of the technical and scripted aspects of the show to explain the controlled chaos that defines the feel of the show. Breakdowns like this, that do as much showing as they do telling, are really what the video essay format is all about.

This video essay on the appeal of  The Bear  is by Virginia-based filmmaker and video editor  Thomas Flight . He runs a YouTube channel under the same name. You can follow Thomas Flight and check out his back catalog of video essays on YouTube  here . You can follow him on Twitter  here .

Under The Skin | Audiovisual Alienation

While I do think that  all  movies partake in non-verbal storytelling (they are moving  pictures, after all), I do think some films are more non-verbal than others. This isn’t to say that these films aren’t about  anything or that, more disparagingly, they are “just vibes” (yeesh). Case in point: this thoughtful analysis of Under the Skin , a film that uses non-verbal storytelling to put us in the shoes of an alien visitor trying to make sense of the confusing, predatory, and often beautiful human world.

This video essay on how  Under the Skin  uses non-verbal storytelling to explore the question of what it means to be human   is by  Spikima Movies , a Korean-Canadian who’s been dropping gems on YouTube since 2019. You can subscribe to Spikima’s channel for more incredible essays  here . And you can follow them on Letterboxd  here .

How a 10-year-old girl wrote Japan’s most insane horror film

Just when I thought that House   was starting to slip into that special category of movies that have been “talked to death,” someone goes ahead and makes a video essay like this. I adore the messy human stories behind canonized films. And the way that this video essayist describes the father-daughter relationship behind the deeply personal making of House  is impeccable, even if you’re already familiar with the general beats.

This video essay on the uncanny origins of the 1977 horror film  House   is by  k aptainkristian, a YouTube-based video essay channel that peddles visual love letters to filmmakers, musicians, and syndicated cartoons. The account is run by  Kristian T.   Williams , whom you can follow on Twitter  here . You can subscribe to kaptainkristian, and check out their back catalog on YouTube  here .

Studio LAIKA and the Ghosts of Invisible Labor

Given that conversations on labor and animation are becoming more and more prescient and pointed, this video essay feels like a must-watch. This essayist’s analysis is deeply insightful, compelling, and well-argued. The idea that animators on Laika films are in-universe Lovecraftian gods tickles my brain something fierce.

This video essay on the self-reflexive industrial allegory of Laika studios is written and directed by  Mihaela Mihailova . It is produced by Alla Gadassik and edited by Gil Goletski, with Jacqueline Turner providing the narration. The end of the video credits the Vancouver-based Emily Carr University of Art and Design for support. Mihailova is an Assistant Professor in the School of Cinema at San Francisco State University. She is the editor of the essay collection Coraline: A Closer Look at Studio LAIKA’s Stop-Motion Witchcraft  (Bloomsbury, 2021)

Why This 1950s Studio Made Movies Backwards

We love a gimmick. And we especially love a gimmick that produces some wildly kick-ass movie posters. This video essay offers a lucid explanation of how AIP cracked the code for making B-Movies: poster first, movie later. Has this principle of making a film from a marketing perspective mutated into something more insidious over time? Yep. Will that make me any less charmed by exploitation cinema? Nope. Look, someone  had to make the movies that play at the drive-in while teens suck face in the back of their parents’ Cadillac.

This video on how American International Pictures marketed their films backward is by  Andrew Saladino , who runs the Texas-based  Royal Ocean Film Society . You can browse their back catalog of videos on their Vimeo account  here . If Vimeo isn’t your speed, you can give them a follow on YouTube  here .

Why Did Spaghetti Westerns Look Like That?

On the one hand, this is something of a biased pick because I eat Spaghetti Westerns for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the other hand, this video essay does a really solid job honing in on one specific aspect of the sub-genre and asking: why? I love laser-focused topics like this, and the fact that it’s about one of the most iconic shot types in genre cinema is just icing on the cake.

This video essay on Sergio Leone’s filmography and how he perfected the use of the close-up shot is by  Adam Tinius , who runs the YouTube channel  Entertain the Elk . They are based in Pasadena, California. You can follow them on YouTube  here . And you can follow them on Twitter  here .

The Catharsis of Body Horror

Frankly, the fact that this video essay managed to stay online for as long as it has (thus far) without getting sent back to the shadow realm by YouTube’s AI censor bots is a straight-up miracle. Luckily, as of writing this, the essay is still live and absolutely worth your time, especially  if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t vibe with body horror. There’s no shame in having likes and dislikes. But this essay very clearly articulates why body horror is a lot more than the sum of its goo-covered, fleshy parts.

This video essay on the catharsis themes of body horror is by  Yhara Zayd . They provide insightful deep dives on young adult content from  Skins  to  My Best Friend’s Wedding . You can check out more of their content and subscribe to their channel on YouTube  here . If you like their stuff and you want to support them, you can check out their Patreon  here .

Tagged with: 2022 Rewind The Queue

Meg Shields

25 Best YouTube Channels for TV Show & Film Analysis | TheReviewGeek Recommends

25 best youtube channels for tv show & film analysis.

YouTube is massive. There’s no denying that the platform has absolutely revolutionized the way we watch TV and the stats are mind-boggling. It’s second only to Google in terms of popularity on the net, and the sheer number of videos uploaded is insane, while the average time spent on the site reaching around 20 minutes or so.

YouTube is a treasure trove of content, covering a wide variety of different topics and genres. In our latest series of articles, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the best channels on YouTube to check out that cover TV Show and Film Analysis.

Each of the creators listed below come from a variety of different backgrounds, with varying degrees of popularity too. However, they all share a passion for TV and film, along with depth of knowledge that make their videos so enjoyable.

So without further ado (and in no particular order) TheReviewGeek team present our picks for 25 of the best YouTube Channels for TV Show & Film Analysis.

Every Frame A Painting

Every Frame a Painting is a YouTube channel dedicated to film analysis. Created by Tony Zhou and Taylor Ramos, the channel focuses on various aspects of filmmaking such as composition, editing, and sound, exploring the techniques that create memorable scenes and engaging stories.

The channel was officially announced as ending in December 2017, but the quality content is still up for you to enjoy. Each video is around 10 minutes long or so, serving up the perfect bite-size slice of education and entertainment.

Their most popular video comes in the form of “Jackie Chan – How to Do Action Comedy” which has (at the time of writing) 24 million views.

Link to the channel: Every Frame A Painting

Lessons from the Screenplay

Created by Michael Tucker, Lessons from the Screenplay is an in-depth and fascinating channel that dissects and analyzes popular movie screenplays, breaking down each to their most basic storytelling techniques.

The channel offers insights into the craft of screenwriting, provides tips and tricks for aspiring screenwriters, along with some excellent comparison videos to see the similarities or differences each film has.

Their most popular video is “The Dark Knight — Creating the Ultimate Antagonist” which has 5.5 million views.

Link to the channel: Lessons From The Screenplay

RedLetterMedia

RedLetterMedia is a YouTube channel run by Mike Stoklasa and Jay Bauman, offering reviews, analysis, and discussions of movies, television shows, and other media. They have a wide variety of different content across their channel, including the hilarious Best of the Worst series, where Jay and Mike are joined by Rich Evans (Mr Plinkett) and different guests, to watch woeful and oftentimes hilarious B-movies.

There’s also re:View, where the gang revisit an old movie and review it, as wekk as Half in the Bag, where the gang discuss newer films while drinking together, woven together with a narrative involving the pair working as VCR-Repairmen.

The channel is well-known for its long-form analysis and reviews, and their most popular video is the first part of a “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review” which has 10 million views.

Link to the channel: Red Letter Media

Nerdwriter1

Nerdwriter1 is a YouTube channel run by Evan Puschak, who creates video essays on a variety of topics, including art, culture, and politics. The channel’s videos are well-researched, informative, and thought-provoking.

If you’re looking for a wide palette of different topics to whet your appetite, you’re bound to find it here. The videos regarding Prisoner of Azkaban being the best Harry Potter film for example, or a dissection of Rowan Atkinson’s fantastic physical humour, are among the highlights.

In terms of popularity, when it comes to art and film analysis, “Parasite’s Perfect Montage”, clocks up an impressive 6.6 million views.

Link to the channel: Nerdwriter1

Just Write is as simple as it gets, and that simplicity is where the channel really shines. Run by Sage Hyden, Just Write explores the art of storytelling in various forms of media, including film, television, and literature. The channel offers insights into the craft of writing and provides tips and tricks for aspiring writers.

The videos are generally around 10 minutes long, so they’re easy to dip in and out of, with some – like “How Macguffins can Ruin Movies” – are really well done, while the Writing Lessons series offers practical advice on how to (and how not to) write a compelling screenplay.

The most popular video on the channel is aptly titled “What Game Of Thrones Kinda Forgot” and of course, tackles that final season, with 2 million views on that one.

Link to the channel: Just Write

The Take is a YouTube channel that explores the themes, characters, and ideas in movies, TV shows, and other media. The channel’s videos analyze popular films and shows to uncover potential hidden meanings and subtext.

There are some fascinating videos here too, including looking at Unreliable Narrators, why shows continue to get cancelled, along with a fair few looking into social commentary on Hollywood.

This one’s going to be more of an acquired taste, but the video essays, along with the ending explained videos, are well worth a watch.

Unsurprisingly, the top videos are those aforementioned endings, with “American Psycho Ending Explained: What Really Happened?” clocking in at 4.7 million views overall.

Link to the channel: The Take

The Closer Look

The Closer Look is a wonderful channel and well worth checking out for anyone who enjoys analysis of film, TV and video games. Run by a guy called Henry, the channel offers in-depth analysis, as well as comprehensive breakdowns of various aspects of filmmaking.

The topics are all relevant and generally look into the aspects of different productions, both good and bad. The videos range from 10 minutes up to around 2 hours, with “Star Wars: How To Kill A Franchise” clocking in at 1 hour 43 minutes in total.

After watching the entire video, it’s one of the best on the channel, and unsurprisingly has 6.1 million views!

Link to the channel: The Closer Look

Jay Exci is a hilarious Youtuber who absolutely exudes the humour and wit that makes British comedy so endearing. Jay offers insightful analysis and reviews of movies, TV shows and other pop culture.

Their magnum opus comes in the form of “The Fall of Doctor Who”, which is a 5 hour 14 minute video. It’s a brilliant, thought provoking and oftentimes hilarious breakdown of the long-running sci-fi series. In fact, it was even quoted and mocked (undeservedly so) by a journalist who later admitted he hadn’t even watched the video! That’s a shame because had he done so, he’d realize how impressive the feature actually is.

The most popular video though is not “The Fall of Doctor Who” but actually (outside of the hilarious “5-Minute Crafts Makes the Worst Life Hacks of All Time”) “Netflix’s Paradise PD is Painfully Unfunny”, which has clocked in 4.2 million views.

Link to the channel: Jay Exci

Now You See It

Now You See It explores the art and craft of filmmaking, focusing on various aspects of film production such as cinematography, editing, sound design, and more. The channel’s videos are known for their insightful and informative analysis of movies and TV shows.

There are some great videos in here, including a look at the difference between American and British comedy, through the differences between the US and UK versions of The Office. In fact, that’s the most popular video on the channel, boasting 5.7 million views.

However, there are all sorts of other neat additions here too, including a deep-dive into Quentin Tarantino’s movies, the effectiveness of jump scares, and how important opening shots in movies actually are.

Link to the channel: Now You See It

Folding Ideas

Folding Ideas is a fantastically quirky YouTube channel run by filmmaker and writer Dan Olson. He offers critical analysis and reviews of movies, TV shows, and other media. The videos themselves are well-edited and researched, while others look into oddball topics like Jamie Oliver’s disdain for chicken nuggets.

Each of the videos are incredibly thoughtful and nuanced, with “Line Goes Up – The Problem With NFTs” clocking in at 11 million views. However, the next video looks specifically at The Editing Of Suicide Squad, with 3.7 million views.

Link to the channel: Folding Ideas

Yhara Zayd is a writer and filmmaker who runs a YouTube channel sharing her experiences and insights on writing, filmmaking, and creativity. Her videos offer practical advice and encouragement to aspiring writers and filmmakers, while also taking a deep dive into different movies through the years.

The most popular video here comes from a breakdown of The Hunger Game’s Rue, aptly titled “The Day Rue “Became” Black”, with 1.6 million views. There’s also great videos on White, Cruel Intentions 2 and more that are well researched and engaging.

Link to the channel: Yhara Zayd

YourMovieSucksDOTorg

YourMovieSucksDOTorg is a YouTube channel run by Adam Johnston, offering critical reviews of movies, video games, and other media. The channel’s videos boast a humorous and irreverent tone, while the audience interactivity, notably in the video “The worst remake” makes it different to others on this list in the best way.

YMS’ review of Cool Cat Saves the Kids is absolutely hilarious and unsurprisingly the most popular video on the channel. It has 6.5 million views and features better editing than the Cool Cat movie.

These quirky parts are balanced out by some of the longer essays, including The Lion King remake, which clocks in at a tasty 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Link to the channel: YourMovieSucksDOTorg

Screen Junkies

Screen Junkies are best known for their Honest Trailers series, which offer up a hilarious and parodical take on different shows and movies, featuring “epic movie voice guy” Jon Bailey.

Beyond that though, the channel is run by a team of writers, producers, and hosts that offer movie and TV show reviews, analysis, discussions and more.

It’s no surprise to see the Honest Trailers at the top of the popularity pile, and among all the channels on this list, is perhaps the most prolific. The Honest Trailer for Titanic boasts a  massive 41 million views.

Link to the channel: Screen Junkies

FilmJoy is run by Mikey Neumann, who offers reviews, analysis, and discussions of movies, television shows, and other media. The channel deep dives into various aspects of filmmaking, such as cinematography, sound design, and more.

The channel is separated into different types of videos, with “Deep Dive” riffing off the RedLetterMedia idea of watching bad movies, while “Movies With Mikey” serving as more of a straight forward deep-dive and video essay format.

The most popular video is titled “Is JOHN WICK About the Gods of Olympus?” and has 829k views (at the time of writing). However, there’s lots to enjoy beyond that video, including the excellent “NO MOVIE is like HOT FUZZ”, which Mikey calls his “desert island film”.

Link to the channel: FilmJoy

Lindsay Ellis

Lindsay Ellis quit YouTube last year, which is a shame because her essays are damn good. Serving as a writer, producer, and YouTube personality, Lindsay offers critical reviews and analysis of movies, television shows, and other media.

Her videos are well-regarded for their academic and analytical approach, as well as humor and wit, all of which rolled into 30-55 minute chunks of brilliance.

The most popular video comes from “How Aladdin Changed Animation (by Screwing Over Robin Williams)” which is a fascinating look at the changes in animation and how Aladdin essentially kickstarted a movement that Shrek ran with. The video has a deserved 7.3 million views.

Link to the channel: Lindsay Ellis

Pitch Meetings

The man who single-handedly carried ScreenRant’s YouTube channel for a while, Ryan George is a hilarious and humble guy, who has struck gold with his series of satirical reenactments of fictional pitch meetings for movies, TV shows and other media.

The guy has a knack for creating catchy phrases, including “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” and “Super Easy, Barely An Inconvenience!” The channel now has its own dedicated home (linked below) and features some pretty interesting new videos, where Ryan breaks down the making of said videos and how he came up with different ideas.

The pitches are witty, laugh out loud funny and immediately jump to plot holes, logical inconsistencies and hilarious observations about different movies.

Link to the channel: Pitch Meetings

The Critical Drinker

The Critical Drinker is a rising star on YouTube, run by William “Will” Jordan, a Scottish YouTuber, professional writer and avid drinker, who offers opinionated and irreverent reviews of movies, TV shows, and other media. The channel is known for its sarcastic and humorous approach to pop culture.

Drinker has an array of different content on the channel, including the ongoing series “Why Modern Movies Suck”, which looks at different aspects of Hollywood’s current state of filmmaking and diminishing returns.

The most popular video on the channel is “Why Ghostbusters 2016 FAILED – A scene comparison” which has 7.7 million views.

For those who prefer a more conversational tone though, The Critical Drinker also has a second channel, Critical Drinker After Hours, which feature “Open Bar” sessions, co-hosted with Mauler (highlighted below) that run for around 2 hours or so, discussing movie news, reviewing shows and movies, along with bringing different guests in each week for their take on film, TV and pop culture.

In recent months, Drinker has also interviewed various celebrities, including Russell Crowe, Mark Millar and Matthew Marsden.

Link to the channel: The Critical Drinker

Link to the channel: Critical Drinker After Hours

Often referred to as The Long Man, Mauler offers in-depth analysis and criticism of movies, TV shows, and video games. The channel is known for its detailed and comprehensive approach to pop culture, with videos easily clocking in over 2 hours.

The most recent video clocks in at 5 hours and 50 minutes, making it one of the longest to feature on this list. It’s aptly titled “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: An Unbridled Cataclysm” and breaks down absolutely everything wrong with the new Doctor Strange movie. As one may pertain from this length of video – there’s a lot to unpack!

Mauler’s wit and humour combine with genuinely insightful and interesting takes that will likely change the way you view different films.

Mauler also has his own show he hosts too, Every Frame A Pause (EFAP), which are very long-form podcasts that can range from a few hours to 11+ hour sessions, depending on the film. If you have the time, they’re well worth checking out.

Link to the channel: Mauler

Link to the channel: Every Frame A Pause

The Cosmonaut Variety Hour

The Cosmonaut Variety Hour is hosted by Marcus, Dan, and Meghan, who offers critical analysis and reviews of movies, TV shows, and other media. The channel’s videos are known for their humorous and irreverent approach to pop culture, with the series “Why It Sucks” looking at different movies and shows, examining (yep, you guessed it!) why they suck.

“Catwoman – The Worst Superhero Movie Ever Made?” is hilariously positioned to show just why the film is so bad, while “The Amazing Spider-Man 1&2 – Worse Than You Can Even Imagine” boasts the highest view count, with a total of 15 million views.

Link to the channel: The Cosmonaut Variety Hour

RalphTheMovieMaker

RalphTheMovieMaker is a YouTube channel that offers movie reviews, analysis, and discussions. It’s run by Ralph Sepe Jr, who injects comedy and a pretty balanced and fair perspective to everything being covered. He even has praise for Cats… between scathing critique of the movie of course!

Ralph is relatively active on his channel, while the balance of short reviews (about 2-5 minutes) and longer breakdowns (11-20 minutes) working well to balance out the content.

Link to the channel: RalphTheMovieMaker

Alex Meyers

Alex Meyers is another channel you should definitely subscribe to if you enjoy reviews and analysis on YouTube. He offers TV shows, movie, and other media reviews, all done through using cartoonish animations and comedic skits.

The channel has been a massive hit over the years, and his video essays about movies and TV Shows are consistently great. These essays are right at the top of the view count too, with “Descendants doesn’t make any sense…” boasting 11 million views at the time of writing.

Link to the channel: Alex Meyers

Mr Sunday Movies

If you’re looking for more of a conversationalist tone with your movie and TV show analysis, look no further than Mr Sunday Movies. Run by James Clement and Nick Mason, the different videos showcase humorous and informative reviews, analysis, trailer breakdowns and discussions of movies and TV shows.

The channel is known for its banter, while the ongoing series “Caravan of Garbage” sees the pair look back, grill, hilariously observe and review different movies over the years. You’ll never look at Shrek the same way after seeing the different theories, while at the time of writing, all the Batman movies are going through the ringer!

Their most popular video has 10 million views in “Avengers VS Thanos – 16 Bit Scenes” but there are a huge number of “Caravan of Garbage” video, ending explained articles, trailer breakdowns and more across the backlog.

Link to the channel: Mr Sunday Movies

Friendly Space Ninja

Friendly Space Ninja is a reviewer that effectively analyzes and critiques a wide variety of different shows and movies. The content ranges from shows like The Walking Dead and Fleabag to Wednesday and Emily In Paris. In fact, the latter goes through the ringer here, as Space Ninja cuts into the Netflix Original, with the cleverly titled “Emily In Paris: Romanticizing Ignorance”. With 8.6 million views and a run-time of 24 minutes, it’s one of the best videos on the channel.

However, you’ll find a lot of other good stuff here, including a 2 hour 20 minute breakdown of Riverdale, a fantastic 90 minute deep-dive into Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and the handy “10 Shows I Will Never Make Videos About (And Why)”, which is especially useful if you subscribe to the channel!

Link to the channel: Friendly Space Ninja

Full Fat Videos

Full Fat Videos is probably unknown to the masses, and that’s a shame because the content here is really well-done. Full Fat Videos are, by their very definition, chock full of content and really do well to break down different parts of movies and TV shows, with the intention of sparking discussions.

The video, “Is X-Men: The Last Stand Really That Bad?” offers up a thought provoking piece that dissects what went wrong with the third X-Men movie and whether the panning from fans and critics alike was justified.

The different video essays rarely run more than 30 minutes, but there’s a lot packed into that time. The most popular essay on the channel is titled “How the Russos Fixed Iron Man | Video Essay” which looks at Tony Stark’s journey across the MCU, and has 2.8 million views.

Link to the channel: Full Fat Videos

The Little Platoon

The Little Platoon is a YouTuber that offers brilliantly insightful and well written content. There are analysis, reviews, and discussions of movies, TV shows, and other media, all bundled up into a mix of long and short videos.

The channel has a thoughtful and nuanced approach to pop culture, with some of the longer videos dissecting more recent shows and movies, all whilst offering a great balance of humour, sarcasm and wisdom.

The most popular video is “She-Hulk – Nobody’s Laughing” which has 1.3 million views, but Platoon’s ongoing dissection of Rings of Power is well worth a watch, along with a 3 hour 26 minute video on Avatar: Way of Water!

Link to the channel: The Little Platoon

So there we have it! Our picks for the 25 best YouTube channels for TV Show & Film Analysis. Do you agree with our picks? Who is your favourite YouTuber? Have alternate takes on our picks? Feel free to drop us a comment below!

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• Scriptwriting

What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay

I n the era of the internet and Youtube, the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of expressing ideas and concepts. However, there is a bit of an enigma behind the construction of the video essay largely due to the vagueness of the term.

What defines a video analysis essay? What is a video essay supposed to be about? In this article, we’ll take a look at the foundation of these videos and the various ways writers and editors use them creatively. Let’s dive in.

Watch: Our Best Film Video Essays of the Year

Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.

What is a video essay?

First, let’s define video essay.

There is narrative film, documentary film, short films, and then there is the video essay. What is its role within the realm of visual media? Let’s begin with the video essay definition. 

VIDEO ESSAY DEFINITION

A video essay is a video that analyzes a specific topic, theme, person or thesis. Because video essays are a rather new form, they can be difficult to define, but recognizable nonetheless. To put it simply, they are essays in video form that aim to persuade, educate, or critique. 

These essays have become increasingly popular within the era of Youtube and with many creatives writing video essays on topics such as politics, music, film, and pop culture. 

What is a video essay used for?

• To persuade an audience of a thesis
• To educate on a specific subject
• To analyze and/or critique 

What is a video essay based on?

Establish a thesis.

Video analysis essays lack distinguished boundaries since there are countless topics a video essayist can tackle. Most essays, however, begin with a thesis. 

How Christopher Nolan Elevates the Movie Montage  •  Video Analysis Essays

Good essays often have a point to make. This point, or thesis, should be at the heart of every video analysis essay and is what binds the video together. 

Related Posts

• Stanley Kubrick Directing Style Explained →
• A Filmmaker’s Guide to Nolan’s Directing Style →
• How to Write a Voice Over Montage in a Script →

interviews in video essay

Utilize interviews.

A key determinant for the structure of an essay is the source of the ideas. A common source for this are interviews from experts in the field. These interviews can be cut and rearranged to support a thesis. 

Roger Deakins on "Learning to Light"  •  Video Analysis Essays

Utilizing first hand interviews is a great way to utilize ethos into the rhetoric of a video. However, it can be limiting since you are given a limited amount to work with. Voice over scripts, however, can give you the room to say anything. 

How to create the best video essays on Youtube

Write voice over scripts.

Voice over (VO) scripts allow video essayists to write out exactly what they want to say. This is one of the most common ways to structure a video analysis essay since it gives more freedom to the writer. It is also a great technique to use when taking on large topics.

In this video, it would have been difficult to explain every type of camera lens by cutting sound bites from interviews of filmmakers. A voice over script, on the other hand, allowed us to communicate information directly when and where we wanted to.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Lenses  •  Video essay examples

Some of the most famous video essayists like Every Frame a Painting and Nerdwriter1 utilize voice over to capitalize on their strength in writing video analysis essays. However, if you’re more of an editor than a writer, the next type of essay will be more up your alley. 

Video analysis essay without a script

Edit a supercut.

Rather than leaning on interview sound bites or voice over, the supercut video depends more on editing. You might be thinking “What is a video essay without writing?” The beauty of the video essay is that the writing can be done throughout the editing. Supercuts create arguments or themes visually through specific sequences. 

Another one of the great video essay channels, Screen Junkies, put together a supercut of the last decade in cinema. The video could be called a portrait of the last decade in cinema.

2010 - 2019: A Decade In Film  •  Best videos on Youtube

This video is rather general as it visually establishes the theme of art during a general time period. Other essays can be much more specific. 

Critical essays

Video essays are a uniquely effective means of creating an argument. This is especially true in critical essays. This type of video critiques the facets of a specific topic. 

In this video, by one of the best video essay channels, Every Frame a Painting, the topic of the film score is analyzed and critiqued — specifically temp film score.

Every Frame a Painting Marvel Symphonic Universe  •  Essay examples

Of course, not all essays critique the work of artists. Persuasion of an opinion is only one way to use the video form. Another popular use is to educate. 

• The Different Types of Camera Lenses →
• Write and Create Professionally Formatted Screenplays →
• How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with Music →

Video analysis essay

Visual analysis.

One of the biggest advantages that video analysis essays have over traditional, written essays is the use of visuals. The use of visuals has allowed video essayists to display the subject or work that they are analyzing. It has also allowed them to be more specific with what they are analyzing. Writing video essays entails structuring both words and visuals. 

Take this video on There Will Be Blood for example. In a traditional, written essay, the writer would have had to first explain what occurs in the film then make their analysis and repeat.

This can be extremely inefficient and redundant. By analyzing the scene through a video, the points and lessons are much more clear and efficient. 

There Will Be Blood  •   Subscribe on YouTube

Through these video analysis essays, the scene of a film becomes support for a claim rather than the topic of the essay. 

Dissect an artist

Essays that focus on analysis do not always focus on a work of art. Oftentimes, they focus on the artist themself. In this type of essay, a thesis is typically made about an artist’s style or approach. The work of that artist is then used to support this thesis.

Nerdwriter1, one of the best video essays on Youtube, creates this type to analyze filmmakers, actors, photographers or in this case, iconic painters. 

Caravaggio: Master Of Light  •  Best video essays on YouTube

In the world of film, the artist video analysis essay tends to cover auteur filmmakers. Auteur filmmakers tend to have distinct styles and repetitive techniques that many filmmakers learn from and use in their own work. 

Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most notable example. In this video, we analyze Kubrick’s best films and the techniques he uses that make so many of us drawn to his films. 

Why We're Obsessed with Stanley Kubrick Movies  •  Video essay examples

Critical essays and analytical essays choose to focus on a piece of work or an artist. Essays that aim to educate, however, draw on various sources to teach technique and the purpose behind those techniques. 

What is a video essay written about?

Historical analysis.

Another popular type of essay is historical analysis. Video analysis essays are a great medium to analyze the history of a specific topic. They are an opportunity for essayists to share their research as well as their opinion on history. 

Our video on aspect ratio , for example, analyzes how aspect ratios began in cinema and how they continue to evolve. We also make and support the claim that the 2:1 aspect ratio is becoming increasingly popular among filmmakers. 

Why More Directors are Switching to 18:9  •  Video analysis essay

Analyzing the work of great artists inherently yields a lesson to be learned. Some essays teach more directly.

• Types of Camera Movements in Film Explained →
• What is Aspect Ratio? A Formula for Framing Success →
• Visualize your scenes with intuitive online shotlist software →

Writing video essays about technique

Teach technique.

Educational essays designed to teach are typically more direct. They tend to be more valuable for those looking to create art rather than solely analyze it.

In this video, we explain every type of camera movement and the storytelling value of each. Educational essays must be based on research, evidence, and facts rather than opinion.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Movement  •  Best video essays on YouTube

As you can see, there are many reasons why the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of communicating information. Its ability to use both sound and picture makes it efficient and effective. It also draws on the language of filmmaking to express ideas through editing. But it also gives writers the creative freedom they love. 

Writing video essays is a new art form that many channels have set high standards for. What is a video essay supposed to be about? That’s up to you. 

Organize Post Production Workflow

The quality of an essay largely depends on the quality of the edit. If editing is not your strong suit, check out our next article. We dive into tips and techniques that will help you organize your Post-Production workflow to edit like a pro. 

Up Next: Post Production →

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10 YouTube Channels to Analyze and Understand Film

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I Can't Stop Using Spotfiy's Daylists: It's Time You Started Listening Too

I tried different photo composition techniques with my phone: here's what worked best, these 6 ai photo editors are better than photoshop: here's why.

Whether you're a budding filmmaker or just interested in the craft of filmmaking, these YouTube channels will help you analyze and understand film.

Instead of focussing on trivial criticisms, they unravel the mysteries of why a movie does or doesn't work, to give you a better appreciation the craft.

So, sit back, relax, and prepare to learn everything you need to know about film and filmmaking.

1. Lessons From the Screenplay

Michael Tucker and the team behind Lessons From the Screenplay offer insightful analysis on what makes a well-written movie. They do such a good job that there are tales of studio executives referencing these videos during blockbuster productions.

Each video takes a quote or "lesson" from screenwriting textbooks and applies it to popular films. Michael's calm narration and clear graphics make it easy to understand, and you come out of it applying what you learned to everything else you watch.

2. Patrick (H) Willems

This walking, talking, IMDb machine loves movies and wants you to love them too. Patrick started his YouTube career making short comedy films before turning his hand to video essays as well.

Now, he combines the two, making some of the most dynamic and entertaining movie analysis videos you're likely to find on YouTube. Patrick's in-depth investigations, unfettered praise, or ingenious rewrites range from 15 to 40 minutes long, but the longest ones are often the best.

3. Lindsay Ellis

How would you like a deep-dive excursion into the different schools of film theory? Auteur, feminist, genre, etc. It sounds a little heavy, but Lindsay makes it fun by looking at each theory through the lens of Michael Bay's Transformers franchise.

Besides that, Lindsay adds an academic slant to video essays by explaining the historical, political, and social context behind enormous blockbuster movies. Learn how The Hobbit hobbled New Zealand's film industry or discover the turbulent production behind certain Disney classics.

4. Now You See It

Now You See It highlights patterns and trends across different movies, explaining the meaning behind them and why they're so effective. The fast-paced narration packs a lot of information into short videos, which you come away from with a totally fresh perspective.

Each video presents a new idea, supported by logical arguments, quotes, or evidential footage. You might learn about the meaning of stripes in film, physical injuries to characters, dutch angle framing, or even drinking milk on camera.

And you'll never look any of those things the same way again.

5. Just Write

As you may have guessed from the name, Just Write focuses on the writing techniques used in film and TV. The writer, Sage Hyden, manages to pinpoint exactly what does and doesn't work in popular media, taking a good look at why that might be the case.

Some of his best videos focus on Game of Thrones, offering both praise and criticism, depending on the season at hand. But Just Write also highlights the power of puns, satire, or effective action by referencing everything from Arrested Development to Westworld.

6. The Royal Ocean Film Society

The Royal Ocean Film Society takes a look at industry trends and the effects they have on films or marketing. It's a great resource if you're interested in how CGI animation works , what goes into poster designs, or the even emergence of clickbait trailers.

One of the best videos from The Royal Ocean Film Society explores the influential animation of Richard Williams, arguing that movement is more important in animation than realism.

The animation on display is so captivating it's impossible to disagree.

7. Wisecrack

For a philosophical analysis of your favorite films, TV shows, and video games, look no further than Wisecrack. This insightful YouTube channel puts media under the microscope to discover what it's trying to say. Then Wisecrack dissects that subtextual message in relation to famous philosophers.

Sometimes Wisecrack highlights the inherent contradictions within a film. Other times it debunks "deep" messages as little more than dumb rhetoric. But the best videos show how a great story is heightened by the philosophy underpinning its ideas.

8. KaptainKristian

KaptainKristian unveils the secrets behind your favorite filmmakers, TV shows, movies, and even production companies. Sleek animations and astonishing facts make these videos a joy to watch as you learn more about what goes into the production of a film.

Did you know there are more special effects shots in The Social Network than there are in Godzilla? Probably not. That's because David Fincher is a master of subtlety, and KaptainKristian explains exactly how he does it.

9. Nando v Movies

Have you ever watched a bad movie thinking you could have written it better yourself? Well, that's what Nando v Movies is all about. This channel is overflowing with alternate versions of all the biggest cinematic disappointments, from Ant-Man to X-Men.

Nando v Movies carefully walks you through each act of his rewrites, using existing footage to fill in the gaps. It's amazing how a few small changes can transform a terrible misfire into a surefire success.

I'm still sad that we'll never get to watch his Justice League rewrite.

10. Every Frame a Painting

This is the YouTube channel that started it all. A lot of the other YouTubers on this list credit Every Frame a Painting as their inspiration for getting started. This channel includes the best movie breakdowns on the web, but sadly they stopped making new videos in 2017.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't give them a watch. Every Frame a Painting dissects classic movies from Kurosawa, Spielberg, and the Coen brothers, explaining exactly what makes these masterpieces so special.

A particular favorite video of mine reveals why Jackie Chan's action-comedy fight sequences are so engaging. And why they get butchered by American productions.

Don't Let YouTube Ads Slow You Down

Every serious movie fan should subscribe to these YouTube channels. Each one of them has so much to teach you about filmmaking, whether it's the secret to crafting emotional character arcs or the magic behind Jackie Chan's fight sequences.

And with all these new channels to watch, you'll be spending a lot of time watching YouTube. But for each awesome video you'll see, you'll have to sit through a couple of YouTube adverts as well.

Thankfully, there is a way of removing the ads from YouTube, but you'll have to pay for the privilege. So, is YouTube Premium worth the money? Read our detailed look at YouTube Premium to find out.

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The best video essays of 2018

From scene breakdowns to ideological deconstructions, selections from YouTube’s sharpest voices

If you buy something from a Polygon link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

by Daniel Schindel

Anyone who clocks serious time on YouTube knows it’s a full-blown cosmos, housing everything from Vine compilations to weird algorithm-generated kids videos and fascists talking about phrenology. But the site also hosts a strong crop of creators engaging with politics, philosophy, culture, and more in thoughtful, critical ways.

Video essays have flourished in recent times, and the best ones can even eclipse a lot of traditional documentaries in their production and intelligence. On top of recommending Polygon’s own staff of video craftspeople , here are 10 of the best video essays of 2018, a shortcut down the rabbit hole of intriguing work on YouTube.

“David Lynch: The Treachery of Language”

By What’s So Great About That?

This is simply the most well-made, intelligently laid-out video on a single filmmaker this year. Through some masterful editing, Grace Lee explores the use (or more accurately, consistent warping) of language in the films of David Lynch ( Mulholland Drive , Blue Velvet , TV’s Twin Peaks ). Film criticism generally gravitates toward discussion of visuals, whether that’s in terms of cinematography, editing, acting, mise-en-scene , and the like. The actual construction and implementation of dialogue is less studied, and by drilling down into the specific use, Lee’s video gets at a defining element of why Lynch’s films are so off.

“CTRL+ALT+DEL”

By hbomberguy

Taking on one of the biggest punching bags in both webcomics and gaming is no small task, but H. Bomberguy proves more than up to it. But rather than make yet another piece on all the ways Tim Buckley’s Ctrl+Alt+Del is supposedly terrible, the video essayist instead draws out all the ways it’s similar to popular, even beloved, properties. The unsettling conclusion is that works like these become whipping boys not because of their actual quality (or lack of it), but because they provide a reflection that too many within a subculture find unflattering. That it’s all delivered via an increasingly unhinged parody of traditional YouTube critic tropes is a huge bonus.

The Hobbit Trilogy

By Lindsay Ellis

Lindsay Ellis defies the paradigm of movie criticism through nuanced, researched nitpicking. Her in-depth series on Hobbit films goes beyond a dismantlement, instead connecting the dots between what happened during the series’ production, Peter Jackson’s entire approach to the adaptation, and by her estimation, the film’s critical failures. The third part of the “duology” even incorporates reporting, with Ellis talking to actors and filmmakers in New Zealand about the effect that foreign film production had on the country. It all culminates in a powerful rumination on how “no ethical consumption under capitalism” applies to entertainment, and the different ways people grapple after learning how beloved art was made.

“Designing for Disability”

By Game Maker’s Toolkit

Mark Brown is one of the most measured and meticulous people working in games criticism today. As the name of the channel suggests, Game Maker’s Toolkit approaches video game analysis from the angle of helping developers improve their work. Any one of his videos is invaluable on this front, and this ongoing series about keeping differently abled people in mind when making games is a great showcase of his perspective. Besides providing a survey of what games already do to accommodate players who can’t necessarily interact with them in the standard ways, these videos subtly call attention to how so much of the basic ways in which we interact with games are taken for granted.

“Lady Eboshi is Wrong”

By Innuendo Studios

If this were just a video on how masterful Hayao Miyazaki is at making movies without clear good-and-evil conflicts, in which no character is two-dimensional and everyone’s point of view is expressed, then it would be notable. But what pushes the essay (made for FilmJoy’s “Lessons Animation Taught Us” series) into greatness is how uses Princess Mononoke ’s central conflict to basically pick apart the idea of centrism as a political position. Ian Danskin knows culture and politics; he also happens to be producing an incisive series on the rhetorical foundations and strategies of the far right. Wielding the knowledge, the essayist finds echoes of the man-vs-nature peril at the heart of Miyazaki’s period fantasy to today’s current political climate without being so blunt as to become an entirely different type of video.

“FAKE FRIENDS EPISODE TWO: parasocial hell”

By StrucciMovies

You may balk at the two-hour running time, but Shannon Strucci more than earns the runtime as she exhaustively dissects the social landscape of the modern age. The second part of her ongoing series on parasocial relationships (when a person develops a “relationship” with someone or something that cannot reciprocate, like a celebrity) continually finds new stories to develop its ideas.

Strucci will let a clip of a Twitch streamer making an emotional confession play out in full length, all to hammer home the kind of closeness the internet fosters between people with no actual connection. She also brings up examples one might not expect, such as a robotic seal doll made to calm the elderly, or the famous story of Grape-kun , the penguin who fell in love with an anime standee. “Fake Friends” will make you reconsider your own relationships with your favorite writers, podcasters, actors… and possibly video essayists.

By ContraPoints

Natalie Wynn, who dropped out of Northwestern’s Ph.D philosophy program and now applies her knowledge to the headache of contemporary American discourse, specializes in responding to talking points from modern conservatism. It helps that, besides being smart as hell, she also employs some extraordinarily elaborate costuming and spectacular (usually horny) punchlines into her work. In her most impressive video to date, it would be all too easy to go for easy jabs at those who identify as incels, but Wynn approaches the subject with empathy without ever making excuses for their toxic rhetoric.

“DOOM: The Fake Outrage”

Shaun is quite possibly the most droll human on the internet, and has carved out a niche in poking holes in the hole-poking antics of channels like CinemaSins. Here, he demonstrates the common internet strategy of cherry-picking a few tweets or comments to trump up a non-issue like “The SJWs are angry.”

“Disney - The Magic of Animation”

By kaptainkristian

There was much rejoicing with Kristian Williams returned to YouTube after a year’s hiatus, and his first new video proved well worth the wait. Disney is a tremendously popular subject for video essays, and there are plenty about the studio’s revered 12 principles of animation. But none of them tackle the subject with the visual and editing skill that Williams brings to the table.

“Nostalghia Critique”

by KyleKallgrenBHH

This essay is simultaneously and seamlessly many things: an exegesis on a single scene in Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1983 film Nostalghia , playing it without any cuts; a look at how video creators work around content copyright rules with various editing and presentational tricks; and a meditation on creator Kyle Kallgren’s time with a company that frequently struggled with the strictures of YouTube’s copyright rules, and how it eventually fell apart under the malfeasance of the people running it. “Nostalghia Critique” is an unshowy but wonderful union of personal, aesthetic, and corporate concerns.

Dan Schindel is an editor, writer, and critic based in Los Angeles.

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