From their bedroom to the movie theaters, YouTube stars are increasingly making their mark on the big screen. On May 18th and 19th, YouTuber Seb La Frite premiered his documentary “Thirty Years” at the cinema, after showcasing it at the Cannes Film Festival. For the occasion, we went to the Mk2 Bibliotheque cinema in Paris, where the content creator was present. We asked the audience what motivates them to pay for a cinema ticket to see content that will later be available for free on YouTube.
As you can see in the video at the top of the article, their opinions are unanimous: they want to experience it differently, together, and in better conditions than at home. Beyond popcorn and comfortable seats, there is a desire to “support the creator and their teams who are trying to make their mark in cinema,” explained one of the spectators.
Seb La Frite is not the first in France to venture into movie theaters. Before him, Michou and Ludoc had already offered a similar experience. Recently, Inoxtag’s project “Kaizen,” about his ascent of Everest, marked a turning point in 2024. The documentary attracted over 300,000 spectators to the cinema in just 2 days. This success is not surprising considering the changing trends in audiovisual consumption.
Indeed, according to a study conducted by Arcom in March 2026, 77% of YouTube users watch videos longer than 30 minutes, especially on connected TVs. Facing a decline in cinema attendance, the CNC (National Center of Cinematography and the Moving Image) has taken the initiative to promote these new formats by screening them on the big screen. The goal is to attract a younger audience, turning these web stars into stars of the Cannes Film Festival and red carpets.
