Much like the year before, 2021 wasn't quite what we expected it to be. For many of us, it meant turning to YouTube for entertainment and education, so it's no surprise that the platform's biggest videos of the year racked up over 100 million views.

To wrap up the year, YouTube has published a list of the top videos and creators from 2021. Let's take a look at the content that took home gold.

On the YouTube Blog, the company has revealed the top videos and creators of 2021; those that achieved wide mainstream success and secured millions of eyes watching their content.

The top five trending US videos on YouTube in 2021 were:

  1. MrBeast - I Spent 50 Hours Buried Alive
  2. Dream - Minecraft Speedrunner VS 5 Hunters
  3. Mark Rober - Glitterbomb Trap Catches Phone Scammer (who gets arrested)
  4. NFL - The Weeknd’s FULL Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime show
  5. CoryxKenshin - Friday night Funkin’ KEEPS GEtTING BETTER AND BETTER (Part 2)

MrBeast secured first place last year and didn't slow down, so it's no surprise to see him here again. The YouTuber is known for his extravagant challenges, each wackier than the last.

Elsewhere, YouTube notes that creators produced sequels in response to demand, which "showed how to turn one-off wins into full-on series with fresh influence". For example, Dream's Minecraft speedruns became increasingly challenging, while Mark Rober's homemade glitter bombs served delicious justice.

The top ten YouTube videos of 2021 were viewed more than 485 million times, for around 70 million hours. The channels that produced these videos have more than 238 million subscribers collectively.

The Top Creators on YouTube in 2021

Unsurprisingly, many of the creators behind the top videos also rank on the top US creators. They are:

  1. MrBeast
  2. Dhar Mann
  3. SSSniperWolf
  4. CoryxKenshin
  5. Dream

Many gamers made the list, as video game streaming, Let's Plays, and speedruns are a very popular way to build a YouTube community.

Related: The Most Popular YouTube Channels by Subscribers

What Awaits YouTube in 2022?

YouTube no longer produces Rewind videos, so these lists are the best look we'll get at the content that captivated the world in 2021.

Who knows what awaits YouTube in 2022? Will MrBeast continue to dominate? Or will an upcoming creator take the crown?