How to Edit YouTube Videos Like MrBeast — Step by Step
How to Edit YouTube Videos Like MrBeast — Step by Step
Ever watched a MrBeast video and wondered, “How do they keep me glued to the screen?” MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is famous not just for outrageous challenges, but also for hyper-engaging editing that maximizes viewer retention. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll break down how you can edit your YouTube videos in a similar style – from planning your content to cutting it together for maximum watch time. Get ready to boost your video engagement and retention, MrBeast-style!
Step 1: Plan a High-Retention Video Concept
MrBeast’s editing magic starts before filming. It begins with choosing a concept that hooks viewers. Brainstorm ideas that have built-in excitement or curiosity. MrBeast often uses challenges (“Last to leave…”, “I spent 50 hours…”) or big surprises (giving away huge prizes) as concepts that make people need to see the outcome. While you might not blow up a Lamborghini, think of stakes or a mystery in your video idea. Ask yourself: Why would a viewer be compelled to watch this to the end? Make that reason clear in your plan.
Write a tight script or outline with key exciting moments spread throughout. MrBeast’s team ensures something interesting happens every few seconds – a joke, a visual surprise, or a new development. Plan out these beats so there’s no dull stretch. This blueprint will guide your editing later.
Step 2: Start with a Powerful Hook (First 5–15 Seconds)
The first few seconds of your video are absolutely critical. MrBeast’s videos often open with a bang – an extreme statement or teaser of the biggest moment (“I recreated Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory!” for example). In your video, show or tell the most intriguing part right up front. It could be a snippet of the climax, a shocking statistic, or a bold question. This hook grabs attention and gives viewers a reason to keep watching.
Keep introductions super short or skip them. Notice MrBeast never starts with “Hi guys, welcome back to my channel…” – he jumps straight into action. You have to hook viewers in the first 10 seconds, or many will click away. So ditch any long intro sequence or logo stingers. Jump into the content immediately with something that sparks curiosity or excitement in your audience.
Example: If you’re doing a challenge video – start with “We’re about to do X crazy thing, and the winner gets Y!” – quick, clear, enticing.
Step 3: Use Fast-Paced Editing and Never Let Up
A hallmark of MrBeast’s style is fast pacing. This means: - Quick cuts: Trim out every single pause, dead moment, or unnecessary bit. Scenes change rapidly so there’s no time to get bored. - Zooms and punch-ins: MrBeast’s editor often zooms on faces or objects for comedic effect or emphasis. Jump-cutting from a wide shot to a close-up punches up the energy. - Multiple camera angles: If you have footage from different angles, switch between them frequently to add movement. - Speed ramps: Occasionally speeding up footage (e.g., time-lapses of waiting or repetitive actions) keeps the pace up.
During editing, be ruthless – if any moment feels slow or off-topic, cut it. MrBeast has mentioned he reviews cuts and says “make it faster” until it’s tight. Aim for constant action or information. Even a half-second of dull footage can lose viewers. Keep an eye on your timeline’s pacing and trim, trim, trim!
Step 4: Add Engaging Graphics and Captions
Visual overlays are a secret sauce in retention editing. MrBeast videos liberally use big, bold captions for emphasis on what’s being said, as well as arrows, circles, emojis and other graphics. These elements serve to re-engage the viewer’s eyes and hammer home key points.
For instance, when a contestant is eliminated or a crazy moment happens, you might see giant text on screen (“ELIMINATED!”) or a timer counting down. MrBeast also often labels stages of a challenge on screen (“Stage 3”, “Final Round”) – this provides a progression signpost that keeps viewers oriented and curious for what’s next.
To emulate this: - Use captions/subtitles for at least the most important lines or punchlines. Make them styled (colorful, large font) not just small default subtitles. - Pop-up graphics: e.g., if someone in the video has a shocked reaction, add a “😮” emoji next to their face, or if you reference a money amount, show a cash graphic flying. - Progress bars or countdowns: These encourage viewers to stick till the end by indicating how far along the video they are in the challenge or story.
Be creative but purposeful – the goal is to hold attention and make information super clear. Even a viewer glancing away will see a giant caption and get pulled back in.
Step 5: Harness Sound: Music and Effects
MrBeast’s videos sound as exciting as they look. You’ll notice energetic music under almost the entire video. They choose tracks that match the mood of each segment – upbeat for action, tense for anticipation, etc. Adding music is proven to increase watch time by maintaining energy.
Do this in your edit: - Pick a catchy background music track that isn’t too distracting (instrumental works best). Adjust the volume so it’s audible but not overpowering dialogue. - Change the music when the scene changes or at least a few times throughout the video to signal new chapters or escalate tension. - Use sound effects generously. Funny “boing” or “fail horn” sounds for comedic moments, whooshes for fast transitions, dings when on-screen text appears – these little audio cues reward the viewer’s brain and keep things lively. MrBeast videos often layer multiple sound effects to punctuate actions (e.g., a cash register cha-ching when money is mentioned).
Plenty of royalty-free sound libraries exist for YouTubers – spend a bit of time picking some signature sounds for your content.
And one more pro tip: don’t let there be silence. Even a brief silent gap feels like the video lost momentum. Music or ambient sound should always be there to maintain atmosphere.
Step 6: Emphasize Storytelling & Progression
Crazy stunts alone aren’t enough – MrBeast retains viewers by telling a story with a clear progression. There’s always a sense of “what’s going to happen next?” or “who will win?” that keeps you hooked.
When editing your video: - Maintain a narrative arc. Trim and rearrange footage if needed to have a logical flow: a beginning (setup the challenge or premise), a middle (escalating stakes or difficulties), and an end (climax and resolution). Ensure this arc is clear. - If it’s a challenge or competition, highlight the elimination or progression points clearly. Use text or narration to remind viewers what stage you’re in (“Round 3 – only 5 players left!”). - Include preview clips or mini-teasers. MrBeast sometimes flashes a few exciting upcoming moments early in the video (like a mini-trailer). You can sprinkle a brief flash-forward to something exciting that hasn’t happened yet, to build anticipation. - Keep the outcome uncertain. Don’t give away who wins or the final result until it happens. Build tension up to that moment using faster cuts and suspenseful music in the edit.
The key is that even with fast pacing, there’s a thread tying it all together. The viewer should always know what the goal is and be excited about how it will resolve.
Step 7: Refine for Retention – Watch Through a Viewer’s Eyes
Once you have a rough cut, it’s time to play “audience member” and critically watch your edit. Pay attention to any moment your own mind wanders. If you feel even slightly bored at some point, that’s a signal to tighten the edit there.
MrBeast’s team is known for doing multiple edit passes purely to improve retention. Here are some final tweaks: - Remove redundancies: Did someone repeat themselves? Is a joke explained twice? Cut it out. - Shorten transitions: Jump directly from one scene to the next; avoid fades or slow transitions which can drop energy. - Add pattern interrupts: If the video has had a similar pace for a while, throw something different in – a sudden sound effect, a meme insert, a quick full-screen graphic – to jolt attention. Pattern interruption is a psychological trick to re-engage viewers when they might tune out. - Check the first 30 seconds again: Are they as tight and compelling as possible? According to research, 65% of viewers who watch the first 3 seconds will stay for 30 seconds or more. Hook them early, and they’re likely to continue. So make sure your opening truly pops.
You can also use YouTube’s audience retention graph (in YouTube Analytics) after you upload. It shows where people drop off. Use that data on future videos to inform your editing – if you see drops during explanations, next time make those sections shorter or more visual, etc.
Step 8: Continuously Up Your Game
Editing like MrBeast is an evolving challenge – what worked last year might need leveling up now. Jimmy’s team is constantly experimenting and one-upping the intensity and pacing. Keep an eye on the latest MrBeast videos for new tricks. For example, recent videos might have even more frequent cuts or new subtitle styles; they often set the trend for the YouTube community.
Don’t be afraid to be creative and develop your own twist on this style. The goal isn’t to copy every edit, but to adopt the principles of retention-focused editing: - Make every second count. - Surprise the viewer frequently. - Never let them feel bored or confused about what’s happening.
By following these steps – hooking early, editing ruthlessly, using engaging visuals and sounds, and structuring a clear story – you’ll dramatically increase your video’s ability to keep people watching. MrBeast’s success shows that smart editing and storytelling can make any concept wildly entertaining if done right.
Now grab your footage and start cutting with these tips in mind. Who knows – the next retention graph you see might look like one of MrBeast’s (nearly flat until the end, meaning viewers stayed!). Good luck, and happy editing!