Smosh Rankings And Opinions

Trying to rank Smosh is a bit like trying to rank your own inside jokes: technically possible, emotionally chaotic, and guaranteed to annoy at least one friend.
For almost two decades, Smosh has gone from two guys lip-syncing in a bedroom to a full-blown sketch-comedy collective with multiple channels, movies, and a
surprisingly complicated lore chart.

In this guide to Smosh rankings and opinions, we’ll walk through the major eras of the channel, the best formats and series, fan-favorite
sketches, and some of the most common hot takesboth positive and critical. Think of it as a power ranking of everything Smosh has tried, mixed with commentary
from long-time viewers and trends in the broader YouTube comedy world.

How Smosh Became a YouTube Comedy Benchmark

Smosh started in 2002 as a simple website created by Anthony Padilla for Flash animations. Ian Hecox soon joined in, and by 2005 the duo moved their chaos to a
little new site called YouTube. Their “Pokémon Theme Music Video” went viral and, for a time, was the most-viewed video on the platform, helping cement Smosh as
one of YouTube’s earliest breakout stars.

Over time, they shifted from lip-sync parodies to original sketch comedy, leaning into hyperbolic characters, surreal premises, and a very specific brand of
“this feels like my friends messing around after school” energy. That relatability helped them grow into a full-scale comedy brand with multiple channels:
Smosh (sketches), Smosh Pit (vlogs and challenges), Smosh Games, and various side projects and podcasts.

Along the way, the group expanded from just Ian and Anthony into a rotating ensemble cast that has included Courtney Miller, Shayne Topp, Olivia Sui, Noah
Grossman, Keith Leak Jr., and many others. Think of it as a YouTube version of a sketch troupe: same chaotic energy, but with more jump cuts.

Ranking the Smosh Eras: From Bedroom Sketches to Rebuying the Brand

1. The Classic Duo Era (2005–2011)

Most nostalgic fans rank the early duo era near the top. This is when videos like “If Movies Were Real,” “If Scary Movies Were Real,” and “Pokemon in Real Life”
became fan favorites and frequently show up on best-Smosh-video lists and rankings.

Pros of this era:

• Simple, fast-paced sketches built around one absurd premise.
• A strong “two best friends being idiots together” dynamic.
• Early YouTube charmgrainy camera quality, chaotic editing, and zero corporate polish.

Downsides, especially from modern viewers, include edgy jokes that haven’t aged well and a narrow focus on two leads. But for many people, this is “peak Smosh”
and still defines their opinions of the brand today.

2. The Defy Media Expansion & Big-Cast Era (2011–2018)

When Defy Media acquired Smosh, the group added more cast members, spun up new channels, and moved toward being a mini digital studio.
The “Every [Blank] Ever” series, bigger sets, and more complex sketches gave the channel a new look.

In fan rankings, this era is polarizing. Some people love the variety, recurring side characters, and improv-heavy bits. Others feel the duo’s chemistry got
diluted by corporate pressure and a heavier upload schedule.

Key strengths:

• Ensemble sketches that felt closer to TV sketch shows.
• New formats like “Every Blank Ever,” mini web series, and long-form projects.
• Higher production quality, costumes, and sets.

On the downside, you’ll often see this era ranked lower because of burnoutboth on-screen and behind the scenesand because some fans felt the writing became
more generic as the brand scaled.

3. Anthony’s Exit & the Mythical Era (2017–2023)

In 2017, Anthony Padilla left to pursue his own channel, and Smosh continued under Ian’s leadership. After Defy Media suddenly shut down, Smosh was picked up by
Mythical Entertainment, the company behind Rhett & Link’s “Good Mythical Morning.”

Rankings for this era are surprisingly kind. Many viewers appreciate how the ensemble cast stepped up, creating new identities for Smosh Games, Smosh Pit, and
various improv-heavy series. There’s a sense that the cast got room to experiment and grow into their own archetypes.

People who rank this era lower usually miss the original duo dynamic or feel that some formats became a bit formulaic. Still, it’s widely respected for keeping
Smosh relevant during a chaotic time in YouTube history.

4. The Reunited & Independent Era (2023–Present)

In June 2023, Anthony and Ian shocked the internet by announcing that they had bought Smosh back from Mythical and were once again independent owners of their
historic YouTube comedy brand.

This era ranks very high in current fan opinion polls and subreddit discussions. It blends nostalgia (the original duo is back!) with a more mature approach to
writing, plus the advantages of an experienced, tight-knit ensemble cast.

Many fans describe it as “the best of both worlds”classic duo energy with modern production, smarter character work, and more self-awareness about what worked
(and didn’t) in the past.

Ranking Smosh Formats: Sketches, Improv, and Everything In Between

Top-Tier Formats

When people talk about best Smosh videos and series, a few formats consistently rank at the top:

• Classic Sketches – “If Movies Were Real,” “If Scary Movies Were Real,” and “Pokemon in Real Life” sit high in fan rankings thanks to tight
  premises, memorable lines, and the mix of absurdity with everyday logic.
• Every [Blank] Ever – A rapid-fire sketch format that roasts clichés from schools, jobs, holidays, and fandoms. It’s endlessly remixable and
  accessible to new viewers.
• Longer-Form Specials & Movie Projects – “Smosh: The Movie” may not top critical rankings, but it’s important in the Smosh timeline, proving a
  YouTube brand could stretch into a full-length film.
• Improv and Table Shows – Unscripted shows on Smosh Pit (and sometimes Smosh Games) score highly with fans who love cast chemistry and
  in-jokes more than tight scripts.

Mid-Tier but Beloved by Niche Fans

• Web Sitcoms like “Part Timers” – Solid storytelling and character arcs, but more niche than the flagship sketch content.
• Experimental Series & One-Offs – “Smoshtober” initiatives and various side projects earn respect in opinion pieces for pushing format
  boundaries, even when not all of them land.

Formats with Mixed Opinions

Not everything is universally adored. Some late-stage Defy-era content, where uploads felt heavily scheduled and branded, often gets placed lower in rankings.
Viewers sometimes describe it as “Smosh, but with homework”the heart was there, but the corporate influence was visible.

Critical essays and think pieces have also called out moments where the channel leaned on easy stereotypes or outdated jokes, arguing that “being a comedy
channel” isn’t a free pass from accountability. This tension between edgy humor and ethical responsibility is a recurring theme in
discussions about Smosh’s legacy.

Fan-Favorite Videos: What Usually Tops Smosh Rankings

While every fan’s Top 10 looks a little different, user polls and ranking sites in the U.S. highlight a recurring group of favorites:

• If Scary Movies Were Real – Ranked highly for taking horror tropes and dragging them into painfully logical reality.
• Pokemon in Real Life – A spiritual successor to their original viral hit, blending gaming culture with live-action chaos.
• Beef ’n Go – An absurd fake commercial that lives rent-free in older fans’ brains.
• If Movies Were Real – Another top contender that skewers Hollywood logic in everyday life.

More recent rankings from fan communities and platforms like Reddit increasingly feature newer-era hits, from roast-style videos to reunion sketches and
meta-commentary about the brand itself.

What ties these favorites together isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a specific mix of:

• Relatable frustrations (school, parents, movies, fandoms).
• Heightened, cartoonish performances.
• Quick pacing and punchy edit-driven jokes.

How Opinions on Smosh Have Evolved Over Time

Opinions on Smosh are highly era-dependent. Viewers who discovered them as teenagers in 2008–2012 often crown the original duo era as the gold standard. Younger
fans who came in through Smosh Pit or Smosh Games may rank ensemble improv content higher than the older scripted sketches.

Outside the fandom, Smosh has been recognized as unusually influential: at one point, they were ranked among the most influential personalities for U.S. teens,
outranking several Hollywood stars, and they’ve held multiple subscriber-related records on YouTube over the years.

At the same time, cultural standards have shifted. Some earlier jokesespecially those leaning on stereotypes or shock valueare now critiqued as dated.
Commentators argue that long-running comedy brands like Smosh need to evolve, not just for PR, but to stay genuinely funny to an audience that’s more aware of
social issues.

The 2023 reunion and buy-back storyline has helped reshape public perception. Coverage in outlets like Forbes and Variety framed it as a comeback narrative: two
creators reclaiming control over the thing they built and steering it into a new chapter on their own terms.

So… Is Smosh “Good” Now? A Balanced Take

If you’re looking for a clean, objective answer to whether Smosh is “good,” the internet will gently laugh in your face. It depends heavily on what era you
watched, which sketches hooked you, and how your own sense of humor has changed.

Still, a few consensus points emerge from rankings and opinions:

• Historically important – Their contribution to defining early YouTube comedy is hard to deny.
• Uneven but evolving – Like most long-running comedy shows, Smosh has peaks and valleys, experiments that work, and experiments that definitely don’t.
• Stronger when creator-led – Fans tend to rank eras higher when Ian and Anthony have more creative control and the brand feels less corporate.

In other words, Smosh today is a layered thing: part nostalgic comfort channel, part modern improv troupe, part case study in how online creators survive
corporate chaos and still come out making fart jokes with heart.

Experiences With Smosh: How Fans Actually Engage With the Channel

Beyond rankings and lists, the most interesting part of Smosh opinions is how deeply personal they are. Many long-time viewers talk about
discovering Smosh at key moments in their livesmiddle school awkwardness, late-night college procrastination, or the first wave of pandemic lockdown boredom.

A common experience goes like this: you click on a video because a friend sent you “If ______ Were Real,” expecting cringe. A few minutes later, you’re ten
sketches deep, you know everyone’s catchphrases, and you’re arguing with strangers online about which Food Battle was the best. That transition from “random
video” to “part of my routine” is how Smosh works its way into people’s media diet.

For younger viewers, Smosh can feel like a crash course in internet humor. The fast cuts, self-referential jokes, and willingness to break the fourth wall
mirror how people talk in group chats and meme threads. When fans describe why they keep coming back, they often mention that the cast feels like a messy,
extended friend group they’ve been “watching grow up” for years.

Another shared experience is watching Smosh change alongside your own sense of humor. A sketch that was hilarious at 13 might feel rough at 25, but newer
videosespecially those that lean into self-awareness or poke fun at internet culturecan hit in a different, more relatable way. Viewers don’t just rank
“best Smosh videos”; they quietly rank which ones still hold up when they revisit them as adults.

For aspiring creators, Smosh is often a blueprint and a cautionary tale at the same time. On the positive side, the group shows that two friends with a camera
can build a full production company, land a movie, and eventually buy their brand back from corporate owners. On the challenging side, behind-the-scenes stories
about burnout, ownership contracts, and sudden business collapses (like Defy Media’s shutdown) are a reminder that viral success isn’t the same as stability.

Many fans talk about how comforting it was to see the cast openly discuss mental health, career uncertainty, and creative pressure in more candid formats like
podcasts and behind-the-scenes content. That vulnerability reshaped opinions of Smosh from “those loud sketch guys” to “a real team of people figuring it out in
public.”

The 2023 reunion is another emotional touchstone in fan experience. People who had moved on from the channel found themselves pulled back in by the announcement
that Ian and Anthony were reunited and had regained ownership of Smosh. The video felt less like a marketing move and more like closure to a long-running story
threadone that made older viewers unexpectedly sentimental about a pair of YouTubers they’d grown up with.

Ultimately, when fans share their experiences, the rankings almost feel secondary. Yes, they’ll argue about whether the classic sketches beat the new improv
era, or whether Smosh Games deserves more respect. But underneath that, the opinions are really about something else: growing up with a channel, shifting tastes,
and the strange comfort of opening YouTube and seeing familiar faces still doing ridiculous bits after all these years.

That’s the real power of Smosh: not just being “ranked #1” on some list, but living rent-free in people’s memories as a soundtrack to their internet childhood
and beyond.