MrBeast-Patterson Thriller Faces Weak Preorders Ahead of Release
The upcoming thriller 'The Most Dangerous Games,' co-written by YouTuber MrBeast and author James Patterson, is reportedly tracking poorly in presales, with orders in the low thousands as of last week. According to Semafor, the book is on track to be a historic bomb, and it currently sits at No. 18 on Amazon's new releases list. The publisher HarperCollins has not commented on the report.
The Most Dangerous Games pairs MrBeast, whose YouTube channel reaches over half a billion subscribers, with James Patterson, one of the best-selling authors in publishing history. The novel's premise involves a high-stakes competition across extreme environments, including Antarctica and remote Chilean islands, with a billion-dollar prize at stake. Promotional efforts have included a YouTube short offering a $1 million prize to readers. HarperCollins has not responded to the Semafor report, which cites anonymous sources close to the project describing preorder numbers in the low thousands—far below what would justify the reportedly substantial advance payments to both creators.
The book currently holds the No. 18 position on Amazon's new releases chart, a modest placement for a project carrying two major entertainment names. The collaboration represents a notable crossover between digital content creation and traditional publishing, with MrBeast's massive online following theoretically providing a built-in audience for the thriller.
This story could signal a shift in how publishers evaluate celebrity-driven book deals, particularly those involving digital creators whose audiences may not translate into traditional book-buying behavior. If the book underperforms, it may make publishers more cautious about large advances for influencer collaborations, potentially affecting future cross-industry partnerships. Readers and the publishing industry alike could see this as a case study in the limits of online fame when applied to print media, though strong post-release marketing or MrBeast's promotional contests could still alter the outcome.