Picture Taken Via Netflix
Netflix’s aggressive push into acquiring and curating top-tier YouTube talent isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The latest channel to join the streaming giant’s ever-growing roster is The Besties, the wildly popular collaborative project from social media superstars Mackenzie Turner and Lael Hansen. A collection of their episodes is set to drop on Netflix sometime in October 2026.
If you aren’t familiar with The Besties, your kids or teens almost certainly are. The dynamic Canadian-born duo—known for their Roblox roleplays, energetic vlogs, and wild challenges—have built a dedicated fan base since launching their joint channel.
Just how big are they? At the time of publishing, The Besties YouTube channel boasts a highly impressive 3.26 million subscribers. And that’s just their joint venture! Mackenzie Turner is a digital powerhouse in her own right, with over 5 million followers on TikTok, another 2.6 million subscribers on her personal Mackenzie Turner Roblox channel, and a massive Instagram footprint. Her co-host and real-life best friend, Lael Hansen, also commands a huge solo audience, with over 1.17 million YouTube subscribers on her main channel, alongside hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram.
Here is what you can expect from their new drop on Netflix:
Content creators and best friends Mackenzie Turner and Lael Hansen host spooky slumber parties with scary games, creepy guests and 3 a.m. frights.
Given the spooky synopsis, an October release window makes perfect sense. We’re still waiting on an exact premiere date from Netflix, but a drop just in time for Halloween is all but guaranteed.
Following in a Long Line of YouTube Stars
As we’ve extensively covered, The Besties follows in a long line of YouTube shows and stars that have made the jump to Netflix.
While this trend dates back to early Netflix experiments like Miranda Sings’ Haters Back Off! or the mega-viral success of acquiring CoComelon, the pipeline has been absolutely supercharged over the last year. Rather than just buying back-catalogs, Netflix has actively shifted its strategy to partner with the biggest creators on the internet for exclusive seasons and day-and-date releases.
Throughout 2026 alone, Netflix has licensed and acquired a massive slate of YouTube hits. Some of the most notable channels and creators that have made the leap this year include:
- Rhett & Link – In one of the biggest creator deals to date, the legendary internet duo just brought their iconic daily show Good Mythical Morning to Netflix on September 7th, 2026. Under the banner of Mythical Entertainment, they’re now releasing new episodes on Netflix day-and-date with YouTube, alongside spin-off favorites Mythical Kitchen and Last Meals.
- The Amazing Digital Circus – The indie animation juggernaut from GLITCH struck a unique deal this year to stream new episodes on Netflix on the exact same day they hit YouTube.
- Ms. Rachel – The preschool education superstar joined Netflix’s lineup with batches of episodes dropping throughout the year.
- Danny Go! & ChuChu TV – The live-action kids’ dance series and the Indian nursery rhyme juggernaut both brought their massive energy to the streamer earlier this year.
- Mark Rober & First We Feast – Science creator Mark Rober joined the Netflix roster this year, while the streamer has also heavily targeted shows like Hot Ones.
- Plus others like Salish & Jordan Matter, Stoke Twins!, and many more, including all the digital publisher titles in the “Culture Edit” and more adult-focused titles like Kill Tony, plus many, many, podcasts.
Netflix knows Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha spend a massive chunk of their screen time on YouTube. By bringing established, highly followed creators like Mackenzie and Lael—and internet tentpoles like Rhett and Link—into the fold, Netflix is ensuring it keeps those key demographics locked into its platform.
Are you or your kids excited to see The Besties arrive on Netflix this October? Let us know in the comments down below!
