Kaizen d’Inoxtag: “The counters are going crazy”, “unprecedented”, whether on YouTube or at the cinema the craze has been “exceptional”

Inoxtag's Everest adventure has interested many viewers. Youtube Inoxtag screenshot

More than 11 million views in 24 hours: “the counters are going crazy” for the documentary by web star Inoxtag that retraces his ascent of Everest, testifying to an “exceptional” craze, a YouTube spokesperson told AFP on Sunday.

Posted online Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on the platform owned by Google, where it is number one in trends, this film of nearly 2:30, entitled “Kaizen“, has also already generated more than 95,000 comments, often rave reviews, and garnered more than a million “likes”.

“Very exceptional figures that show the craze for this documentary”, according to the YouTube spokesperson contacted by AFP. It is “certainly” “one of the best launches in the history” of the platform in France, added the same source, in the absence of a precise ranking.

The 22-year-old YouTuber, followed by more than 20 million subscribers on social networks, was also a hit in theaters, attracting some 340,000 spectators – including 40,000 abroad (Belgium, Quebec, Morocco, etc.), – at the previews of his film on Friday night and Saturday morning, according to figures given to AFP on Sunday by his distributor, MK2.

"Never seen before" at the cinema

For content put online for free a few hours later, "this is something never seen before", commented Nathanaël Karmitz, one of the leaders of MK2, for AFP, praising "the desire for a collective experience" of the public and a film that "deserves to be seen on the big screen".

This documentary also fits “very good for watching on TV” with the family, argues the YouTube spokesperson. Real name Inès Benazzouz, Inoxtag has more than 8 million subscribers on YouTube, 6.1 million on TikTok and 5.6 million on Instagram.

“Kaizen” traces the challenge of this mountaineering novice to climb Everest, the highest peak in the world (over 8,800 meters), by preparing in one year. In a goodbye video to his fans at the beginning of April, Inoxtag said he would disconnect from all his networks while he completed his climb.

A film that also shows the damage of the Everest business

Many media outlets had speculated on the success of his challenge. His film, which also shows the damage caused by overtourism, pollution, and the risks associated with this expedition, was acclaimed by his fans, but also sparked some criticism in the press and on social media.

“Kaizen”, the documentary by Inoxtag, can be viewed here.

Libération notably deplored the invisibility of the work of the Sherpas, while mountaineer and photographer Pascal Tournaire pointed out in L’Equipe a film “very self-centered" without real "exploit", according to him.