Top 10 Most Liked YouTube Videos in 2025: Viral Hits Shaping Engagement

The Top 10 most liked videos on YouTube as of 2025 highlight the kind of content that resonates most with viewers and drives massive engagement. Likes on YouTube serve as a quick barometer of a video’s popularity and positive reception. Over the years, this leaderboard has evolved from being dominated by professional music videos to featuring more content from influential creators and even short-form clips. In fact, YouTube Shorts have significantly shaken up the rankings – several of the most-liked videos today are under a minute long, reflecting the platform’s shifting trends. For content creators and brands (from major artists to micro influencers), these viral hits offer insights into what audiences worldwide find most engaging. Let’s count down the top 10 most liked YouTube videos of all time as we head into 2025, and see what makes them so special.

Top 10 Most Liked YouTube Videos (All-Time as of 2025)

Below is an updated list of the top ten most-liked YouTube videos ever, along with their like counts (in millions). This Top 10 most liked YouTube videos 2025 list spans a mix of music mega-hits and record-breaking stunts by famous YouTubers:

1. “Would You Fly to Paris for a Baguette?” – MrBeast (56.5 million likes) 

Topping the list is a YouTube Short by Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast. In this 2022 short video, MrBeast challenges someone to fly to Paris and bring him back a baguette – a characteristically over-the-top stunt. It amassed over 55 million likes, dethroning the long-reigning Despacito in January 2025 to become the most-liked YouTube video of all time. Notably, this is the first YouTube Shorts video to claim the #1 spot, illustrating the explosive virality of short-form content on YouTube. MrBeast’s knack for outrageous yet wholesome challenges clearly struck a chord globally, earning unprecedented appreciation (and proving that user engagement can skyrocket with the right kind of shareable content).

2. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (55.0 million likes)

The Latin pop sensation Despacito held the title of most-liked video on YouTube for over 7 years. Released in January 2017, this music video became a cultural phenomenon, infusing reggaeton into mainstream global charts. It was the first YouTube video to reach 50 million likes (achieved in October 2022). Though now sitting at #2, Despacito remains the most-liked music video ever on the platform. Its upbeat rhythm and catchy chorus turned it into a universal earworm, contributing not only to billions of views but also over 54 million likes as of 2025. Despacito’s long-standing record epitomizes how a music video with worldwide appeal can dominate engagement metrics for years.

3. “Baby Shark Dance” – Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories (45.6 million likes)

A children’s song-turned-internet phenomenon, Baby Shark is the most unexpected entry in the top 10. This colorful kids’ music video about a family of sharks is irresistibly simple and addictive – and it shows in the numbers. Baby Shark Dance has approximately 45–46 million likes, securing its place as the third most-liked video on YouTube. More impressively, it’s also the most-viewed YouTube video ever, having surpassed 16 billion views by 2025. Its sing-along appeal and viral dance challenge (remember the #BabySharkChallenge) turned it into a cultural icon that kids and parents across the globe embraced. Baby Shark demonstrates how user-generated content (UGC) trends (like families recording their kids dancing along) can propel a simple idea to record-breaking heights.

4. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth (45.2 million likes)

Tied closely with Baby Shark in likes, See You Again is a pop-rap ballad that gained massive popularity as a tribute to actor Paul Walker (featured in the Furious 7 movie soundtrack). This emotional music video has around 45 million likes, reflecting the song’s deep resonance with millions of fans. See You Again actually held the title of most-liked YouTube video for a time in 2016–2017, before Despacito overtook it. Its success comes from a combination of heartfelt lyrics, a poignant story, and the blending of hip-hop with pop sensibility. The video’s popularity underscores how emotional storytelling and relatable themes can drive engagement – a useful lesson for content creators and marketers aiming to forge a real connection with audiences.

5. “Our MOST INTENSE Balloon Popping Race!!” – How Ridiculous (43.5 million likes)

This entry is a high-energy Short by the Australian YouTube channel How Ridiculous, known for wild trick shots and experiments. In the video, two creators compete to pop hundreds of balloons in a race format – a simple yet oddly satisfying concept. To the surprise of many, it garnered over 43 million likes, putting this non-music clip in the all-time top five. The balloon-popping race exemplifies the power of visual appeal and suspense in short-form content. Viewers around the world found it thrilling and fun, smashing the like button in droves. That a channel of hobbyist origin reached this rank shows how content creators (even those outside music/celebrity circles) can achieve record engagement with creativity and a bit of luck via YouTube’s recommendation engine.

6. “Giving iPhones Instead of Candy on Halloween” – MrBeast (40.2 million likes)

MrBeast appears again (not for the last time) with one of his trademark generosity-driven videos. In this 2022 video, he surprised trick-or-treaters by handing out iPhones and other expensive gifts instead of candy. The feel-good stunt earned about 40 million likes, showing the appeal of positive surprises and charitable twists. This video is a full-length upload (not a Short), proving that longer content can still thrive in the age of short-form virality. MrBeast’s approach – grand gestures that make viewers smile – clearly taps into an emotional sweet spot. It’s a form of influencer marketing in itself: brands often partner with creators like him to showcase philanthropy and wow-factor challenges that drive engagement. The success of this video highlights how combining generosity, relatability, and a seasonal theme can lead to huge audience approval.

7. “If Cleaning Was a Timed Sport – Part 2” – Daniel LaBelle (39.3 million likes)

Comedian Daniel LaBelle has carved out a niche with his short physical comedy sketches. In this video, framed as a part 2, he humorously imagines cleaning chores as an Olympic-style timed sport. The short resonated widely, picking up roughly 39 million likes. LaBelle’s content is virtually silent comedy, relying on visual gags and universality – which likely helped it transcend language barriers and rack up likes globally. This entry exemplifies how a creator with a relatively smaller following (a micro-influencer in the grand scheme) can still produce one of the most liked videos through creativity and understanding the platform. The rise of Daniel LaBelle’s video in this list aligns with YouTube’s shift toward promoting Shorts and the idea that any creator (not just huge artists) can go viral. It’s a case study in the power of niche content: even mundane activities like cleaning, if presented cleverly, can win the Internet’s heart.

8. “Dynamite” – BTS (38.4 million likes)

Global K-pop superstars BTS hold the eighth spot with Dynamite, their 2020 English-language hit. The Dynamite music video – a vibrant, retro-themed visual feast – has about 38 million likes. BTS’s presence on this list underscores the formidable power of fandoms in driving engagement. The group’s devoted fanbase (the BTS ARMY) rallied behind this feel-good pop anthem, smashing like records especially in the video’s early release days. Dynamite also set YouTube records for premiere viewership and views in 24 hours in 2020, reflecting how anticipation and fan engagement can translate into likes. From an influencer marketing perspective, BTS demonstrates how building a passionate community (in their case, through music and social media) leads to high engagement metrics. Brands and content creators can take note: community building and catering to your audience’s desires (BTS crafted Dynamite to spread joy) can result in skyrocketing likes and shares.

9. “Katana Vs Bullet” – MrBeast (37.1 million likes)

In yet another appearance, MrBeast’s short Katana Vs Bullet secures the ninth spot with over 37 million likes. This quick video likely features a high-speed experiment (for example, slicing a bullet mid-air with a katana sword) – the exact kind of sensational, “don’t try this at home” content that hooks viewers. The concept combines curiosity and danger in a bite-sized format, which helped it go ultra-viral. MrBeast’s repeated presence in the top 10 (with three entries by most counts) highlights his unmatched influence on the platform. It’s also worth noting how short-form content is dominating – Katana Vs Bullet and several others here are YouTube Shorts, which tend to gather likes rapidly via the Shorts feed. For marketers, this underlines the importance of adapting to format trends: short, punchy videos can drive massive engagement if they deliver excitement immediately.

10. “The Rock vs MrBeast for $100,000” – MrBeast (35.6 million likes)

Rounding out the list is a collaboration between MrBeast and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In this video, the mega-popular creator teamed up with a Hollywood superstar for challenges with a $100,000 prize on the line. The video has earned roughly 35–36 million likes. Interestingly, some sources show a different video (“OMG Best Teacher” by Dednahype, a comedy Short with ~34 million likes) hovering near this tenth spot. But MrBeast’s collab with The Rock edges it out, showcasing the draw of celebrity influencer collaborations. The star power combo and high stakes of the challenge made it immensely clickable and shareable. This example illustrates how pairing famous personalities with platform-native creators can create cross-audience appeal, amplifying engagement. It’s a strategy often used in influencer marketing – mix big names with viral content formats to supercharge reach. With this entry, MrBeast (the world’s richest YouTuber) remarkably holds four of the top 10 most liked videos, underlining a new era where individual creators rival or exceed traditional music stars in capturing audience love.

Why These Videos Thrive: Insights for Content Creators and Brands

It’s clear that racking up tens of millions of likes isn’t just luck – these videos share some common ingredients that content creators, influencer marketers, and even brands (like Amazon sellers leveraging social media) can learn from:

• • Global Appeal and Emotion: Many of these videos transcend language and culture (music and visual comedy are universal). They evoke strong emotions – from joy in Baby Shark to nostalgia and grief in See You Again – prompting viewers to leave a like as a form of agreement or solidarity. Tapping into universal themes and feelings can boost engagement on any platform.

     

  • Virality via Trends and Challenges: A number of top videos rode viral trends. Baby Shark had a dance challenge; MrBeast’s Shorts often spark conversations on platforms like TikTok/Instagram due to their outrageous nature. Content that viewers feel compelled to share or emulate (challenges, reactions, memes) tends to accumulate more likes. User-generated content (UGC) around a video (e.g., fans creating their own versions or reactions) further amplifies its popularitym.korean-vibe.com.

     

  • Influencer Power and Community: The dominance of creators like MrBeast and BTS underscores how having a loyal community or fanbase drives likes. MrBeast’s followers rally to like and share his uploads immediately, much like BTS’s ARMY mobilizes for every release. Even smaller creators can cultivate a tight-knit audience; in fact, micro influencers often generate higher engagement rates relative to their follower count than mega-celebritiesstackinfluence.com. This is because their communities are highly invested and trust them – a point that platforms like Stack Influence emphasize when connecting brands with micro-influencers.

     

  • Consistency and Authenticity: Each video in the top 10 delivers exactly what its core audience expects – be it authentic music artistry, family-friendly fun, or crazy stunts – and often with a fresh twist. Successful creators strike a balance between consistency (building a recognizable style that followers love) and novelty (keeping content from going stale). Brands and creators who stay authentic to their voice while innovating on trends are more likely to earn those appreciative likes from viewers.
    

From a marketing perspective, these most-liked videos reveal that audience engagement is about more than just view counts – it’s about inspiring viewers to actively show their appreciation. Whether you’re a content creator, a brand manager, or an e-commerce entrepreneur leveraging influencer marketing, focusing on genuine connection and shareable moments is key. Even Amazon sellers and small businesses can take a cue by using influencers to create relatable, fun content (product unboxings, challenges, etc.) that encourage viewers to hit that “Like” button, boosting algorithms and reach in the process.

Conclusion to Top 10 Most Liked YouTube Videos in 2025

The top 10 most liked YouTube videos in 2025 paint a picture of a platform where entertainment value and emotional impact drive people to engage. We’ve moved from an era dominated by professionally produced music videos to one where a guy handing out iPhones or popping balloons can capture as much love from the crowd. This democratization of virality means opportunity: even up-and-coming content creators (or micro influencers) have a shot at creating the next big hit by focusing on content that is creative, authentic, and attuned to audience trends. As Stack Influence – a leading micro-influencer platform – often points out, smaller creators with engaged followings can outperform on engagement metrics. In an age of influencer marketing and ubiquitous UGC, the stories behind these most-liked videos remind us that relatable storytelling and community-driven content are king. Creators and marketers who learn from these examples will be better poised to boost their own engagement – perhaps not to 50 million likes, but enough to make a real impact in their niche. After all, as these record-breaking videos show, capturing the hearts (and likes) of viewers is very much achievable when you deliver content worth loving.