React is a media franchise used by the Fine Brothers consisting of several online series centering on a group of individuals reacting to viral videos, trends, video games, film trailers, or music videos. The franchise was launched with the YouTube debut of Kids React in October 2010, and then grew to encompass four more series uploaded on the Fine Brothers’ primary YouTube channel, a separate YouTube channel with various reaction-related content, as well as a television series titled React to That.
In 2016, the duo announced React World, a program and channel in which they would license the format of their React shows to creators, which led to widespread negative reception from viewers and fellow content creators, as well as confusion about what their format is. This eventually leads to the Fine Brothers to removing all videos related to React World, essentially pulling the plug on the React World program.
Benny and Rafi Fine launched a series titled Kids React on October 16, 2010, the first video being “Kids React to Viral Videos (Double Rainbow, Obama Fail, Twin Rabbits, SnickersHalloween)”. The Kids React series features The Fine Brothers, off-camera, showing kids ages 4–14 (7-13 as of September 2016, 7-11 as of October 2016) several viral videos or popular YouTubers and having the kids react to the videos.
The most popular Kids React episode to date is “Kids React to Gay Marriage”, with over 40.2 million views as of September 2, 2018. The popularity of Kids React made it possible for the online series to win a special Emmy Award at the 39th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2012. The Emmy Award, that was given in cooperation with AOL, was awarded to the Fine Brothers for “Best Viral Video Series”. After their Emmy win, the brothers stated, “Not a lot has changed [after winning the Emmy] other than realizing that there are shows on YouTube like React that can get similar if not better viewership than mainstream entertainment can.”
Videos and YouTube stars that have been reacted to by the kids include Smosh (who later reacted to the kids’ reactions), planking and President Obama addressing the death of Osama bin Laden, among several other topics. Kids React has been compared to Kids Say the Darndest Things. In October 2012, the kids of the show were shown videos of the 2012 U.S. Presidential debates. Kids React won the Streamy Award for Best Non-Fiction or Reality Series in 2013.
Due to the popularity of Kids React, The Fine Brothers spawned a spin-off dubbed Teens React on November 17, 2011, with “TEENS REACT TO TWILIGHT“. The show has a similar premise to Kids React, however, the younger stars are replaced with teens, some of whom have aged out of the Kids React series. Due to this, the Fine Brothers are able to show more mature and less “kid-friendly” videos such as videos on topics like Toddlers & Tiaras, Rick Perry‘s Strong commercial, Amanda Todd’s death, and the 2012 U.S. Presidential debates. Other viral videos and YouTube stars that have been reacted to include Salad Fingers, the Overly Attached Girlfriend, “Gangnam Style“, The Hunger Games trailer, Shane Dawson, and One Direction, among other topics. Later on, The Fine Brothers launched a series named Teens React: Gaming consisting videos of teens reacting to popular games such as Mario Kart 64, Flappy Bird, and Rocket League. Teens React launched the career of Lia Marie Johnson and also featured some “famous” ‘reactors’ as guest stars, including Lisa Cimorelli, Amy Cimorelli, Lucas Cruikshank, Alex Steele, Jake Short, and Maisie Williams.