![[Updated] Deciphering the Language of YouTube Thumbnails Effectiveness](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/il986Jyk6V1_41Ywdkg17FWen7s=/400x300/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/connect-routers-on-a-home-network-8180601-4bce81516c024659b04500d7a94f2ed4.png)
[Updated] Deciphering the Language of YouTube Thumbnails Effectiveness
Deciphering the Language of YouTube Thumbnails Effectiveness
The Ultimate Guide to YouTube Thumbnails that Get Views
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.
Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.
- How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
- How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Thumbnail Makers
- How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
- Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.
Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.
1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)
A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.
#1. Choose Your Photo
To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.
Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.
If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.
Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.
Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.
#2. Add Text and/or Images
This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.
In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.
You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.
Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.
2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)
One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.
The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.
#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)
Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.
If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.
It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.
#2. Choose Your Background
Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.
#3. Put It Together
In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.
What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.
#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)
If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.
Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.
If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.
- Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
- Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
- Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
- Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.
Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.
YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.
Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.
Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers
You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:
Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.
Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.
Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.
You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.
Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers
Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:
#1. Show What Your Video Is About
Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.
If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.
#2. Use a Consistent Layout
As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.
#3. Use Your Face
Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.
If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.
Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.
#4. Add Small Graphics
Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.
#5. Your Text Should Be Huge
Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.
Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).
#6. Check Out The Competition
Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.
Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.
Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails
Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.
As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.
Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.
Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora
As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Best-Watched YouTube Film Channels Ranked
Versatile Video Editor - Wondershare Filmora
An easy yet powerful editor
Numerous effects to choose from
Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel
The movie industry is a creative art that requires a lot of different elements such as business, design, music, photography, and filmmaking. As time went by, movie reviews and news became more in demand in a digital video format rather than print. YouTube has made watching movies a lot easier just with your mobile phones and at your comfort. There are many hallmark movies on YouTube that you can manage to help you kill time.
While there are paid hallmark movies on YouTube, there are also free hallmark movies channels to watch to kill time ranging from a short film, cartoon, movie trailer, movie reaction, etc. In this article, I will show the top 15 YouTube movies channels to kill time in 2024.
In this article
01 Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
02 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
04 How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Part 1: Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
Are you a fan of watching movies? The good news is you can watch a variety of films on YouTube at the comfort of your home more easily just with the use of your mobile phone or your computer system. YouTube, a well-known platform for video-sharing with live broadcasting and music videos, also offers users the option to watch free and paid movies on the best YouTube movies channel.
Part 2: 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
If you are looking for YouTube channels to watch movies, the fact is that there are lots of best YouTube movies channels to watch films in your comfort and kill time. It is also vital to understand that some channels are free while others are paid based on the channel owner.
Stay tuned, as I’ll be giving you 15 top channels to watch movies and kill time this 2024!
1.Movieclips
Movieclips covers all aspects of movies, whether Western, action, comedy, horror, drama, film and many more genres. The Fandango Movieclips channel is the most extensive collection of licensed movie clips on the web.
2.Mr Sunday Movies
Mr. Sunday Movies is a cartoon movie network where you can find videos on Easter Eggs, Movie Reviews, Trailer Breakdowns, Deleted Scenes, and more.
3.Indietrix Film Reviews
Indietrix Film Reviews showcase film reviews from old to new with blockbusters and art-house movies and also create guides to genres of film and recommendations for Blu-ray, Amazon, and Netflix.
4.Screen Rant | Movie and TV
Screen Rant is one of the fastest-growing YouTube channels in the United States for watching movies.
5.Movieclips Trailers
Movieclips Trailer gives you hot new thrillers as they drop, and make sure all the hottest contemporary thrillers are available to you as you watch.
6.TopMovieClips
TopMovieClips is a cartoon superhero movie channel where you watch the best scenes, moments, and clips.
7.Screen Junkies
Screen Junkies is a movie channel with the original showcase series, stream of pop-culture parody, and thoughtful commentary.
8.Film Riot
Film Riot is a how-to full trip through filmmaking which Riot explores the art of filmmaking, from making significant effects to following Triune Films through production.
9.Beyond the Trailer
Beyond the Trailer, hosted and created by Grace Randolph is meant to give you an inside track of Hollywood thrillers and hot movies and also with movie reviews.
10.CineFix
CineFix is a final place for filmmakers and true movie buffs showing on their YouTube channel.
11.Looper
Looper is a YouTube channel for sourcing TV shows, video games, movies that everyone loves. Viewers of this channel are addicted to Star Wars and superheroes.
12.The Film Theorists
The Film Theorists is referred to as a did-you-know movie. This channel is good with theorizing movies bringing you little-known behind-the-scenes moments and incredible facts from all your favorite big-screen hits.
13.WhatCulture
WhatCulture is an online culture magazine covering TV, Film, Gaming, etc. It gives you the option to check back regularly for exclusive Top-10s, reviews, previews, etc.
14.ScreenPrism
ScreenPrism helps you to understand more about TV shows and movies. The channel aims at creating insightful video essays by commenting, entertaining, analyzing, and exploring various topics.
15.Film Gob
Film Gob is a YouTube channel meant for weird comedy mashup stuff, trailer, reactions, reviews, movie news, and rants.
Part 3: Where to Find Free Movies?
There are many paid movies on the internet, but it’s also necessary to note that there are other platforms where you can watch free interesting movies or free hallmark movies at your comfort. This platform includes:
1. Kanopy
Kanopy is home to free classic movies or art houses with the best streaming website for contemporary Indies. Kanopy is known for showing critically acclaimed and high-quality cinema.
2. Crackle
Crackle offers hundreds and thousands of full-length free movies. No matter the size of the screen or monitor you use to watch the movie, the movie still maintains its high quality.
3. Vimeo
Vimeo is also a video platform that operates like YouTube, allowing users to upload their movies and clips in HD quality and share. Vimeo offers paid and free hallmark movies for users and serves as an excellent alternative for those who are not into the idea of Google what you are watching. It has an Android and iOS app and a website to stream or watch directly without downloading the movies.
Part 4: How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Have you ever been taught how to create your short film? Wondershare Filmora is the best and easy tool to do this accordingly. When you finish making the short film, you can share it on your social media, including your Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Below, we will show you use Filmora to create your short film, like hallmark movies on YouTube in clicks.
Step 1: Install Filmora and Import Files
Open Wondershare Filmora, click the “Import” button, and load media files using the navigation import panel. Also, arrange the order by directly dragging and dropping your media files into the program.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
Step 2: Edit Videos using Filters
Start editing to make Stunning Videos using Various Effects & Filters. Go to the “Transition” tab. Then drag your clips to join it with one or several different transitions.
To add words to the film, click on the “Text” button, select the text type you like, and drag the icon to the Text track.
Step 3: Export and Share your Final Video
When you are happy with the final file, save and export your video in the format of your choice and directly upload it to your Facebook or YouTube account. You can also burn it to disk.
For more insight on how to create your short film on Wondershare Filmora, watch the video.
Conclusion
Thus, as we saw, finding the best YouTube movies channel in 2024 to kill your time will make you happy, and this article has given a broad explanation of the top free YouTube movies channel that can suit your needs. Filmora has also proven to be one of the most powerful tools to make your short films and teach you how to go about it.
The movie industry is a creative art that requires a lot of different elements such as business, design, music, photography, and filmmaking. As time went by, movie reviews and news became more in demand in a digital video format rather than print. YouTube has made watching movies a lot easier just with your mobile phones and at your comfort. There are many hallmark movies on YouTube that you can manage to help you kill time.
While there are paid hallmark movies on YouTube, there are also free hallmark movies channels to watch to kill time ranging from a short film, cartoon, movie trailer, movie reaction, etc. In this article, I will show the top 15 YouTube movies channels to kill time in 2024.
In this article
01 Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
02 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
04 How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Part 1: Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
Are you a fan of watching movies? The good news is you can watch a variety of films on YouTube at the comfort of your home more easily just with the use of your mobile phone or your computer system. YouTube, a well-known platform for video-sharing with live broadcasting and music videos, also offers users the option to watch free and paid movies on the best YouTube movies channel.
Part 2: 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
If you are looking for YouTube channels to watch movies, the fact is that there are lots of best YouTube movies channels to watch films in your comfort and kill time. It is also vital to understand that some channels are free while others are paid based on the channel owner.
Stay tuned, as I’ll be giving you 15 top channels to watch movies and kill time this 2024!
1.Movieclips
Movieclips covers all aspects of movies, whether Western, action, comedy, horror, drama, film and many more genres. The Fandango Movieclips channel is the most extensive collection of licensed movie clips on the web.
2.Mr Sunday Movies
Mr. Sunday Movies is a cartoon movie network where you can find videos on Easter Eggs, Movie Reviews, Trailer Breakdowns, Deleted Scenes, and more.
3.Indietrix Film Reviews
Indietrix Film Reviews showcase film reviews from old to new with blockbusters and art-house movies and also create guides to genres of film and recommendations for Blu-ray, Amazon, and Netflix.
4.Screen Rant | Movie and TV
Screen Rant is one of the fastest-growing YouTube channels in the United States for watching movies.
5.Movieclips Trailers
Movieclips Trailer gives you hot new thrillers as they drop, and make sure all the hottest contemporary thrillers are available to you as you watch.
6.TopMovieClips
TopMovieClips is a cartoon superhero movie channel where you watch the best scenes, moments, and clips.
7.Screen Junkies
Screen Junkies is a movie channel with the original showcase series, stream of pop-culture parody, and thoughtful commentary.
8.Film Riot
Film Riot is a how-to full trip through filmmaking which Riot explores the art of filmmaking, from making significant effects to following Triune Films through production.
9.Beyond the Trailer
Beyond the Trailer, hosted and created by Grace Randolph is meant to give you an inside track of Hollywood thrillers and hot movies and also with movie reviews.
10.CineFix
CineFix is a final place for filmmakers and true movie buffs showing on their YouTube channel.
11.Looper
Looper is a YouTube channel for sourcing TV shows, video games, movies that everyone loves. Viewers of this channel are addicted to Star Wars and superheroes.
12.The Film Theorists
The Film Theorists is referred to as a did-you-know movie. This channel is good with theorizing movies bringing you little-known behind-the-scenes moments and incredible facts from all your favorite big-screen hits.
13.WhatCulture
WhatCulture is an online culture magazine covering TV, Film, Gaming, etc. It gives you the option to check back regularly for exclusive Top-10s, reviews, previews, etc.
14.ScreenPrism
ScreenPrism helps you to understand more about TV shows and movies. The channel aims at creating insightful video essays by commenting, entertaining, analyzing, and exploring various topics.
15.Film Gob
Film Gob is a YouTube channel meant for weird comedy mashup stuff, trailer, reactions, reviews, movie news, and rants.
Part 3: Where to Find Free Movies?
There are many paid movies on the internet, but it’s also necessary to note that there are other platforms where you can watch free interesting movies or free hallmark movies at your comfort. This platform includes:
1. Kanopy
Kanopy is home to free classic movies or art houses with the best streaming website for contemporary Indies. Kanopy is known for showing critically acclaimed and high-quality cinema.
2. Crackle
Crackle offers hundreds and thousands of full-length free movies. No matter the size of the screen or monitor you use to watch the movie, the movie still maintains its high quality.
3. Vimeo
Vimeo is also a video platform that operates like YouTube, allowing users to upload their movies and clips in HD quality and share. Vimeo offers paid and free hallmark movies for users and serves as an excellent alternative for those who are not into the idea of Google what you are watching. It has an Android and iOS app and a website to stream or watch directly without downloading the movies.
Part 4: How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Have you ever been taught how to create your short film? Wondershare Filmora is the best and easy tool to do this accordingly. When you finish making the short film, you can share it on your social media, including your Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Below, we will show you use Filmora to create your short film, like hallmark movies on YouTube in clicks.
Step 1: Install Filmora and Import Files
Open Wondershare Filmora, click the “Import” button, and load media files using the navigation import panel. Also, arrange the order by directly dragging and dropping your media files into the program.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
Step 2: Edit Videos using Filters
Start editing to make Stunning Videos using Various Effects & Filters. Go to the “Transition” tab. Then drag your clips to join it with one or several different transitions.
To add words to the film, click on the “Text” button, select the text type you like, and drag the icon to the Text track.
Step 3: Export and Share your Final Video
When you are happy with the final file, save and export your video in the format of your choice and directly upload it to your Facebook or YouTube account. You can also burn it to disk.
For more insight on how to create your short film on Wondershare Filmora, watch the video.
Conclusion
Thus, as we saw, finding the best YouTube movies channel in 2024 to kill your time will make you happy, and this article has given a broad explanation of the top free YouTube movies channel that can suit your needs. Filmora has also proven to be one of the most powerful tools to make your short films and teach you how to go about it.
The movie industry is a creative art that requires a lot of different elements such as business, design, music, photography, and filmmaking. As time went by, movie reviews and news became more in demand in a digital video format rather than print. YouTube has made watching movies a lot easier just with your mobile phones and at your comfort. There are many hallmark movies on YouTube that you can manage to help you kill time.
While there are paid hallmark movies on YouTube, there are also free hallmark movies channels to watch to kill time ranging from a short film, cartoon, movie trailer, movie reaction, etc. In this article, I will show the top 15 YouTube movies channels to kill time in 2024.
In this article
01 Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
02 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
04 How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Part 1: Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
Are you a fan of watching movies? The good news is you can watch a variety of films on YouTube at the comfort of your home more easily just with the use of your mobile phone or your computer system. YouTube, a well-known platform for video-sharing with live broadcasting and music videos, also offers users the option to watch free and paid movies on the best YouTube movies channel.
Part 2: 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
If you are looking for YouTube channels to watch movies, the fact is that there are lots of best YouTube movies channels to watch films in your comfort and kill time. It is also vital to understand that some channels are free while others are paid based on the channel owner.
Stay tuned, as I’ll be giving you 15 top channels to watch movies and kill time this 2024!
1.Movieclips
Movieclips covers all aspects of movies, whether Western, action, comedy, horror, drama, film and many more genres. The Fandango Movieclips channel is the most extensive collection of licensed movie clips on the web.
2.Mr Sunday Movies
Mr. Sunday Movies is a cartoon movie network where you can find videos on Easter Eggs, Movie Reviews, Trailer Breakdowns, Deleted Scenes, and more.
3.Indietrix Film Reviews
Indietrix Film Reviews showcase film reviews from old to new with blockbusters and art-house movies and also create guides to genres of film and recommendations for Blu-ray, Amazon, and Netflix.
4.Screen Rant | Movie and TV
Screen Rant is one of the fastest-growing YouTube channels in the United States for watching movies.
5.Movieclips Trailers
Movieclips Trailer gives you hot new thrillers as they drop, and make sure all the hottest contemporary thrillers are available to you as you watch.
6.TopMovieClips
TopMovieClips is a cartoon superhero movie channel where you watch the best scenes, moments, and clips.
7.Screen Junkies
Screen Junkies is a movie channel with the original showcase series, stream of pop-culture parody, and thoughtful commentary.
8.Film Riot
Film Riot is a how-to full trip through filmmaking which Riot explores the art of filmmaking, from making significant effects to following Triune Films through production.
9.Beyond the Trailer
Beyond the Trailer, hosted and created by Grace Randolph is meant to give you an inside track of Hollywood thrillers and hot movies and also with movie reviews.
10.CineFix
CineFix is a final place for filmmakers and true movie buffs showing on their YouTube channel.
11.Looper
Looper is a YouTube channel for sourcing TV shows, video games, movies that everyone loves. Viewers of this channel are addicted to Star Wars and superheroes.
12.The Film Theorists
The Film Theorists is referred to as a did-you-know movie. This channel is good with theorizing movies bringing you little-known behind-the-scenes moments and incredible facts from all your favorite big-screen hits.
13.WhatCulture
WhatCulture is an online culture magazine covering TV, Film, Gaming, etc. It gives you the option to check back regularly for exclusive Top-10s, reviews, previews, etc.
14.ScreenPrism
ScreenPrism helps you to understand more about TV shows and movies. The channel aims at creating insightful video essays by commenting, entertaining, analyzing, and exploring various topics.
15.Film Gob
Film Gob is a YouTube channel meant for weird comedy mashup stuff, trailer, reactions, reviews, movie news, and rants.
Part 3: Where to Find Free Movies?
There are many paid movies on the internet, but it’s also necessary to note that there are other platforms where you can watch free interesting movies or free hallmark movies at your comfort. This platform includes:
1. Kanopy
Kanopy is home to free classic movies or art houses with the best streaming website for contemporary Indies. Kanopy is known for showing critically acclaimed and high-quality cinema.
2. Crackle
Crackle offers hundreds and thousands of full-length free movies. No matter the size of the screen or monitor you use to watch the movie, the movie still maintains its high quality.
3. Vimeo
Vimeo is also a video platform that operates like YouTube, allowing users to upload their movies and clips in HD quality and share. Vimeo offers paid and free hallmark movies for users and serves as an excellent alternative for those who are not into the idea of Google what you are watching. It has an Android and iOS app and a website to stream or watch directly without downloading the movies.
Part 4: How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Have you ever been taught how to create your short film? Wondershare Filmora is the best and easy tool to do this accordingly. When you finish making the short film, you can share it on your social media, including your Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Below, we will show you use Filmora to create your short film, like hallmark movies on YouTube in clicks.
Step 1: Install Filmora and Import Files
Open Wondershare Filmora, click the “Import” button, and load media files using the navigation import panel. Also, arrange the order by directly dragging and dropping your media files into the program.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
Step 2: Edit Videos using Filters
Start editing to make Stunning Videos using Various Effects & Filters. Go to the “Transition” tab. Then drag your clips to join it with one or several different transitions.
To add words to the film, click on the “Text” button, select the text type you like, and drag the icon to the Text track.
Step 3: Export and Share your Final Video
When you are happy with the final file, save and export your video in the format of your choice and directly upload it to your Facebook or YouTube account. You can also burn it to disk.
For more insight on how to create your short film on Wondershare Filmora, watch the video.
Conclusion
Thus, as we saw, finding the best YouTube movies channel in 2024 to kill your time will make you happy, and this article has given a broad explanation of the top free YouTube movies channel that can suit your needs. Filmora has also proven to be one of the most powerful tools to make your short films and teach you how to go about it.
The movie industry is a creative art that requires a lot of different elements such as business, design, music, photography, and filmmaking. As time went by, movie reviews and news became more in demand in a digital video format rather than print. YouTube has made watching movies a lot easier just with your mobile phones and at your comfort. There are many hallmark movies on YouTube that you can manage to help you kill time.
While there are paid hallmark movies on YouTube, there are also free hallmark movies channels to watch to kill time ranging from a short film, cartoon, movie trailer, movie reaction, etc. In this article, I will show the top 15 YouTube movies channels to kill time in 2024.
In this article
01 Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
02 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
04 How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Part 1: Does YouTube Have a Movie Channel?
Are you a fan of watching movies? The good news is you can watch a variety of films on YouTube at the comfort of your home more easily just with the use of your mobile phone or your computer system. YouTube, a well-known platform for video-sharing with live broadcasting and music videos, also offers users the option to watch free and paid movies on the best YouTube movies channel.
Part 2: 15 Best YouTube Movies Channels to Watch Films in 2024
If you are looking for YouTube channels to watch movies, the fact is that there are lots of best YouTube movies channels to watch films in your comfort and kill time. It is also vital to understand that some channels are free while others are paid based on the channel owner.
Stay tuned, as I’ll be giving you 15 top channels to watch movies and kill time this 2024!
1.Movieclips
Movieclips covers all aspects of movies, whether Western, action, comedy, horror, drama, film and many more genres. The Fandango Movieclips channel is the most extensive collection of licensed movie clips on the web.
2.Mr Sunday Movies
Mr. Sunday Movies is a cartoon movie network where you can find videos on Easter Eggs, Movie Reviews, Trailer Breakdowns, Deleted Scenes, and more.
3.Indietrix Film Reviews
Indietrix Film Reviews showcase film reviews from old to new with blockbusters and art-house movies and also create guides to genres of film and recommendations for Blu-ray, Amazon, and Netflix.
4.Screen Rant | Movie and TV
Screen Rant is one of the fastest-growing YouTube channels in the United States for watching movies.
5.Movieclips Trailers
Movieclips Trailer gives you hot new thrillers as they drop, and make sure all the hottest contemporary thrillers are available to you as you watch.
6.TopMovieClips
TopMovieClips is a cartoon superhero movie channel where you watch the best scenes, moments, and clips.
7.Screen Junkies
Screen Junkies is a movie channel with the original showcase series, stream of pop-culture parody, and thoughtful commentary.
8.Film Riot
Film Riot is a how-to full trip through filmmaking which Riot explores the art of filmmaking, from making significant effects to following Triune Films through production.
9.Beyond the Trailer
Beyond the Trailer, hosted and created by Grace Randolph is meant to give you an inside track of Hollywood thrillers and hot movies and also with movie reviews.
10.CineFix
CineFix is a final place for filmmakers and true movie buffs showing on their YouTube channel.
11.Looper
Looper is a YouTube channel for sourcing TV shows, video games, movies that everyone loves. Viewers of this channel are addicted to Star Wars and superheroes.
12.The Film Theorists
The Film Theorists is referred to as a did-you-know movie. This channel is good with theorizing movies bringing you little-known behind-the-scenes moments and incredible facts from all your favorite big-screen hits.
13.WhatCulture
WhatCulture is an online culture magazine covering TV, Film, Gaming, etc. It gives you the option to check back regularly for exclusive Top-10s, reviews, previews, etc.
14.ScreenPrism
ScreenPrism helps you to understand more about TV shows and movies. The channel aims at creating insightful video essays by commenting, entertaining, analyzing, and exploring various topics.
15.Film Gob
Film Gob is a YouTube channel meant for weird comedy mashup stuff, trailer, reactions, reviews, movie news, and rants.
Part 3: Where to Find Free Movies?
There are many paid movies on the internet, but it’s also necessary to note that there are other platforms where you can watch free interesting movies or free hallmark movies at your comfort. This platform includes:
1. Kanopy
Kanopy is home to free classic movies or art houses with the best streaming website for contemporary Indies. Kanopy is known for showing critically acclaimed and high-quality cinema.
2. Crackle
Crackle offers hundreds and thousands of full-length free movies. No matter the size of the screen or monitor you use to watch the movie, the movie still maintains its high quality.
3. Vimeo
Vimeo is also a video platform that operates like YouTube, allowing users to upload their movies and clips in HD quality and share. Vimeo offers paid and free hallmark movies for users and serves as an excellent alternative for those who are not into the idea of Google what you are watching. It has an Android and iOS app and a website to stream or watch directly without downloading the movies.
Part 4: How to Create Your Own Short Film?
Have you ever been taught how to create your short film? Wondershare Filmora is the best and easy tool to do this accordingly. When you finish making the short film, you can share it on your social media, including your Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Below, we will show you use Filmora to create your short film, like hallmark movies on YouTube in clicks.
Step 1: Install Filmora and Import Files
Open Wondershare Filmora, click the “Import” button, and load media files using the navigation import panel. Also, arrange the order by directly dragging and dropping your media files into the program.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
Step 2: Edit Videos using Filters
Start editing to make Stunning Videos using Various Effects & Filters. Go to the “Transition” tab. Then drag your clips to join it with one or several different transitions.
To add words to the film, click on the “Text” button, select the text type you like, and drag the icon to the Text track.
Step 3: Export and Share your Final Video
When you are happy with the final file, save and export your video in the format of your choice and directly upload it to your Facebook or YouTube account. You can also burn it to disk.
For more insight on how to create your short film on Wondershare Filmora, watch the video.
Conclusion
Thus, as we saw, finding the best YouTube movies channel in 2024 to kill your time will make you happy, and this article has given a broad explanation of the top free YouTube movies channel that can suit your needs. Filmora has also proven to be one of the most powerful tools to make your short films and teach you how to go about it.
Also read:
- Personalized Timelength Upload on YouTube
- 2024 Approved Charting the Upward Momentum Top 8 Skyrocketing YouTube Sites
- [Updated] Defeating Dissidence A Guide for Content Makers
- 2024 Approved Direct Link Between Spotify and YouTube The Top Tools for Music Sharing
- 2024 Approved Best Mobile Film & Picture Capture Tools for iPhones & Androids
- 2024 Approved Charting Your Way to Frequent Payments From YouTube
- 2024 Approved 7 Star-Rated Apps for Effortless YouTube LIVE Broadcast From iPhone and Android
- In 2024, 10 Must-Try Microphones for Exceptional ASMR Sounds
- [Updated] Crafting Viral Videos on YouTube A Strategic Plan
- Decoding YouTube's Best Video Editing Practices
- [New] Elevate Presence by Broadcasting on YouTube + Twitch
- In 2024, Discover the Power of 5 Editors Beyond Youtube's Boundaries
- How-To Transferring YouTube Shorts From PC/Android or iOS
- Master Higher Rankings on YT The Best SEO Tips and Tricks (1-11)
- Charting a Path to Profit Calculating Video View Requirements
- Yielding Income A Streamer's Guide to Earning
- How Do You Remove Restricted Mode on iPhone 14 Pro
- Updated 2024 Approved Innovative and Gratis Sound Editing Solutions Top Free Options on the Digital Frontier
- In 2024, The Art of Amassing Attention on IG A Guide for a Thousand Likes/Month
- Boost Your Brand with Masterful Looped Videos on Instagram for 2024
- Updated The Stop Motion Bible Everything You Need to Know About Studios and Alternatives
- How to Transfer Photos from Tecno Spark 20C to New Android? | Dr.fone
- [Updated] 2024 Approved The Definitive Reference to TikTok Icons and Emojis
- New In 2024, Tips That Show Anyone on Youtube to Mp3 Converter Review
- [Updated] Best Slideshow Apps (iPhone Series 8-Series 12)
- Catch or Beat Sleeping Snorlax on Pokemon Go For Infinix GT 10 Pro | Dr.fone
- New Exploring the Best 9 Voice Technology Innovations That Promise a Perfect Day
- Title: [Updated] Deciphering the Language of YouTube Thumbnails Effectiveness
- Author: Kevin
- Created at : 2024-05-25 16:45:30
- Updated at : 2024-05-26 16:45:30
- Link: https://youtube-videos.techidaily.com/updated-deciphering-the-language-of-youtube-thumbnails-effectiveness/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
