The Top 10 Viral Video Moments of 2015

Our AI technology has determined the top 10 moments in viral videos from 2015 based on social engagement. 

2015 was an amazing year in video.  As the medium becomes increasingly popular online, predicted to make up 84% of web content by 2018, more and more people are relying on the Internet as their main source of video entertainment. Every minute, 60 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube, making for a year of seemingly endless video moments.  Fortunately, our very own patent pending AI powered bot has plowed through it all, relying on social engagement to determine the top 10 moments in viral videos of 2015.

10.

The video: Mean Tweets - President Obama Edition: 35,874,000 views

The moment: Obama owns the haters

Celebrities read mean tweets has been a gold mine of viral videos for Jimmy Kimmel and there is no bigger celebrity than the President of the United States. It is only fitting this edition of the exercise in masochism has received the most views.  Despite all the hate coming at President Obama, he was able to keep his composure and come up with a great comeback to make the tenth best viral video moment of 2015.

9.

The video: DoverPolice DashCam Confessional (Shake it Off): 38,017,000 views

The moment: Shaking it off

Few groups had more haters than US law enforcement in 2015.  Between all the incidents and riots, it was a rough year for police nationally. Few songs have ever caused more full-grown men to break into falsetto than T-Swift’s anthem “Shake it Off.”  It makes sense then that when the two came together in this video of an on duty Dover Police officer singing the song it began to trend.  The moment in the video when the cop forgets all the players and haters in his life and shakes them off was the ninth most popular viral video moment of 2015!

8.

The video: Golden boy Calum Scott hits the right note |Audition Week 1 | Britain's Got Talent 2015: 41,051,00 views

The Moment: The Gold Button

Rarely can you sing a few bars and convince a whole audience that you are destined for greatness. It is even less common to please Simon Cowell, ever. Calum Scott was able to do both in his first audition for Britain’s Got Talent. From the instant he belted out his first few notes the crowd was on his side. Shortly after he had convinced all the judges that he was worthy to move on.  The moment Callum hit his final powerful note, and Simon Cowell hit the Gold button sending him straight to the live round was the eighth most popular viral video moment of 2015!

7.

The video: 6ft Man in 6ft Giant Water Balloon - 4K - TheSlow Mo Guys: 43,947,000 views

The moment: Bursting the Balloon in Slow Mo 

 The power of slow motion can make everyday things look beautiful. When you take something unusual, say, a man inside a bursting 6ft water balloon, recording it in slow motion looks magical.  Sprinkle in some 4K-definition pixie dust for good measure and what you have got is a viral video.  Words cannot describe what happens when they free the balloon man from his wet rubber confines. The slow motion reveal of the exploding balloon is the seventh most popular viral video moment of 2015.

6.

The video: Justin Bieber Carpool Karaoke: 44, 614,000 views 

The moment: Bieber goes old school

Love him or hate him, Justin Bieber is Internet royalty.  Every video he graces with his “talents” trends and then goes viral.  Whether it is owning the 4^th most popular YouTube video of all time, or owning the most down voted YouTube video of all time, Mr. Bieber draws views, even if the majority of them are tweenage girls.  Even a video of him doing mundane things, such as riding in the passenger seat of a car, as is the case with this video, go on to Internet fame.  In fact the moment Justin sings along to his first hit “Baby” alongside Late Late show host James Corden in a car is the sixth most popular viral video moment of 2015.

5.

The video: Lip Sync Battle with Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart andJimmy Fallon: 55,800,000 views

The Moment: Will Ferrell lets it all go

A major complaint of many YouTube celebrities in 2015 was having to compete with Late night TV shows and their unlimited budgets and star power for views.  No video in 2015 demonstrated this inequity more than this one. Putting three titans of entertainment like Ferrell, Fallon, and Hart on the same stage is almost unfair.  Then having the biggest star of them all, Will Ferrell, sing the most popular Disney song of the last decade, “Let it go,” and you’ve got the fifth most popular viral video moment of 2015.

4.

The video: Love Has No Labels | Diversity & Inclusion |Ad Council: 55,914,000 views

The Moment: We are all the same on the inside

It is hard to believe that in 2015 an ad like this is still necessary to remind people to be accepting. Despite huge steps in the right direction racial tension, bigotry, and racism still exist.  This video reminds everyone that we are all the same on the inside and love has no labels.  The moment two kissing skeletons walk out from behind the screen to reveal they are both women is the fourth most popular viral video moment of 2015.

3.

The video: Crazy Plastic Ball PRANK!! :59,229,000 views

The Moment: When Mom comes home

Roman Atwood might be the king of Internet video pranks. He will go to any length to create over the top practical jokes to get his unsuspecting prey. This prank may be his greatest ever.  We have all dreamed of turning our house into a giant ball pit, but he actually did it! He may be the worst husband ever for always pranking his wife, but he is unquestionably the coolest dad.  The moment his wife opens the door and gets swept away by an avalanche of colored balls is the third most popular viral video moment of 2015.

2.

The video: Clash of Clans:Revenge (Official Super Bowl TV Commercial): 92,381,000 views

The moment: Laime, a scone for Laime

Liam Neeson has a very specific set of skills. A set of skills that allow him to sound intimidating and intense regardless of the role. Even if that role is to be a mobile gamer who has been defeated. After premiering on the Super bowl this video went viral on YouTube, reaching an audience similar to size as that of the Super Bowl. The moment Liam Neeson's scone order is ready and his name gets mispronounced by the barista is the second most popular viral video moment of 2015!

1.  

The video: Silento- Watch Me(Whip/Nae Nae) #WatchMeDanceOn: 124,450,000 views

The moment: Tell em’ break yo legs

In the 60’s they were twisting and shouting, in the 70’s electric sliding was the move, in the 80’s they did the robot, in the 90’s the Macarena was in, and the 2000’s saw the rise and fall of 'Superman'ing. In 2015, they whipped and they nae naeighed. Heaven King and her dance crew nae naeighed all the way to the most popular video of 2015!  A song with less than 15 different words and a 2-part dance move owned the year in viral videos.  The moment these little girls ‘break their legs’ was the top viral video moment of 2015!