Netflix adapts YouTube drama Minimum Wage

Netflix has ordered a shortform drama based on the hit YouTube show American High Shorts.

Minimum Wage is a workplace-based series consisting of 28 episodes of 12.5 minutes each and is set to debut on the streamer globally later this year.

Set inside a chaotic local pizza shop, the story follows a group of teenage employees battling power-tripping managers and the pressures of catering to hungry customers.

It is being produced by American High, which was founded by Jeremy Garelick (The Break-Up), and is based on the American High Shorts series also known as Minimum Wage, which has claimed more than 30 million views across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram since launching in May 2024.

The original American High Shorts channel launched across social platforms in October 2022, with episodes attracting more than 7bn views to date.

Garelick and Will Phelps are attached as showrunners, writers and exec producers, alongside Axelle Azoulay, while the cast includes Aidan Micho, Grace Reiter and Julia Dicesare.

Netflix’s appetite for IP that has originated on YouTube has grown over recent years, with the streamer already carrying Shane Gillis’ comedy Tires, which is now into a third season.

The company also struck a deal in the UK with YouTube group The Sidemen to take their reality series Inside onto the service.

Alongside Netflix’s growing focus on YouTube talent, it has also recently launched its Clips update to offer vertical video and compete with services such as TikTok.

Clips is described as “a personalised highlight reel” and provides short snippets of shows tailored to tastes, allowing users to find content more quickly. Updates are available now in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa. It will roll out to the rest of the world in the months to come.