Watchly Safety Review

Myth-testing Christmas movies with Science Experiments

Mark Rober

8:28 · 18.8M views · December 15, 2016

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Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

4Minor Flags

4No Issues

This science experiment video is generally safe and educational for older kids and teens, though it includes some graphic discussion of burn injuries and eye damage that may disturb younger viewers. The hosts use real scientific concepts like momentum and hypothesis testing to analyze classic Christmas movie scenes, making it genuinely educational alongside the entertainment — but parents should be aware of one sponsored segment promoting the book 'American Sniper.'

Content Breakdown · 8 Categories

Engagement Baiting & Manipulative CTAsNot present

The video includes a standard, non-coercive call to comment guesses and check out collaborators' channels, with no superstition CTAs, guilt-tripping, or fake giveaways present.

See evidence (1)

“'So, take a moment to guess in the comments below. Who's right? Me or Jay.'”~3:00

Strong & Crude LanguageNot present

Realistic Violence, Threats & WeaponsA little

The video involves a real BB gun fired at cow eyes and a blowtorch applied to a foam head with chicken skin, and includes a discussion of a softball being fired at a person. These are presented in a scientific/educational context rather than a threatening one, but real weapons and injury potential are discussed in detail.

See evidence (5)

“An authentic Red Rider BB gun is fired at cow eyes to test eye penetration”~2:00 (BB gun test)

“A blowtorch is applied to a foam head for 7 seconds to test burn damage”~6:00 (blowtorch test)

“Expert surgeons describe 3rd-degree burns occurring in under a second and potential skull charring”~4:30 (softball impact test)

“A softball is fired at a person at 65 mph to simulate snowball impact”~9:30 (American Sniper discussion)

“Discussion of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle as 'the deadliest sniper in U.S. History' with mention of a bounty on his head”

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

The Audible sponsorship at the end of the video is clearly and transparently disclosed ('I want to give a shout-out to Audible for their support on this video'), and Lowe's Home Improvement is credited openly in the description, so neither constitutes hidden advertising.

See evidence (2)

“Audible sponsorship explicitly named: 'I want to give a shout-out to Audible for their support on this video'”~9:20 (Audible mention)

“Lowe's credited in description: 'Thanks to Lowe's Home Improvement for letting me come out and use the set'”

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationNot present

The call to 'comment below' and 'go check that out' are standard, low-pressure engagement prompts with no guilt-tripping, manufactured drama, or emotional dependency language present in this video.

See evidence (1)

“'So go check that out, make sure you comment below. Let us know if you did better than Jake or I in your guesses.'”~9:00

Geopolitical Commentary & AdvocacyNot present

The brief mention of Chris Kyle and American Sniper in the Audible sponsorship segment references war but does not constitute one-sided political advocacy or geopolitical campaigning.

See evidence (1)

“'The book is a pretty broad view of what war was like, and how it pretty much sucks for everyone.'”~9:30

Low-Quality, Extreme & Stunt ContentA little

While the video includes a blowtorch test and a high-speed softball impact, these are framed as rigorous scientific myth-testing with expert consultation rather than shock-value stunts, and do not constitute low-quality or purely gimmick-driven content.

Playful & Fantasy ViolenceA little

The video references Home Alone booby traps (a classic comedic/fantasy violence context), Buddy the Elf throwing snowballs at thugs, and the loser wearing a pink bunny suit — all framed in a lighthearted, playful manner consistent with family Christmas movie content.

See evidence (3)

“Discussion of Home Alone booby traps: 'Kevin is defending his house from the Wet Bandits with all these amazing homemade booby traps'”~0:30 (intro framing)

“Elf snowball fight: 'his brother gets attacked by a bunch of thugs in Central Park, and he shows off his mad Elf skills'”~3:30 (Elf scene description)

“Playful competition consequence: 'The loser has to wear Ralphie's pink bunny suit'”~5:30 (Home Alone booby trap discussion)

What Parents Need to Know

This video from Mark Rober and Vsauce3's Jake features fun, curiosity-driven science experiments tied to beloved Christmas movies like Home Alone, Elf, and A Christmas Story. Kids will genuinely learn about concepts like momentum, ricochet physics, and the scientific method presented in an engaging, competitive format. However, the blowtorch segment includes detailed descriptions of third-degree burns, skull charring, and the possibility of fatal complications — language that could disturb sensitive children. The BB gun segment also discusses eye penetration and blindness in realistic terms. There is a mid-video sponsored segment for Audible promoting the book 'American Sniper,' a memoir about a military sniper, which parents may want to discuss with their kids. No profanity or sexual content is present.

Talk to Your Kids About

1Why is it important to wear eye protection when using things like BB guns or doing science experiments? What could happen without it?
2The hosts made a hypothesis before each experiment — what does that mean, and why do scientists do that before testing something?
3One of the experiments showed that movie injuries are often unrealistic. Why do you think movies show things differently from real life?
4The video had a sponsored section at the end. Did you notice it? How can you tell when someone in a video is being paid to talk about something?

Myth-testing Christmas movies with Science Experiments

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

Jake from Vsauce3 and I test scenes from Home Alone, Elf and A Christmas Story using only the Scientific Method... and some cow eyes. JAKE'S VIDEO- https://youtu.be/5NhijmGTwwo THREADBANGER VIDEO (we also shot scene with Rob in the house... it's cool)- https://youtu.be/cLPEcasx03M I made an unlisted vid to explain why the snowball test is valid since the physics is a bit counter intuitive and enough people brought it up: https://youtu.be/1xEVByU6pyM MUSIC- 0:08- Christmas supamix- by Andrew Applepie (he mixed this just for me... email him if you want it)- http://andrewapplepie.com/ 2:01- Berlin- Andrew Applepie- http://andrewapplepie.com/ 8:34- Special song written just fo my bad self- Lincoln Hoppe, http://lincolnhoppe.com/ Thanks to Lowe's Home Improvement for letting me come out and use the set. Check out their behind the scenes: https://youtu.be/-3fZJv8VIyk Summary: We real life tested actual scenes from three Christmas classics in a replica of the Home Alone house: 1) A Christmas Story- Can you really shoot your eye out with a Red Ryder BB gun? 2) Elf- What happens if you actually get hit with a snowball at 95 mph? 3) Home Alone- What really happens if you put a blow torch on your head for 7 seconds? The winner got to keep the awesome leg lamp and the loser had to wear Ralph's pink bunny suit PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-Sub **************************************** I make videos like this once a month all year long while supplies last: CHECK OUT MY CHANNEL: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-YouTube FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/markrober/

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

We recommend this video for ages 10 and up. While the science content is educational and engaging, the detailed descriptions of burn injuries, skull damage, and eye penetration are realistic enough to disturb younger or more sensitive children.

Is there any violence in this video?

There is no interpersonal violence, but the experiments simulate injury scenarios from movies — including a blowtorch burning through simulated skin and skull, and a BB gun penetrating a cow's eye. These are presented scientifically, but the descriptions are graphic and realistic.

Is this video educational?

Yes, it has genuine educational value. The hosts explain concepts like momentum, ricochet physics, and the scientific method in an accessible and entertaining way, and they consult real burn surgeons to provide accurate medical context.

Is there any advertising or sponsored content in this video?

Yes, there is a sponsored segment near the end of the video promoting Audible, during which the host recommends the book 'American Sniper' — a memoir about a military sniper. Parents may want to discuss advertising and the book's subject matter with their child.

Is the language appropriate for kids?

Yes, the language throughout the video is clean with no profanity or inappropriate terms. The tone is enthusiastic and playful, making it accessible for most school-age children from a language standpoint.

Does the video encourage kids to try any dangerous experiments at home?

The hosts do not explicitly encourage viewers to replicate the experiments, and the setups — including a blowtorch and a BB gun — are clearly adult-supervised productions. However, parents of younger children should reinforce that these are not activities to attempt at home.