Rachel Martin sat down with Martin and Josip Kristo to ask about their journey, their creative process, and what’s kept them laughing all these years. What began in earnest as sibling shenanigans intended to entertain, has turned the world of Martin and Josip Kristo upside down. The brothers have generated over 1.5 billion views and built a community of 3.3 million followers on social media, using wholesome pranks and tongue-in-cheek comedy.
In 2020, alongside the pandemic-induced meteoric rise of TikTok, the Kristos joined the ranks of millions of people stuck at home, and started sharing their lives on the internet.
“My twin brother and I decided to turn our passion for making people laugh into something bigger,” Martin shared. “[As twins] we’ve always had a unique connection and enjoyed entertaining others, so creating content together felt like a natural fit. We started posting consistently, hoping to build a community around our personalities and sense of humor.”
Growing up, the twins were the jokesters of the family, earning the nickname ‘Double Trouble’ from their father, and becoming the comic relief in social settings, using harmless mischief and pranks to get a smile out of the people around them. “Making people laugh came naturally to us long before we ever thought about creating content. When social media came along, it gave us the perfect opportunity to share that side of ourselves with a much bigger audience.” It is this authentic playfulness and clear enjoyment of their own gags that their audience seems to most respond to – authenticity being both a longstanding buzzword, and a sincere metric for social media success.
“We’d always joke around, mess with each other, and try to make one another laugh. As we got older, that playful back-and-forth naturally evolved into the content we create today”. “The chemistry people see on camera is the same relationship we’ve had our entire lives, which is why our videos feel so genuine.”
But in 2021, just as they were beginning to gain traction, a personal tragedy left the brothers reeling, ultimately compelling them to walk away from social media.
“Everything changed when we lost our best friend. It was one of the hardest experiences we’ve ever gone through which had a huge impact on our mental health. We lost the motivation and creativity to make content, so we stepped away from social media to focus on healing.”
During their hiatus, the brothers took time to pursue different career paths including police foundations and electrician education, but ultimately nothing felt quite right. “We realized our passion was creating content and connecting with people.”
They re-approached their platforms with a new found sense of purpose and a fresh mindset, viewing their content creation as an opportunity – one they did not want to squander. The twins used their indescribable connection to effortlessly bounce ideas off one another, and create simple, fun videos that got an immediate response. “We didn’t have huge expectations when we started. We weren’t thinking about millions of followers or billions of views, we just wanted to make people laugh and see if anyone would enjoy our content. Every new follower and every viral video felt like a bonus.”
As their followers grew, they started looking critically at what viewers were enjoying most, engaging as much as possible with the community, replying to comments, and listening for feedback – two simple tactics that played a large part in their consistent growth.
“One thing we’ve always appreciated is how engaged and positive our community is. They love to laugh, interact with our content, and even give us ideas for future videos. We do our best to make our audience feel like they’re part of TwinPranks. At the end of the day, without them, none of this would be possible, and we’re incredibly grateful for the community we’ve built together.”
Since their return to social media in 2023, TwinPranks has grown beyond their wildest dreams, providing them with opportunities they will forever cherish. When asked about the milestones in their journey that have meant the most to them, Martin shared: “It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the experiences this journey has given us. We’ve had the chance to meet incredible people like Dana White, UFC fighters, Adam Sandler, Theo Von, Howie Mandel, fellow creators, and professional athletes. One of the most surreal moments was walking our first red carpet the first time we went to Los Angeles, something we’d always dreamed about. Those moments remind us how far we’ve come and make us excited for what’s still ahead.”
When they aren’t joking around with each other, making videos, or appearing at events, the brothers keep things down-to-earth. They like playing video games, spending time with their family, and spending a lot of time outdoors and playing sports. “A lot of our time outside of content goes toward taking care of ourselves, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the things that keep us grounded.”
When asked about challenges they have faced along their path, they highlighted a conflict many, if not all, influencers and content creators face – ownership. “We’ve also dealt with platform setbacks, including having accounts banned, which can be incredibly frustrating after putting so much time and effort into building an audience.” Similar to all branches of the entertainment industry, the brothers face constant competition and ever-changing public demands, and have relied heavily on their partnership to fuel creative growth and adaptation.
“What fuels us to keep creating is each other. Being twins, we’ve always pushed one another, challenged each other, and brought out the best in each other. Having someone by your side who understands the journey and shares the same goals makes a huge difference.
We always say to each other, “The only people we need to believe in us is each other.” That mindset has helped us through every high and low we’ve faced. There are definitely challenges in the world of social media, but we remind each other why we started to make people laugh, keep growing, and turn the dreams we had when we were younger into reality. As long as we have each other and the passion to create, we’ll keep pushing forward.”
Their advice to aspiring creators?
“Just start. You don’t need the perfect equipment, the perfect idea, or anyone else’s approval to begin. There will be people who doubt you, but the only person you truly need to believe in you is yourself. Stay consistent, keep learning, and don’t give up just because success doesn’t happen overnight.”
Quick Takes:
Q. What kind of collaborators are you looking for right now? (writers, actors, producers, crew, etc.)
Right now, we’re open to collaborating with all types of creators and people in the entertainment industry. We love meeting new people, bringing different personalities together, and creating content that we wouldn’t be able to make on our own.
Our goal has always been to continue expanding beyond social media—whether that’s working with other creators, being part of major events, exploring opportunities in film and television, or collaborating with talented writers, actors, producers, and other creatives. We want to keep learning, growing, and being part of exciting projects that allow us to entertain people on an even bigger scale.
Q. How can people get in touch if they want to collaborate or learn more?
The best way to get in touch with us for collaborations or business opportunities is through our email at TwinPranksBusiness@gmail.com. People can also reach out to us through our social media platforms, including Instagram @TwinPrankss and TikTok @TwinPranks.
We’re always open to connecting with new creators, brands, and people who want to be part of the TwinPranks journey.
Q. Any upcoming events, screenings, or launches readers should know about?
We’re always staying active and attending exciting events, so there’s always something new happening with TwinPranks. Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to be part of incredible experiences with brands and organizations including Prime Video, Dr Pepper, FIFA World Cup, Home Depot, Fanatics Fest, Global Gaming League, Power Slap, and UFC events.
We’re grateful for every opportunity to be involved in these events, meet amazing people, and connect with our community in different ways. Being able to experience these moments is something we never take for granted, and we’re excited to continue being part of bigger projects, events, and experiences as the TwinPranks journey continues.
