Microdramas grow into a $1.4 billion US market as Hollywood seeks work

In short: Microdramas, very short TV-style shows made for phones, are turning into a major business in the US and are helping employ Hollywood crews and actors.

What's going on

Microdramas are series made up of 60-second to 3-minute episodes, often with 60 or more episodes per story. They are usually shot in a vertical format, like the way you hold a phone. Think of them as soap operas broken into tiny pieces, designed to be watched in quick bursts.

This market is growing fast. The US brought in about $1.4 billion last year, making it the most profitable area outside Asia. Globally, the market is projected to reach $26 billion by 2030, and China alone hit about $7 billion in 2024.

Two apps lead in the US. DramaBox earned over $320 million last year and stayed profitable. ReelShort reached close to $400 million, and plans to produce over 400 shows this year, up from about 150, and it is building a studio in Culver City to adapt popular microdramas into films.

What to watch

Microdramas are also becoming a source of paychecks during a slowdown in traditional Hollywood work. Many shoots happen in Los Angeles, and one company, DramaShorts, says it aims to make 120 projects in the US in 2026. Unions are starting to respond too, with SAG-AFTRA creating agreements for low-budget vertical dramas, and the Writers Guild of America West working on protections.

The big question is whether this fast, low-budget model can keep growing without pushing workers into non-union jobs, and whether more traditional studios will lean in as audiences get used to phone-first storytelling.

Source: NYTimes