**The Rise of Microdramas: Why These Cringe-Worthy Shows are Making Bank**
Have you stumbled upon those super-short, super-dramatic shows on ReelShort and DramaBox? Yeah, they’re a thing now. And, spoiler alert, they’re making a killing. Like, a LOT of money. ReelShort raked in a staggering $1.2 billion in 2025, while DramaBox brought in a respectable $276 million. Yeah, that’s a whole lotta cash.
But, let’s be real, these shows aren’t exactly the most sophisticated pieces of art. They’re like the drama equivalent of a trashy novel – over-the-top, melodramatic, and cringe-worthy. But hey, people can’t get enough of ’em. So, what’s the appeal? According to Eric Wei, creator economy expert and CEO of Karat Financial, it’s all about the sizzle. “These shows are ‘romantasy’ – think ’50 Shades of Gray’ but for vertical video,” he says. “They’re designed to get you hooked on the free content, then prompt you to pay for more.”
And pay they do. The business model is eerily similar to those of mobile games. You get hooked on the free content, then you’re prompted to spend money on tokens or in-app purchases to unlock more episodes. Sounds familiar, right? The catch is, you can’t earn enough tokens to get your fix without shelling out real cash. Yeah, it’s a dark pattern. But hey, people are eating it up.
So much so that TikTok has launched its own microdrama app, PineDrama, and a new app from Hollywood vets, GammaTime, just raised $14 million in funding. And AI? Yeah, it’s not going to disrupt the industry anytime soon. According to Sean Atkins, CEO of Dhar Mann Studios, AI might even play a role in creating more content. “Short-form is less overhead than long-form, and vertical is even less overhead,” he says. “I think you’ll see a handful of creators start going into that quite significantly, especially since they have the experience of low-cost production.”
So, buckle up, folks. We’re in for a wild ride of microdramas galore. Will we be hooked? Only time will tell.
