Rise of Microdramas in the US

Bite-Size Series Made for Vertical Viewing Are Gaining Popularity

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About This Report
Microdramas—episodic series made for vertical viewing on phones—gained popularity in China and are now taking off in the US. Using techniques like product placement and creator partnerships, brands are figuring out how they can use this new genre.
Table of Contents

As microdramas gain popularity in the US, brands are figuring out how to best use them. Microdrama apps offer traditional advertising, but brands are experimenting with other tactics, like product placement, to reach their viewers.

Key Question: What should marketers know about the rise of microdramas in the US?

Key Stat: Top microdrama apps’ user bases in the US have grown significantly; ReelShort, one of the most popular microdrama apps, has about 1.2 million US viewers as of September 2025, up from around 794,400 in September 2024.

authors

Minda Smiley

Contributors

Rahul Chadha
Director, Report Editing
Donte Gibson
Senior Charts Editor
Naomi Rebuelta
Copy Editor
Emman Velasco
Chart Editor
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