{{Short description|Chinese video streaming application}} {{Infobox software | name = ReelShort | logo = | logo_alt = ReelShort logo | developer = Crazy Maple Studio | released = {{Start date and age|2022|08}} | operating system = Android, iOS | platform = Mobile app | genre = Video on demand, Short-form video | license = Proprietary | website = {{URL|reelshort.com}} }}
'''ReelShort''' is a Chinese short-form video streaming app specializing in microdramas.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/03/reelshort-drama-streaming-us-china/ |title=Three plot twists in a minute? No problem for ReelShort's cheesy dramas. |first1=Meaghan |last1=Tobin |first2=Lyric |last2=Li |date=February 4, 2024|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> It is owned by Crazy Maple Studio, which is backed and partially owned by Beijing-based digital publisher COL Group.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moses |first=Claire |date=2024-01-30 |title=Minute-Long Soap Operas Are Here. Is America Ready? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/technology/reelshort-video-app.html |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
ReelShort's short dramas emphasize rapid plot twists, heightened emotional conflicts, and minimal character development.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/technology/reelshort-video-app.html|title=Minute-Long Soap Operas Are Here. Is America Ready?|first=Claire|last=Moses|date=January 30, 2024|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> The production values are notably low, with simple sets, costumes, and a cast of predominantly unknown actors.<ref name="auto4"/>
==Background== Despite the failure of similar short-format television platforms in the United States, such as the closure of Quibi in 2020, it has become a popular format in China.<ref name="auto4"/> Initially filling a void created by movie theater closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, duanju became popular with Chinese viewers seeking quick entertainment.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite news |title=ReelShort is the latest Chinese export to conquer America |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2023/11/23/reelshort-is-the-latest-chinese-export-to-conquer-america |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> ReelShort was founded in August 2022 to introduce duanju to an international audience.<ref name="auto4"/><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=COL's Share Price Doubles as Chinese Firm's ReelShort App Becomes Popular in US |url=https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/cols-share-price-doubles-as-chinese-firms-reelshort-app-becomes-popular-in-us |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Yicai Global |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Welk2024">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/business/reelshort-not-quibi-its-candy-crush-analysis-1234949616/|title=ReelShort Isn't Quibi — It's Candy Crush for 60-Second Vampire Soap Operas |first=Brian |last=Welk |date=January 31, 2024 |website=IndieWire}}</ref>
In January 2024, French outlets including ''France Inter'', ''France Info'', ''Midi Libre'' and ''Courrier International'' introduced ReelShort as the "TikTok of series," marking its first broad media coverage in France.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-31 |title=When France discovers ReelShort |url=https://www.duanju.news/en/post/when-france-discovers-reelshort |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Duanju |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=Reelshort : le TikTok des séries |url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/un-monde-nouveau/un-monde-nouveau-du-lundi-01-janvier-2024-8262682 |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=France Inter |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-10 |title=ReelShort : quelle est cette nouvelle application américaine dédiée aux séries qui cartonne ? |url=https://www.franceinfo.fr/internet/reseaux-sociaux/reelshort-quelle-est-cette-nouvelle-application-americaine-dediee-aux-series-qui-cartonne_6294366.html |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Le TikTok des séries" : ce qu'il faut savoir de ReelShort, la nouvelle application des séries au format court qui cartonne |url=https://www.midilibre.fr/2024/01/10/le-tiktok-des-series-ce-quil-faut-savoir-de-reelshort-la-nouvelle-application-des-series-au-format-court-qui-cartonne-11688018.php |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=midilibre.fr |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title=Séries. ReelShort, l'application venue de Chine qui séduit les Américaines au foyer |url=https://www.courrierinternational.com/article/series-reelshort-l-application-venue-de-chine-qui-seduit-les-americaines-au-foyer |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Courrier international |language=fr}}</ref>
==Production== Crazy Maple Studio, the production company behind ReelShort, it was founded with the intention of introducing duanjus to an international audience.<ref name="auto4"/> The studio maintains an additional office in Shenzhen, China.<ref name="auto4"/>
==Business model== ReelShort uses a virtual currency system where users can purchase coins to unlock additional episodes of their shows.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/16/a-quibi-like-app-called-reelshort-hit-record-downloads-and-revenue-this-month/|title=A Quibi-like app called ReelShort hit record downloads and revenue this month|first=Sarah|last=Perez|date=November 16, 2023|website=TechCrunch}}</ref> These coins can be acquired by watching advertisements within the app or by purchasing them directly.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="Welk2024"/>
Reelshort has seen a 992% increase in downloads between 2023 and 2024, from 3.4 million in Q1 2023 to 37 million in early 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ReelShort's Exponential Growth Creates New Market for Super-Skinny Content |url=https://m.imdb.com/news/ni64894833/?ref_=nm_nwr_1 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2025, the app reportedly reached over 370 million downloads and generated $700 million in revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ReelShort: Duanju's American-style platform |url=https://www.duanju.news/en/post/reelshort-duanju-s-american-style-platform |website=duanju.news |date=August 2, 2025 |access-date=2025-08-02 |language=en}}</ref>
==Programs== * ''Move Aside! I’m the Final Boss'' starring Adam Daniel<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Joshua |date=2025-06-05 |title=Secret Billionaires. Age-Gap Marriages. Plenty of Revenge. |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/china-reelshort-soap-opera-app-los-angeles-actors.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250605113129/https://www.vulture.com/article/china-reelshort-soap-opera-app-los-angeles-actors.html |archive-date=2025-06-05 |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref> * ''You Fired a Tech Genius''<ref name=":02" /> * ''Don't Miss Me When I'm Gone''<ref name="frederickpost">{{cite news |last= |first= |title=Young actor Luke Dodge rises to micro-drama stardom |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/young-actor-luke-dodge-rises-to-micro-drama-stardom/article_a12ffe35-90c9-55ba-be5a-0d107736a6c1.html |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=August 27, 2025 |access-date=2025-08-31}}</ref> * ''Fated to My Forbidden Alpha''<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Zhou |first=Viola |date=December 7, 2023 |title=Forget Quibi. Chinese streamers are hooking Americans with werewolf love triangles |url=https://restofworld.org/2023/what-is-reelshort/ |website=Rest of World}}</ref> * ''Married at First Sight''<ref name="auto4"/> * ''Never Divorce a Secret Billionaire Heiress''<ref name="auto3"/> * ''Snatched a Billionaire to Be My Husband''<ref name="auto4"/> * ''Son-in-Law's Revenge''<ref name="auto3"/> * ''The CEO's Contract Wife''<ref name="auto4"/> * ''The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband''<ref name="auto2"/> * ''True Luna''<ref name="Welk2024"/> * ''True Heiress vs. Fake Queen Bee''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sarmiento |first=Kate |date=26 December 2024 |title=The Kaplan Heiress, Where To Watch It, And 6 More Short Series To Binge |url=https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/the-kaplan-heiress-cast-other-dramas-a5322-20241226-lfrm?s=dnai7pl7tuetg5s7dnus51oio6 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=COSMO.PH |language=en-ph}}</ref> * ''Maid for my Nemesis''<ref name=":0" /> * ''The Virgin's Bucket List''<ref name=":0" /> * ''Love Me Two Times''<ref>{{Cite web |title=انتهاء تصوير |url=https://www.akhbar-sharq.com/news/30383 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=www.akhbar-sharq.com |language=ar}}</ref> * ''Daddy December''<ref>{{Citation |title=Daddy December |date=2024-12-01 |type=Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35279290/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |others=Jessica Jacoby, Aaron Oberst, Estefany Fuentes |publisher=ReelShort}}</ref> * ''Breaking the Ice''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-03 |title='Breaking The Ice' Star Seth Edeen Says ReelShort Is Perfect Formula |url=https://www.tmz.com/2025/01/03/breaking-the-ice-seth-edeen-reelshort-movies-perfect-formula/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=TMZ |language=en}}</ref> * ''The Senator's Son''<ref>{{Citation |title=The Senator's Son |date=2025-03-22 |type=Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36267907/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |others=Evan Adams, Kimberly McClain, Jake Elliot |publisher=ReelShort}}</ref> * ''Saved by the Sexy Cowboy''<ref>{{Citation |title=Saved by the Sexy Cowboy |date=2025-03-13 |type=Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36165803/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |others=Rebecca Stoughton, Carter Sirianni, James Drake Coleman |publisher=ReelShort}}</ref> * ''Wings of Fire: The Dragon Slayer Is My Ex-Lover'' * ''The Cursed Alpha's Mute Bride'' * ''Mommy Don’t Cry, Daddy is Sorry'' * ''Summer Situationship''<ref>{{cite instagram|author=Alexa Reddy|user=alexareddy|postid=DCXiDtlS4Kw|title=got myself into a little situation(ship) this summer!☀️🤪 go watch all the drama unfold at the summer house and make choices along the way!🎬 "Summer Situationship" is out now on the ReelShort app!!🤩🫶🏼 @reelshortapp @crazymaplestudios • • so so so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the most amazing cast and crew!! thank you to the incredible writer @mercedes.bends for making us do some insane, but super fun things, and to @taylormegon, @k82006, @casejackalope, and the whole Snow Story crew for being the most hardworking team. thank you to @kristensreality for being the best director we could've asked for, and for helping bring the drama to life. andddd of course to all my amazing costars for making me laugh and bringing the coolest energy everyday on set! @evanadams_official @jesssjacoby @_carsn_ @heck_yes_honey we will forever be the best group!🫶🏼🫶🏼|date=November 14, 2024|access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref> * ''The Lost Son Returns as the Duke'' (in production)
==See also== * Duanju * DramaBox
==References== {{reflist}}
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Category:2022 software Category:2020s fads and trends Category:Android (operating system) software Category:IOS software Category:Chinese brands Category:Vertical video