ReelShort
| ReelShort | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Crazy Maple Studio |
| Initial release | August 2022; 3 years ago (2022-08) |
| Operating system | Android, iOS |
| Platform | Mobile app |
| Type | Video on demand, Short-form video |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | reelshort |
ReelShort is a Chinese short-form video streaming app specializing in Duanju.[1] It is owned by Crazy Maple Studio, which is backed and partially owned by Beijing-based digital publisher COL Group.[2]
ReelShort's short dramas emphasize rapid plot twists, heightened emotional conflicts, and minimal character development.[3] [1] The production values are notably low, with simple sets, costumes, and a cast of predominantly unknown actors.[1]
Background
[edit ]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.[1] Initially filling a void created by movie theater closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, duanju became popular with Chinese viewers seeking quick entertainment.[4] [1] ReelShort was founded in August 2022 to introduce duanju to an international audience.[1] [5] [6]
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.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
Production
[edit ]Crazy Maple Studio, the production company behind ReelShort, it was founded with the intention of introducing duanjus to an international audience.[1] The studio maintains an additional office in Shenzhen, China.[1]
Business model
[edit ]ReelShort uses a virtual currency system where users can purchase coins to unlock additional episodes of their shows.[12] These coins can be acquired by watching advertisements within the app or by purchasing them directly.[12] [6]
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.[13]
In 2025, the app reportedly reached over 370 million downloads and generated 700ドル million in revenue.[14]
Programs
[edit ]- Move Aside! I’m the Final Boss starring Adam Daniel [15]
- You Fired a Tech Genius[15]
- Don't Miss Me When I'm Gone[16]
- Fated to My Forbidden Alpha[17]
- Married at First Sight[1]
- Never Divorce a Secret Billionaire Heiress[4]
- Snatched a Billionaire to Be My Husband[1]
- Son-in-Law's Revenge[4]
- The CEO's Contract Wife[1]
- The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband[3]
- True Luna[6]
- True Heiress vs. Fake Queen Bee[18]
- Maid for my Nemesis[18]
- The Virgin's Bucket List[18]
- Love Me Two Times[19]
- Daddy December[20]
- Breaking the Ice[21]
- The Senator's Son[22]
- Saved by the Sexy Cowboy[23]
- 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[24]
- The Lost Son Returns as the Duke (in production)
See also
[edit ]References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Tobin, Meaghan; Li, Lyric (February 4, 2024). "Three plot twists in a minute? No problem for ReelShort's cheesy dramas". Washington Post .
- ^ Moses, Claire (2024年01月30日). "Minute-Long Soap Operas Are Here. Is America Ready?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025年05月05日.
- ^ a b Moses, Claire (January 30, 2024). "Minute-Long Soap Operas Are Here. Is America Ready?". The New York Times .
- ^ a b c "ReelShort is the latest Chinese export to conquer America". The Economist.
- ^ "COL's Share Price Doubles as Chinese Firm's ReelShort App Becomes Popular in US". Yicai Global. Retrieved 2023年12月02日.
- ^ a b c Welk, Brian (January 31, 2024). "ReelShort Isn't Quibi — It's Candy Crush for 60-Second Vampire Soap Operas". IndieWire .
- ^ "When France discovers ReelShort". Duanju. 2024年01月31日. Retrieved 2025年08月27日.
- ^ "Reelshort : le TikTok des séries". France Inter (in French). 2024年01月01日. Retrieved 2025年08月27日.
- ^ "ReelShort : quelle est cette nouvelle application américaine dédiée aux séries qui cartonne ?". Franceinfo (in French). 2024年01月10日. Retrieved 2025年08月27日.
- ^ ""Le TikTok des séries" : ce qu'il faut savoir de ReelShort, la nouvelle application des séries au format court qui cartonne". midilibre.fr (in French). Retrieved 2025年08月27日.
- ^ "Séries. ReelShort, l'application venue de Chine qui séduit les Américaines au foyer". Courrier international (in French). 2023年12月27日. Retrieved 2025年08月27日.
- ^ a b Perez, Sarah (November 16, 2023). "A Quibi-like app called ReelShort hit record downloads and revenue this month". TechCrunch .
- ^ "ReelShort's Exponential Growth Creates New Market for Super-Skinny Content". IMDb. Retrieved 2024年11月27日.
- ^ "ReelShort: Duanju's American-style platform". duanju.news. August 2, 2025. Retrieved 2025年08月02日.
- ^ a b Hunt, Joshua (2025年06月05日). "Secret Billionaires. Age-Gap Marriages. Plenty of Revenge". Vulture . Archived from the original on 2025年06月05日. Retrieved 2025年06月05日.
- ^ "Young actor Luke Dodge rises to micro-drama stardom". The Frederick News-Post. August 27, 2025. Retrieved 2025年08月31日.
- ^ Zhou, Viola (December 7, 2023). "Forget Quibi. Chinese streamers are hooking Americans with werewolf love triangles". Rest of World.
- ^ a b c Sarmiento, Kate (26 December 2024). "The Kaplan Heiress, Where To Watch It, And 6 More Short Series To Binge". COSMO.PH. Retrieved 2025年01月06日.
- ^ "انتهاء تصوير". www.akhbar-sharq.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025年01月31日.
- ^ Daddy December (Drama), Jessica Jacoby, Aaron Oberst, Estefany Fuentes, ReelShort, 2024年12月01日, retrieved 2025年04月02日
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "'Breaking The Ice' Star Seth Edeen Says ReelShort Is Perfect Formula". TMZ. 2025年01月03日. Retrieved 2025年04月02日.
- ^ The Senator's Son (Drama), Evan Adams, Kimberly McClain, Jake Elliot, ReelShort, 2025年03月22日, retrieved 2025年04月02日
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Saved by the Sexy Cowboy (Drama), Rebecca Stoughton, Carter Sirianni, James Drake Coleman, ReelShort, 2025年03月13日, retrieved 2025年04月02日
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Alexa Reddy [@alexareddy]; (November 14, 2024). "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!🫶🏼🫶🏼" . Retrieved April 14, 2025 – via Instagram.