Netflix may seem like the dominant streaming service, but it is undeniably facing competition - from micro-series.

Micro-series are vertical videos lasting about 90 seconds, with hundreds of episodes available. They have a profoundly addictive effect, often featuring bizarre plotlines and significant violence, including violence against women.

Extremely Popular

In Asian countries, these short clips have become a phenomenon - and their popularity is now growing in America and Europe. These vertical soap apps, such as ReelShort, NetShort, DramaWave, and DramaBox, are highly sought after in the App Store, all owned by Chinese companies.

They are generating substantial revenue, with these vertical series alone bringing an estimated profit of 700 million US dollars in the first quarter of 2025. DramaBox has already amassed 44 million active users per month in the United States, surpassing viewers of Hulu and Paramount+.

Extra Amplified

These small series go further than films like Anora and John Wick. They emphasize extra drama, heightened violence, and intensified romance. Whether a subscription is a worthwhile investment for you is something you will need to decide for yourself.



CNBC delved into the phenomenon of this remarkable '7 billion US dollar micro-drama industry' in the YouTube video above. Experts state, "Everything is sweet, short, and sharp" and "They fulfill the desire for instant gratification and are extremely addictive".

Now that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery has had its first screenings, it's time for the initial reactions to Rian Johnson's third whodunnit featuring Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig.

And these reactions are overwhelmingly positive. Based on online tweets, it seems that audiences agree that Wake Up Dead Man is a significant improvement over its predecessor Glass Onion. Many reviews even label the latest installment as the best of the three films so far.

In Theaters Starting November And On Netflix Starting December

All reviews describe it as the darkest, most old-school, funniest, gothic, and emotional film in the series, particularly praising the performances of Josh O'Connor and Glenn Close.

Read Below What Some Critics Had To Say

Next Best Picture: "Daniel Craig's always hilarious and sharp Benoit Blanc returns, but this third installment truly belongs to Josh O'Connor, who carries the film with warmth, charm, and empathy on the guilt-ridden back of his priest character. Johnson crafts a striking motif of light/darkness that battles each other, both literally and figuratively, prompting us to continuously question the truth, our beliefs, and our perception."

Awards Radar: "The best so far. With heavier themes, but also the funniest, Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson should never stop making Benoit Blanc stories. Josh O'Connor steals the show. What a great movie!"

Den of Geek: "Rian Johnson has upped his game threefold. This is the most visually striking and thematically powerful character study of 'Knives Out'. A phenomenal exploration of the repercussions of right-wing dominance of institutionalized religion, wrapped in yet another fantastic whodunnit."

Oscar Film Forecast: "Not the strongest (that still belongs to the original). It has too many holes in the central mystery. However, what it does have is a leading role for Josh O'Connor, who continues to prove why he is the actor of his generation. Glenn Close is another clear standout."

CineMasters: "An absolute triumph. It's likely the messiest film, but by far the film that has impacted me the most. Much darker than the previous two, it demands extraordinary patience that sometimes feels hopeless, but it flows beautifully together. Hats off!"

Esquire: "Fantastic. The meta-levels accompanying the use of John Dickson Carr's 'The Hollow Man' in the way he does it (not to mention Christie's Roger Ackroyd and others) are as bold as they come. I think Rian Johnson might be our best crime writer of this century."

Film Inquiry: "It feels more like a 'traditional' murder mystery with some beautiful, dark, and gothic influences from Edgar Allen Poe. Yet, it's his most intricate and emotional mystery to date, featuring compelling character work."

Collider: "The most intricate, darkest, and surprisingly emotional 'Knives Out'. Glenn Close and Josh O'Connor are absolute standouts, and Benoit Blanc says 'Scooby-Dooby-Do'. What more could you want?"

Awards Buzz: "He's fantastic and shows Daniel Craig at his best as Benoit Blanc. Josh O'Connor is the star of this film, and he completely owns his role as Father Jud. I loved O'Connor's chemistry with Craig and would love to see them together more often. I also adored the gothic church in the film. Rian Johnson really shook everything up this time, and I think he nailed it perfectly. This was an absolute knockout.".

Fans of The Boys are in luck because the popular spin-off Gen V is returning for its second season. Following the acclaim for the first series in 2023, Gen V is back this September and promises to be even more impressive and darker.

Gen V follows a group of young superheroes as they try to find their way at Godolkin University, a prestigious school that trains superheroes. The main character is Marie Moreau (played by Jaz Sinclair), who, with her ability to control blood, instills both fear and admiration.

Expectations

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Eric Kripke mentioned that Marie's role will be even more significant this season. "If she can control everyone’s blood, what can’t she do? Just because she has that potential doesn’t mean she’s ready for it yet," said Kripke. Marie seems to be the strongest in the The Boys universe. This season, according to him, will focus on the theme: expectations that exceed what one can handle.

Jaz Sinclair, who plays Marie, is particularly looking forward to her character facing off against the infamous Homelander. “I love that she’s an underdog. And as a black woman against such a patriarchal bad guy? I would love nothing more than to see her take him down,” the actress shared.

Coming Soon

Season 2 of Gen V premieres on September 17 and will run until October 22. A new episode will be released weekly on Prime Video.

Marvel is working on a new series for the streaming service Disney+ centered around the character Wonder Man. The miniseries is described as a tribute to the craft of acting and features multiple meta-commentaries on the world of superheroes and celebrities.

Arian Moayed returns as DODC agent P. Clearly, a role he previously played in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ms. Marvel. He told Variety that the series is a love letter to the acting profession: "This show is a love letter to acting and the craft and the hard work of being an artist. It taps into something very, very unique and special and working with... I can't even say who I worked with."

Actor And Superhero

Lead actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays Simon Williams, an actor who himself plays the lead role in a fictional superhero film about Wonder Man. The series plays with the idea that Williams was a fan of an earlier Wonder Man film as a child, which was hinted at with posters featuring Nathan Fillion as the character in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

During the premiere of Fantastic Four: The First Steps, Abdul-Mateen II appeared in character as Simon Williams for an interview, emphasizing the meta layer of the project. This suggests that the series is making a nod towards both the film industry and superhero culture.

Big Names

Wonder Man premieres in December on Disney+ and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi) and showrunner Andrew Guest (Hawkeye). In addition to Abdul-Mateen II and Moayed, we also see Sir Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery, known from Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Arian Moayed on the upcoming #MCU show "Wonder Man": "This show is a love letter to acting and the craft and the hard work of being an artist."

Variety Cover Party presented by @RBC pic.twitter.com/prhLxJDG3W

— Variety (@Variety) September 6, 2025

Demetrius Grosse also makes an appearance as Eric Williams (alias Grim Reaper), and Ed Harris plays Simon Williams's agent. In undisclosed roles, we see Lauren Glazier, Josh Gad, Byron Bowers, Béchir Sylvain, and Manny McCord.