TikTok has quietly launched a new standalone short drama app called PineDrama in the United States and Brazil, as it moves to expand beyond social media into short-form storytelling.
The app, first reported by Business Insider, offers access to microdramas—fictional series made up of one-minute episodes—and is available on both iOS and Android. PineDrama is currently free and ad-free.
Users can discover content through curated lists or vertical recommendations tailored to viewing habits. Genres include romance, thriller and family drama, with popular titles such as Love at First Bite and The Officer Fell for Me.
PineDrama also features watch history, favourites, comments and a full-screen viewing mode. The launch follows TikTok’s introduction of a “TikTok Minis” section last year, which also features microdramas.
With PineDrama, TikTok is taking on established microdrama platforms such as ReelShort and DramaBox. The global microdrama market is projected to reach $26 billion in annual revenue by 2030, according to Variety.
Industry observers note that previous attempts at short-form storytelling, such as Quibi, failed because they tried to compress traditional Hollywood content. In contrast, successful platforms rely on low-budget productions, fast hooks and continuous cliffhangers—an approach TikTok now appears poised to replicate.
