iWorld
Five must-watch movies & series to celebrate the festive season
Mumbai: It’s the season of twinkling lights, snug blankets, and the irresistible aroma of hot chocolate wafting through the air. As the festive spirit of Christmas wraps, what could be more delightful than cozying up with a steaming mug of cocoa and diving into a captivating selection of movies and shows on our beloved OTT platforms? So, let’s kickstart the holiday cheer with a unique flavor to make this festive season truly unforgettable.
Here is the list of five shows/movies to binge-watch this season:
1. Reacher Season 2 (Series):
Plunge into the world of action, drama, and thrill with Reacher Season 2, where the stakes are higher and vengeance looms on the horizon. It unfolds as members of Reacher’s former military unit mysteriously meet their demise. Gripped by a singular purpose, revenge, Reacher portrayed by Alan Ritchson, navigates a labyrinth of secrets, conspiracies, and danger. Premiered with three episodes from the latest season on Prime Video with weekly episode releases, the final episode will be streaming on 19 January.
2. A Storm for Christmas (Series):
Enter the gripping story of A Storm For Christmas, where destinies intertwined amidst extreme weather, trapping travelers and workers at an airport. Helmed by creator Per-Olav Sørensen, this captivating series unfolds as individuals from diverse backgrounds find themselves forced to spend the final hours leading up to Christmas together. Starring Ida Elise Broch, Dennis Storhøi, and Jan Gunnar Røise, the series is now streaming on Netflix.
3. Candy Cane Lane (Film):
Light up the season with this family-friendly holiday comedy exclusively on Prime Video! Directed by Reginald Hudlin, this festive film follows Eddie Murphy as he strikes a unique pact with an elf to ensure his triumph. Little does he anticipate that this mischievous elf’s spell would bring the classic ‘12 days of Christmas’ to life, transforming the town into a delightful hub of unexpected surprises and festive pandemonium.
4. Dashing Through the Snow (Film):
Embark on a heartwarming journey with Dashing Through the Snow, where the life of a separated social worker for the Atlanta police department takes an unexpected turn during Christmas. This touching story brims with the delight and enchantment of the season, set against a backdrop of unexpected connections and newfound understanding. Embracing the holiday spirit with this film, watch it now as it is available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar.
5. Merry Little Batman (Film):
Take a festive leap into the animated realm with Merry Little Batman, a 2023 American superhero film directed by Mike Roth. Penned by Morgan Evans and Jase Ricci, with a storyline crafted by Evans and Roth, this cinematic delight is a DC Comics adaptation featuring the iconic characters Batman and his son Damian Wayne. Voiced by a stellar cast including Yonas Kibreab, Luke Wilson, James Cromwell, and David Hornsby, the film unfolds as Damian finds himself thrust into action against the Joker’s sinister plot to spoil Christmas in Gotham City. Released on 8 December 2023, exclusively on Prime Video.
As we bid adieu to the cozy days and festive nights of 2023, it’s evident that this year has gifted us a treasure of content across genres. From heartwarming tales like Candy Cane Lane to the gripping narratives of Reacher Season 2, the streaming services have truly been our holiday elves, delivering cinematic joy to our screens. Let’s raise a mug to a year filled with diverse stories, compelling characters, and the boundless magic of the silver screen.
iWorld
Micro-Dramas Surge in India, Redefining Mobile Content Habits
Meta-Ormax study maps rapid rise of short-form storytelling among 18–44 audiences.
MUMBAI: Micro-dramas aren’t just short, they’re the snack that ate Indian entertainment, and now everyone’s bingeing between the sofa cushions. Meta, in partnership with Ormax Media, has released ‘Micro Dramas: The India Story’, a comprehensive study unveiled at the inaugural Meta Marketing Summit: Micro-Drama Edition. The report maps how the vertical, bite-sized format is reshaping content consumption for mobile-first audiences aged 18–44 across 14 states.
Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 through 50 in-depth interviews and 2,000 personal surveys, the research reveals that 65 per cent of viewers discovered micro-dramas within the last year proof of explosive adoption. Nearly 89 per cent encounter the format through social feeds and recommendations, making algorithm-driven discovery the primary engine rather than active search.
Key viewing patterns show a median of 3.5 hours per week (about 30 minutes daily) spread across 7–8 short sessions. Consumption peaks between 8 pm and midnight, with additional spikes during commutes and work breaks classic “in-between moments” that the format fills perfectly. Around 57 per cent of viewing happens in ambient mode (while doing something else), and 90 per cent is solo, enabling more intimate, personal storytelling.
Romance, family drama and comedy lead genre preferences. Audiences show growing openness to AI-generated content, 47 per cent find it unique and creative, while only 6 per cent say they would avoid it entirely. Regional languages are surging after Hindi and English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dominate consumption.
Meta, director, media & entertainment (India) Shweta Bajpai said, “Micro-drama isn’t a passing trend, it’s rewriting the rules of Indian entertainment. In under a year, an entirely new category of platforms has emerged, built audience habits from scratch, and created a business vertical that is scaling fast.”
Ormax Media founder-CEO Shailesh Kapoor added, “Micro-dramas are beginning to show the early signs of becoming a distinct content category in India’s digital entertainment landscape. When a format aligns closely with how audiences naturally engage with their devices, it has the potential to scale very quickly.”
The study proposes ecosystem-wide responsibility, universal signposting of commercial intent, shared accountability among advertisers, platforms, creators, schools and parents, built-in safeguards, and formal media literacy in schools.
In a feed that never sleeps and a day that never stops, micro-dramas have slipped into the cracks of every spare minute turning 30-second stories into the new national pastime, one vertical swipe at a time.
