Global Vertical Screen Short Drama Market Strategic Research Report

Scope of the Report

The global Vertical Screen Short Drama market size is predicted to grow from US$ 10,880 million in 2025 to US$ 63,250 million in 2032; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.2% from 2026 to 2032.

Short dramas, also known as "micro-dramas" or "mini-theaters," refer to a new type of film and television format where each episode is shorter than a traditional TV series, has lower production costs, is primarily distributed via vertical screen on mobile phones, and involves online influencers in production. Micro-dramas are defined as episodes less than 10 minutes long, becoming the fourth officially recognized form of online film and television work after web dramas, web movies, and web animations. The vertical screen short drama industry chain is a complete ecosystem centered on content production, encompassing technical support, platform distribution, user consumption, and derivative services. Its links are closely interconnected, forming a closed loop from creation to monetization.

Vertical Screen Short Drama Industry Chain Analysis: The upstream mainly consists of IP copyright holders. IP copyright holders provide their own IP resources to short drama producers, who then adapt them into short drama scripts. Currently, short drama IP sources include novels, comics, and games. Due to the compact plot characteristics of short dramas, they highly align with online "fast-paced" novels. Among the types of short drama IP copyright holders, online literature institutions account for nearly half due to their content reserves.

The midstream mainly consists of short drama production companies, which are primarily responsible for connecting with upstream resources, rewriting scripts, filming, and post-production, transforming content into online micro-dramas. These production companies are mainly transformed from information flow companies, traditional film and television companies, and MCN companies, as well as some IP copyright companies. Currently, the cost of producing a vertical-screen short drama is approximately $120,000-$150,000 per episode, but the midstream portion only accounts for 10%-15% of the overall industry chain revenue.

The downstream mainly consists of content distributors and streaming providers, primarily responsible for video distribution, traffic generation, and monetization. These include ReelShort, DramaBox, TopShort, FlexTV (Mega Matrix), GoodShort, and ShortTV. Currently, mainstream content distribution platforms include short video platforms, short video mini-programs, long video platforms, and independent short drama apps. Short video platforms are the primary reach, using story clips to attract users and form a content consumption loop. These platforms themselves possess advantages for micro-drama development and have a relatively higher degree of compatibility with micro-drama content, making them important channels for user acquisition and viewing. It also accounts for the largest share of revenue in the entire industry chain, approximately 80%-85%.

Short dramas, also known as "micro short dramas" and "small theaters", refer to a new type of film and television format with a shorter episode length than traditional TV dramas, lower production costs, mainly disseminated through small mobile screens, and produced by Internet celebrities. At present, the daily recharge consumption of paid micro short dramas on all domestic platforms is already around 60 million yuan. According to the "2023 China Internet Audiovisual Development Research Report", in the past six months, 50.4% of the more than 1 billion short video users in my country have watched micro short dramas, micro variety shows, and instant noodles within 3 minutes. Fast-paced, high-density, and exaggerated plots are the biggest characteristics of micro short dramas, and they are also their magic weapon for attracting money. Tianyancha data shows that there are more than 230 micro short drama-related companies in the country, of which more than 30 new registered companies were added from January to October 2023, an increase of 225% year-on-year compared with 2022.

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the global Vertical Screen Short Drama market, covering market size and forecast, segmentation by product type and application, competitive landscape, leading players and regional and country-level outlook.

Segment by Type

• IAA（In-Application Advertisement)
• IAP（In-Application Purchase-Pay Per Episode/Member Subscription)
• Copyright Revenue Sharing
• e-commerce Sales

Segment by Drama

• Romance
• Urban
• Costume
• Suspense
• Fantasy
• Other

Segment by User

• Male
• Female

Segment by Application

• Short Video Platforms
• Mini Programs
• Long Video Platforms
• Independent Short Drama Apps

Who Can Use This Report?

This report is written for decision-makers who need a clear, data-backed view of the global Vertical Screen Short Drama market:

• Manufacturers, suppliers and solution providers benchmarking their position and planning product, capacity and go-to-market strategy
• Distributors, channel partners and end users in Short Video Platforms, Mini Programs, Long Video Platforms evaluating demand and sourcing options
• Investors, financial analysts and consultants assessing growth opportunities, competitive dynamics and M&A potential
• Government agencies, industry associations and research institutions tracking industry developments and policy impact