Hollywood talent enters growing vertical microdrama market

The international video industry is seeing rapid growth in the vertical microdrama market, a format consisting of one-to-two-minute episodes designed specifically for smartphone consumption. This sector is transitioning from a low-cost niche into a professionalized segment of the film and television market, attracting established Hollywood talent.

Actor James Franco is starring in ‘Love, Lies & Frank,’ a new series streaming exclusively on the platform Shortical. The production is noted as one of the first to be made under SAG-AFTRA’s Verticals Agreement, a specialized framework designed to facilitate the involvement of professional actors in vertical, serial microdramas.

Market research indicates significant economic potential for this format. Omdia estimates global microdrama revenue will reach $11 billion in 2025, with projections rising to $14 billion by 2026. Outside of China, the market is expected to generate approximately $3 billion this year, with nearly half of that revenue originating in the United States. Sensor Tower has identified short drama as one of the fastest-growing categories in mobile entertainment.