Duanju

Duanju (simplified Chinese: 短剧; traditional Chinese: 短劇; pinyin: duǎn jù), sometimes translated in English as microdrama,^[1] short drama,^[2] vertical drama,^[3] vertical minidrama, vertical series or mobile drama, is a type of short form web or television series that originated in China. It is also known as "microdrama" in English. These series typically feature 1–2 minute episodes, and a complete production may include 20 to 100 episodes, resulting in a total runtime similar to one or two movies. Produced specifically for smartphone viewing, many duanju are shot in vertical format and optimized for fragmented, bite-sized consumption on platforms such as Douyin (TikTok China). Some titles are further adapted into interactive film-style mobile games.^[4] Duanju is characterized by fast-paced plots and heightened melodrama, and can be compared to soap operas in English speaking countries, although in a more hyperactive style.

The Chinese term duanju (短剧, literally "short drama") is also used in English-language contexts, particularly in academic and industry discourse.^[5] Other English translations include short drama, vertical drama,^[3] vertical minidrama, mobile dramaand microdrama.

The narrative of duanju is deeply embedded in the Chinese Web fictions that started around 2002. These fictions were written by users on websites such as Qidian and were released in installments, where readers had the option to pay per chapter or a subscription.^[5]

The duanju format traces its roots to comedy sketches and serialized short videos that began appearing on Chinese short-video platforms such as Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) and Kuaishou around 2018. Kuaishou was among the first platforms to recognize the commercial potential of the format, launching a dedicated section called "Kuaishou Small Theatre" in 2019.^[6] Video-form duanju had earlier antecedents on Youku Tudou beginning in 2013, while the narrative conventions of the genre draw heavily on Chinese web fiction^[5]

In 2020, the National Radio and Television Administration formally recognized the duanju as a distinct genre of online audiovisual content.^[7] Between 2020 and 2022, the format became increasingly professionalized, with standardized vertical 9:16 shooting, fast production cycles (often under two weeks), and monetization through freemium or pay-per-episode models.^[5]

The industry experienced explosive growth from 2022 onward. By June 2024, the number of duanju users in China had reached 576 million, representing 52.4 percent of the country's total internet users.^[8][9]By the end of 2024, domestic viewership had reached approximately 662 million, and the market generated over 50 billion yuan (approximately US$7 billion).^[7][10] The sector is also estimated to have created over 600,000 jobs.^{[11][1][12][13]} Duanju (short or vertical drama) have thus become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Chinese entertainment industry.^[14]

In 2022, Chinese duanju companies began aggressively pursuing international markets, particularly targeting the United States.To appeal to English-speaking audiences, these firms have collaborated with American and British production houses to localize content. This is achieved either through dubbing existing Chinese series or by re-creating the entire series with English-speaking actors. These international productions maintain a lean, high-efficiency model—often filmed on shoestring budgets in as little as ten days for an entire season.^[15][16]

ReelShort and DramaBox, the two largest Chinese short-drama platforms operating overseas, entered the U.S. market in 2022 and 2023, respectively.^[17][18]By August 2025, DramaBox had surpassed 100 million downloads on Google Play alone, while maintaining an average of 44 million monthly active users.^[19][20] Meanwhile, ReelShort surpassed 370 million downloads and raked in $700 million in revenue.^[21] As of 2025, ReelShort and DramaBox are the top two duanju platforms in terms of downloads and active users.^[22][23]

In 2025, Netflix adopted a vertical mobile feed. Journalist Isabelle Deromas Lebocq saw it as a sign of the growing influence of the duanju format.^[24]

In July 2025, DramaBox was selected by Disney to join the Disney Accelerator program, confirming the growing interest of major American studios in micro-dramas.^[25][26][27]

Holywater launched in 2024 the mobile application My Drama, a platform for broadcasting short vertical series of two to three minutes.^[28][29][30] The platform quickly gained a growing user base in the USA and Europe and generates millions of dollars in annual revenue.^[31][32]In August 2025, the Canadian French-language daily La Presse reported that My Drama had become the dominant platform in Europe for vertical micro-series. As of September 2025, My Drama has reached over 40 million lifetime users.^[33][34][35] In October 2025, Holywater announced a strategic content deal with Fox Entertainment to produce over 200 vertical series for the My Drama platform.^[36][37]

In spring 2023, the first French duanju series, Next Door Adventure, was released on Facebook on Guillaume Sanjorge's page, where it accumulated several hundred thousand views before later being distributed on an Asian platform.^[38][39][40]

In January 2024, French outlets including France Inter, France Info, Midi Libre and Courrier International introduced ReelShort as the “TikTok of series,” marking its first broad media coverage in France.^{[41][42][43][44][45]}

On November 23, 2024, the first public screening of duanju series took place, organized by the association Studio Phocéen.^[46][47]

In June 2024, the French newspaper Le Monde reported on the arrival of short vertical series in France, mainly distributed via the ReelShort app, and noted their growing popularity among younger audiences.^[48]

Since 2025, the Asian platform Stardust TV^[49][50] has also expanded into France. Among its new titles is the French vertical series Next Door Adventure, produced by Guillaume Sanjorge. It is the first French series to be distributed on an Asian platform dedicated to vertical mobile fiction.^{[51][52][53][54][55]}

On June 14, 2025, the association Studio Phocéen brought together an international panel of creators and producers to explore the growing potential of this format. British producer Adam Gee was among the participants.^[56]

In July 2025, Gaëtan Bruel, president of the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, mentioned the format for the first time during an official visit to Asia.^[57]

In August 2025, journalist Jade Hin-Cellura from the magazine Geo published an article on Hollywood's enthusiasm for Chinese mini-series, highlighting Duanju as a rapidly growing format.^[58] The Canadian French-language daily La Presse also published an article by Mathieu Perreault describing the rise of the format in France. Producer Guillaume Sanjorge noted that while early European series mostly adapt Chinese works, the format could expand in the West.^[59][60]

Many in France have warned of the corrosive effects duanju could have on French art and culture. A France Inter podcast,^[61] an article from Le Figaro,^[62] and a speech by the president of the CNC, Gaëtan Bruel, who described the micro-drama as “the perfect counter-example” of what France should stand for.^[63]

French producer Guillaume Sanjorge advocates a more proactive reading of the phenomenon. In an interview with the professional media outlet Ecran Total, he stated that France could become the “European champion” of this emerging industry if it succeeds in structuring a production and distribution ecosystem adapted to these new formats.^[64]

On 5 March 2026, mediaClub International organized a roundtable in Paris dedicated to the format, with the participation of Bo Zhang and Guillaume Sanjorge. The discussion focused on the international rise of the format, its production and monetization models, as well as its development prospects in France.^[65][66]

Duanju are filmed vertically in a 9:16 aspect ratio, designed to fill the entire screen of a smartphone held in portrait orientation. Episodes are structured to deliver maximum narrative intensity in minimal time, with cliffhangers engineered to appear at the end of nearly every episode to encourage continued viewing.^[10] The storytelling style is intentionally fast-paced and emotionally heightened. Unlike the majority of content on platforms such as TikTok, duanjus are professionally produced with hired actors and crew, rather than being user-generated content.^[5]

The most popular genres include romance (particularly stories involving billionaire or CEO characters), revenge narratives, identity-reveal plots，chuanyue, xianxia, wuxia, and family drama.^[16] In the American market, the audience skews heavily toward women aged 30 to 60, who gravitate particularly toward romance, CEO storylines, and revenge-driven narratives.^[67]

Some of the format's most commercially successful titles internationally include The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband, which accumulated over 500 million views on ReelShort,^[16] and The Divorced Billionaire Heiress, which was produced for less than US$200,000 and reportedly grossed approximately US$35 million in North America.^[68][69]

Early duanjus were produced with minimal budgets and small teams of around 12 people. As the industry matured, production values and crew sizes increased substantially. By 2025, duanju production crews in China typically numbered between 60 and 90 people, spanning roles in directing, cinematography, lighting, costumes, props, and production management.^[70] However, budgets remain far below those of traditional television or film, with some successful productions costing as little as US$50,000.^[7]

Within China, microdramas are distributed primarily through the short-video ecosystems of the country's major technology companies. Douyin (ByteDance), Kuaishou, and WeChat (Tencent) serve as the primary distribution platforms. In 2024, the number of native short dramas launched on Douyin alone exceeded 20,000.^[71] The industry's three major domestic platform operators are ByteDance (through its Red Fruit brand), Tencent (through WeChat Video Accounts), and Kuaishou (through its Xi Fan brand). These platforms draw heavily on intellectual property pipelines from web fiction publishers such as China Literature and Tomato Novel.^[72]

A growing ecosystem of dedicated mobile applications serves international audiences. According to data from Sensor Tower, the major platforms include:^[73]

• ReelShort — Operated by Crazy Maple Studio, ReelShort is among the most widely downloaded microdrama apps globally. It reported approximately US$400 million in revenue in 2024.^[67] Women comprise 70 percent of its 45 million monthly active users, half of whom are based in the United States.^[16]
• DramaBox — Operated by StoryMatrix, DramaBox reported US$323 million in revenue and US$10 million in net profit in 2024.^[67]
• GoodShort — Recognized for cinematic production quality and a focus on Chinese drama adapted for English-speaking audiences.^[73]

Above are the top three. Other apps (4 to 10) in the market include ShortMax, NetShort, DramaWave, FlickReels, MoboReels, Kalos TV and My Drama.^[73]

Due to the short production cycle and low cost, if a script becomes popular, many companies will rush to imitate it, resulting in the same plot flooding the internet, leading to sense of exhaustion, infringing on the original creator's copyright and other intellectual property rights.^[74]

• DramaBox
• My Drama
• ReelShort