Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Hollywood Bets on Vertical Microdramas as Entertainment Growth Slows
Microdramas are very short shows made to watch on a phone held upright.
Each episode can last about two minutes.
More actors, producers and Hollywood executives are starting to work on them.
James Franco stars in a microdrama about crime and werewolves.
Issa Rae’s company helped make a thriller that became very popular on TikTok’s PineDrama.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is producing a comedy about students and zombies.
Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner invested in a microdrama platform.
The format is growing while regular film and television production is shrinking, and a new union agreement sets some rules for workers.
US microdrama revenue is estimated to reach $1.5 billion this year and nearly $2 billion next year.
James Franco stars in Love, Lies & Frank, one of the first productions covered by SAG-AFTRA’s new verticals agreement.
Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media partnered with TikTok’s PineDrama on Screen Time, which became the platform’s top-performing vertical show.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is producing Theater Kids Vs. Zombies, while Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner invested in GammaTime.
Hollywood executives and production facilities are entering the format as traditional film and television production faces contraction.
- Who
- Hollywood actors, producers, executives, investors and production workers, including James Franco, Issa Rae, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner.
- What
- The entertainment industry is increasingly producing and investing in two-minute vertical video series called microdramas.
- When
- The article reports that US revenue could reach $1.5 billion this year and nearly $2 billion next year; Hoorae Media’s partnership launched in May.
- Where
- The trend is centered in the United States, particularly Los Angeles, with shows distributed through phone-based platforms including TikTok’s PineDrama.
- Why
- Microdramas are one of the few growing entertainment segments as film and television production shrinks amid pending mergers and competition from YouTube.
- Format
- Two-minute vertical video series designed for viewing on phones.
- US revenue estimate
- $1.5 billion this year, according to Omdia.
- Next-year estimate
- Nearly $2 billion in US microdrama revenue, according to Omdia.
- Labor agreement
- SAG-AFTRA’s new verticals agreement sets minimum pay, rest periods and safety rules for low-budget microdramas.
- Notable production
- James Franco stars in Love, Lies & Frank on Shortical.
- Popular series
- Screen Time became the top-performing vertical show on TikTok and PineDrama.
- Los Angeles facility
- Craig Williams converted a production facility into Vertical World Studios after repeated microdrama bookings.