What Are Vertical Drama Series

Vertical Drama Series are episodic videos filmed and edited in a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio, made specifically for smartphone viewing. The format first gained traction in China, where mobile-first entertainment rapidly evolved to fit how people naturally consume content on their phones. These short, addictive series — often dramatic, romantic, or fantastical — are designed to be watched anytime, anywhere, one tap away.

The vertical format, originally known as duanju, began in China around 2018 on mobile platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou, where it quickly attracted millions of viewers. The trend has since expanded globally, inspiring the launch of numerous dedicated apps and streaming platforms. Today, fans can watch Vertical Drama Series on mobile-first apps such as ReelShort, DramaBox, Shorts, Vigloo, CandyJar, and DramaPops, as well as on social media feeds that now support serialized vertical content.

Vertical Dramas are no longer a niche experiment — they’ve become a global entertainment movement. In early 2025, some vertical drama apps reported over 44 million monthly active users, and viewers spent nearly $700 million in-app on these series, a fourfold increase from the year before. This growth shows how storytelling is evolving for the mobile age — and how vertical dramas are shaping the next generation of digital entertainment.