Microdramas Go Global: The New Wave of Vertical Video Creators
Microdramas, a trend that began in Asia, have taken the world by storm, spreading to Europe, the U.S., and beyond. This innovative medium is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue in the coming years, with estimates predicting annual revenues of between $20B to $30B by 2030. Late last year, major players like Fox, Cineverse, and Access Entertainment began investing in this space, and we've been tracking a diverse range of emerging vertical video apps and creators from around the globe who could become household names in the coming year.
Holywater: Hollywood Meets Microdrama
Country: Ukraine
Buzzy projects: Spark Me Tenderly, The Diamond Rose
Model: Ads, subscription, and a landmark deal with Fox
Bogdan Nesvit envisions Holywater's future as a modern-day adaptation of the famous Walt Disney 1957 flow chart, which outlined how Disney would leverage its IP across various media. Holywater, a Ukrainian media outfit, has made a splash with its microdrama deal with Fox and a recent funding round of $22M. It started as a book supply firm, but soon evolved into an interactive storytelling platform, recognizing the potential of microdramas and the need for AI integration.
Holywater's biggest hit, Spark Me Tenderly, has generated over 7 billion social impressions and $20M in revenue, outperforming the average U.S. theatrical box office per film in 2025. The company plans to increase ad revenue in 2026. Holywater's success lies in its ability to blend Hollywood's IP expertise with the distribution power of platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
AppReel: No Gatekeepers
Country: Israel
Buzzy projects: Survivorsof the Heart, The Cinderella Trials
Model: Coins, subscription, and rewarded ads
Israel's strong presence in global TV and film inspired Yoav Gross Productions, the makers of Red Skies, to venture into microdramas. AppReel, their resulting platform, is currently in testing but will soon launch worldwide. The team's understanding of content production and cost-effectiveness is a key advantage. AppReel will produce microdrama content for third parties and in-house, with an initial launch of 25 shows at affordable budgets.
Co-CEO Osher Assouline aims to push the boundaries of vertical video genres, with shows like Survivors of the Heart and Telenovelas. Despite their traditional TV background, they recognize the competition from TikTok and gaming, stating that AppReel has no gatekeepers.
Tattle TV: Monty Python for the Vertical Video Generation
Country: UK
Big projects: MMA movie Tramp, reality show Dog Dates
Model: Ad-funded and gamified with Tattle Coins
Filmmaker-artists Philip McGoldrick and Marina Elderton have created Tattle TV, the UK's first microdrama app. They aim to repurpose classic shows for the vertical video format, targeting a wider audience. The pair first entered the microdrama scene by trying to release their MMA movie Tramp in China, which led them to discover a solid business model.
Tattle TV offers premium movies like Tramp and a fun reality show, Dog Dates. They've leveraged TikTok for promotion and use Tattle Coins for ad-free viewing and additional content. McGoldrick and Elderton believe microdramas can help the industry during a slump, emphasizing the potential for rich, culturally relevant content.
Black Forest Studios: The Crazy Maple Studio of Europe
Country: Germany
Big projects: Black Forest Royale, Mountain Medical
Model: In-house production, basic subscriptions, and ad-supported tiers
Black Forest Studios, owned by a family with a background in commercial production, is drawing inspiration from Crazy Maple Studio and its ReelShorts app. They've launched a vertical video production and distribution business, with an advisory board including Boris Kodjoe. The app will feature 16 completed series, with new ones added monthly. Nina Gwyn Weiland, the co-founder, leads in-house writing.
The studio aims to transport European values globally. They've overcome challenges like lower pay rates and AI concerns, with a focus on working with great talent. The studio's location in the Black Forest near Freiburg adds a unique touch.
Shorts: From France to the U.S.
Country: France
Big projects: Oops I Married My Enemy, Destined For My Billionaire Soulmate
Model: Weekly subscription, in-app purchases, and advertising
Shorts, a French microdrama business, has evolved from a chance encounter between A.J. Letterel and Alejandro Fumero on the set of a Darren Aronofsky picture. Letterel, now Head Creative Producer, and Sylvain Daressy, Product Manager, teamed up to create vertical video originals for Shorts, a U.S.-focused app. They recognized the need for a formalized production approach.
Shorts has produced over 40 series exclusively in English, with a mix of romance-themed shows and higher concepts. They've tapped into nostalgia, focusing on the Golden Age of American romcoms. Fumero Films co-founder Fumero calls vertical storytelling a new cinematic language, crediting Shorts for its approach. Adriana Santos, the other co-founder, describes working with Shorts as building the future in real time.
