AsianFin — China’s booming mini-drama (short-form drama) market is witnessing explosive growth both at home and abroad, with industry stocks up nearly 9% on average since the start of the year.

Originally born out of mobile internet consumption habits, mini-dramas have rapidly gained momentum since 2023. By the end of 2024, China’s mini-drama user base exceeded 600 million, with the market size reaching RMB 50.5 billion (approx. $7 billion)—surpassing the country’s entire annual box office revenue for the first time. The market is projected to grow to RMB 63.4 billion in 2025 and RMB 85.7 billion by 2027, according to the 2024 China Mini-Drama Industry Research Report.

The segment’s meteoric rise has drawn increasing policy attention. Chinese regulators are stepping up efforts to both support and standardize the fast-growing industry through new guidelines and oversight.

Beyond domestic success, Chinese mini-drama platforms are aggressively pursuing overseas opportunities. The genre has already gained mainstream popularity in Southeast Asia and the United States. Of the 431 mini-drama apps available globally, the top 50 in in-app purchases account for 98.45% of total revenue—and 41 of those top 50 apps (over 80%) are Chinese exports.

Analysts say the global expansion reflects China’s broader ambition to export digital entertainment formats and monetize mobile-native storytelling at scale.