DramaBox

DramaBox
IndustryVertical drama
FoundedApril 2023
Headquarters
Singapore[1]
OwnerStoryMatrix[2]
Websitewww.dramaboxdb.com
StoryMatrix Pte. Ltd.
Short nameStoryMatrix
FoundedJanuary 2022
Brand(s)DramaBox
Parent[3]Dianzhong Technology Co., Ltd[3]

DramaBox is a Chinese–Singaporean duanju[4][5] app launched in April 2023, developed by Beijing-based Dianzhong Technology[6][7] and owned by its Singapore-based[8] subsidiary, StoryMatrix.[8] Specializing in the Duanju sector,[9] its revenue primarily comes from in-app purchases,[10] and subscriptions.[11] The platform's short dramas are filmed vertically.[12] As of May 2025, the total users of the app and four other micro-drama apps reached more than 150 million.[13] By August, it had achieved 90 million users.[14] Currently, it is part of Disney's accelerator program.[15]

DramaBox is Singaporean-backed[16] and focuses on producing short dramas,[17] as exemplified by Divorced at the Wedding Day.[18] In addition to translating Chinese series, it also introduces original content.[19] It is also available in other markets, such as Brazil, and the USA.[20] As of Q1 2024, it was ranked as the world's third-largest short drama app by downloads.[21] During H1 2025, it averaged 44 million MAUs.[22] As of October, it was one of the most downloaded U.S. microdrama apps.[23]

History

Between 2020 and 2022, China's Duanju industry began to mature and move toward professionalization. Following this domestic success, several media companies launched dedicated apps to introduce Duanjus to the international market.[24] DramaBox was introduced in April 2023.[25] DramaBox initially purchased the rights to Chinese short dramas and translated them for international distribution[26][19], and later also produced a large number of original short dramas.[19] In 2024, it partnered with U.S. production company Purple Filter.[27] As of March, the total viewing time for its microdramas exceeded 99,000 minutes.[28] In the same year, its revenue amounted to $323 million.[29]

As of March 2025, DramaBox app achieved 50 million downloads on Google Play.[30] By August, this figure had eclipsed 100 million.[31] In October, it became part of the Disney Accelerator program.[32] In the same month, it collaborated with Disney Publishing.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ Joe Flint (October 23, 2025). "Hollywood Sees Big Opportunity in Tiny Dramas". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ Katie Kilkenny (December 2, 2025). "Verticals Platform DramaBox Courts Up-and-Coming Writers With Stage 32 Partnership (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ a b "外汇商品 文化互鉴：中国文化出海地图". Sohu (in Chinese). 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2026-01-20."In the first quarter of 2025, in-app revenue for ReelShort, which is controlled by a Chinese digital publishing company, and for DramaBox, operated by StoryMatrix, a subsidiary of China’s Dianzhong Technology, grew by 31% and 29% respectively, reaching US$130 million and US$120 million."{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  4. ^ Daisuke Wakabayashi; Mike Isaac (March 7, 2024). "Big American Tech Profits From Chinese Ad Spending Spree". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Kerry Flynn; Sara Fischer (January 13, 2026). "Microdramas step into the spotlight". Axios. Archived from the original on January 26, 2026.
  6. ^ "瞰趋势：短剧出海下半场，是主流平台的"霸总"时刻". China News Service (in Chinese). 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  7. ^ "公司介绍" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-01-20"The company’s core businesses include online micro-dramas and web literature, and it currently operates several major products under Dianzhong Technology, including Hippo Theater, Fanhua Theater, DramaBox, Dianzhong Reading, Dianzhong Literature, and Webfic."{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  8. ^ a b Michael Idato (November 3, 2025). "The palm-of-your-hand soap operas turning viewers away from TV". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. ^ Nicole Fan (November 19, 2024). "China's ultra-short dramas will enjoy long-term success". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613.
  10. ^ Zeyi Yang (July 24, 2025). "Americans Are Obsessed With Watching Short Video Dramas From China". Wired.
  11. ^ Naman Ramachandran (November 13, 2025). "The Vertical Revolution: How Microdramas Became a Multi-Billion Dollar Global Phenomenon". Variety.
  12. ^ Kristian Monroe (March 19, 2025). "Micro dramas are soap operas designed to fit in your hand". NPR.
  13. ^ Marta Górna (May 23, 2025). "I saw 500 Chinese microdramas". Gazeta Wyborcza. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025.
  14. ^ Guan Cong (August 16, 2025). "Micro-drama is booming in China". Caixin.
  15. ^ Adrian Horton (December 19, 2025). "Television in titbits: the rise of the billion-dollar microdrama industry". TheGuardian.com.
  16. ^ Charles Pulliam-Moore (November 16, 2025). "How soapy micro dramas became Hollywood's next big bet". The Verge.
  17. ^ Stephen Armstrong (November 11, 2024). "This will be the next film industry". The Daily Telegraph.
  18. ^ Blanca Schofield (July 8, 2025). "He used to walk dogs — now, he makes $1,000 a day making microdramas". The Times.
  19. ^ a b c "China's Microdramas take the world by storm". The Economist. March 4, 2025. ISSN 0013-0613.
  20. ^ "'Soap opera on cocaine': How vertical dramas flipped Hollywood". AFP. November 9, 2025. Archived from the original on January 26, 2026.
  21. ^ Sarah Perez (April 11, 2024). "Quibi redux? Short drama apps saw record revenue in Q1 2024". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on January 26, 2026.
  22. ^ Tatum Hunter (August 23, 2025). "Vertical drama series from streaming apps are taking over social media". The Washington Post.
  23. ^ Tess Patton (October 21, 2025). "Vertical Micro-Dramas Are an $8 Billion Business". TheWrap.
  24. ^ Moses, Claire (2024-01-30). "Minute-Long Soap Operas Are Here. Is America Ready?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  25. ^ Mia Nurmamat (November 23, 2024). "As China's vertical dramas charm US, soft-influence exports offer risks, rewards". South China Morning Post.
  26. ^ "进击的DramaBox：翻译短剧拿捏美国，霸总之后"战神"出海" (in Chinese). 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  27. ^ Zeyi Yang (February 27, 2024). "China's next cultural export could be TikTok-style short soap operas". MIT Technology Review. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025.
  28. ^ Robert Steiner (September 5, 2024). "Maybe Quibi Wasn't Crazy: 'Vertical Series' Ventures Draw Small but Growing Audience". Variety.
  29. ^ Sara Merican (September 17, 2025). "Micro-Drama Revenues In China Set To Exceed Box Office In 2025, Will Reach $9.4B This Year". Deadline Hollywood.
  30. ^ Joseph Sipalan (March 15, 2025). "One-minute wonders: Chinese micro-dramas fuel Malaysia's streaming obsession". South China Morning Post.
  31. ^ Wenjia Tang (August 18, 2025). "Werewolf exes and billionaire CEOs: why cheesy short dramas are taking over our social media feeds". The Conversation.
  32. ^ Wendy Lee (October 26, 2025). "Hollywood's romance with micro dramas is heating up. Will it last?". Los Angeles Times.
  33. ^ Dade Hayes (November 5, 2025). "Disney Accelerator Demo Day Spotlights Emerging Companies Animaj, DramaBox, Haddy And Liminal Space". Deadline Hollywood.
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