The rise of short-form content is reshaping the entertainment landscape, particularly among younger generations. While this trend is considered inevitable, experts are concerned about its quality and sustainability.
New movie-watching trends
For Mr. Nguyen Hoang (33 years old), the owner of a flower shop on Nguyen Van Tuyet Street ( Hanoi ), see movie summary video Using Facebook is one of my work habits, alongside listening to music.
He said that his job, from wrapping flowers for customers, taking orders, shipping them, to importing flowers and doing bookkeeping, kept him extremely busy all day, leaving him no time or mental capacity to oversee a department. television Long TV series, as well as going to the cinema like he did during his student days. Movie summary videos help him concentrate on his work while still getting a feel for a film.
"Although I know it's difficult to retain the same impression as watching a regular movie, I don't have the time, and watching an entire film is quite a luxury. If I come across a full review video, the film still sticks with me because I've grasped the main plot. It's a form of entertainment during my limited time," said Mr. Hoang.
Like Mr. Hoang, Ms. Nhat Le (33 years old), a credit officer at a company... bank Based on Hoang Cau Street (Hanoi), I don't have as much free time to watch movies as before, because in addition to my work at the office, I also have to take care of my small family.
Ms. Le said that movie summary videos on social media help her save a lot of time. In addition, according to Ms. Le, most of the summarized films are good and well-chosen.
Ms. Minh Thuy (36 years old), business director of a dental clinic in Ho Chi Minh City, believes that movie summary videos meet the needs of most working-age people today. They are quick, save time, and still provide updates on the main content of their favorite films.
"Those videos are suitable for movie-watching people like me," Thuy said.
Unlike those mentioned above, Van Anh (33 years old), an employee of a seaplane service company in Hanoi, doesn't watch movies regularly. Instead, she turns to movie review videos to avoid wasting time watching films that don't suit her taste. If she watches a short video and finds the content interesting, Van Anh will find the original film to watch in full.
Those viewers are just a small fraction of those who enjoy watching movie summary videos. Looking at the statistics below movie review videos on Facebook, anyone can see that they easily garner tens, hundreds, or even millions of views, with countless discussions. This is a number that any film producer would aspire to achieve for their original work.
Understanding user preferences, popular platforms have made changes to keep up with the times. For example, YouTube added a Shorts feature, Facebook has Video and Reels, Instagram also added a Reels feature, and TikTok has exploded globally...
Not limited to summaries of films, social media has also seen a surge in the production of short films of all kinds, mainly with controversial themes such as mother-in-law-daughter-in-law conflicts, infidelity, and wealth inequality... They all have in common that they are only a few minutes to a few dozen minutes long, easily accessible to a generation of viewers who lack patience.
This trend is not unique to Vietnam. According to The Korea Times , many young people Korea They are turning away from traditional, long-form forms of entertainment, opting instead for shorter, more easily followed content.
Office worker Park Seung Jin (28 years old) watches a series of TV dramas continuously for 20 minutes during his commute from home to work and back.
In South Korea, such videos are called short dramas, helping viewers grasp the general plot.
"I feel that watching popular TV series repeatedly is a waste of time. I even sped up by 1.5 times when watching compressed videos of 16 TV episodes into one hour," she said.
Park Jong Hyuk (28 years old) also enjoys watching short content, including movie summaries that are about 30 minutes to an hour long.
"The reason I watch them is because the apps seem to automatically direct users to the Shorts button when I open YouTube or Instagram. Instead of actively searching for them, I watch whatever pops up," the male viewer shared.
Ha Min Ji (25 years old) spends about 2-3 hours each day watching. short content While riding the subway, she watched whatever content the algorithm suggested.
"It's convenient because I don't have to choose which video to watch. I think choosing which video to watch is a difficult task. I also enjoy watching short TV series created specifically for social media because they are short, easy to understand, and don't have complicated storylines," the recent university graduate emphasized.
The explosion of new film genres.
While in Vietnam entertainment was limited to review videos and amateur self-produced videos, the rise of short-form content is reshaping the entertainment landscape in South Korea, especially among the younger generation. What started as casual clips on social media has transformed into a thriving industry, with dedicated platforms and original content across a wide range of genres.
A survey conducted by the Korea Communications Commission and the Korea Information and Communication Technology Promotion Association, released on December 30, 2024, clearly shows this trend. The proportion of short-form content among the most frequently used streaming services increased significantly from 58.1% in 2023 to 70.7% in 2024. This contrasts sharply with other content types such as original programs and movies on streaming sites, which showed only slight increases or decreases of around 5%.
The success of short films such as Night residents (2024), has a running time of 12 minutes, with the participation of the actor My Free Diary Son Suk Ku demonstrated the potential of short-form content in 2025. His 1,000 won (US$0.70) film, initially planned for two weeks at local CGV theaters, was extended, attracting 40,000 viewers. This success prompted CGV to launch the "Deep Dive: Winter" campaign, which included three 15-minute ASMR (automatic sensory response) experiences for 1,000 won.
Korean streaming platforms have also announced the launch of their short-video services.
Watcha launched Shortcha, a dedicated short-form television service, in September 2024. The service offers short-form television series that are less than a minute long. It features content from various countries, including South Korea, China, Japan, and the United States. A new series is expected in early 2025. I Become a Cult Leader's Wife (I Became the Wife of a Cult Leader) officially premieres on this platform.
Tving also introduced a short-form service in December 2024. Users can easily switch between long-form and short-form content within the app. The service initially focuses on featured videos from its extensive library, including original series, TV shows, variety shows, educational programs, and KBO League baseball and professional basketball games. Tving plans to launch original short-form content in the new year.
Additionally, dedicated short-form platforms like Top Reels and PulsePick launched in April and December 2024, respectively. Focusing on fast-paced, two-minute dramas, these platforms attract a significant audience.
PulsePic, a platform of PulseClip, is supported by the creators of the hit webtoon. Solo Leveling offers a wider range of content, including variety shows. The platform is expanding its short-form content library with the successful launch of shows such as Charlie Kim's Laughter Factory, featuring comedian Kim Jun Ho, and Single Man and Woman, starring familiar actor Yoon Hyun Min.
Concerns about sustainability
Experts agree that the rise of short-form entertainment in today's media landscape is a natural evolution. However, they express concerns about some of the downsides of this trend.
Cultural critic Jung Duk Kyun analyzed: "It's natural for content formats and content itself to change with the emergence of new media. Just like we used to only watch movies on the big screen, but now we have everyday content like dramas and series with the advent of TV. The same applies to the emergence of new content formats. Currently, because this is the early stage of new content, there's a lot of stimulating content to attract attention, but I don't think only this kind of content will continue to be produced in the future."
Meanwhile, Yun Suk Jin, a cultural critic and professor at Chungnam National University, argues that the shift to short-form content is largely due to economic pressure, as traditional long-form content is becoming increasingly difficult to produce profitably.
Despite its advantages in many aspects, Mr. Yun raised concerns about the quality and sustainability of this type of content.
"Ensuring quality in short-form content is a challenge. While short content is easy to grab attention and easy to produce, it's difficult to create something that is both engaging and sustainable. To compete effectively, creators must focus on developing strong stories in a shorter format, balancing instant gratification with overall storytelling," the expert warned.
Talking about the unexpected success of the short film. Regarding Night Fishing , Mr. Yun believes it reflects an interest in the short story genre rather than creating an entirely new market.
"Although the term 'short film' may be new, the concept of short films and independent films has existed for a long time. The key is finding ways to strengthen your competitive position. It's short-sighted to focus only on short-term profits." Build "A sustainable business requires long-term planning and investment. Unfortunately, many manufacturing companies don't invest in the necessary infrastructure," he said.
Furthermore, not all viewers appreciate movie summaries. For them, watching a film isn't just about knowing the plot; more importantly, it's about fully experiencing the emotional nuances of the characters and reflecting on the messages the director and screenwriter have conveyed.
As a dentist in Ho Chi Minh City, Minh Khue (33 years old) doesn't have much free time. However, she doesn't watch movie summaries because, for her, that's a waste of time.
"I tried watching it once, but it felt like a waste of time and didn't leave any lasting impression, just like watching the news. Watching a movie offers a completely different experience, not empty and superficial like that," Ms. Khue explained.
Source
![[Infographic] 6 cases where simplified bankruptcy procedures apply](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/02/27/1772207933687_info-nam-10-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)