Short-form dramas optimized for mobile screens are expanding to traditional movie theaters, launching a new exhibition experiment for snack culture content according to reports by media outlets such as Ajunews. Theater operators and production teams are testing whether vertical video formats and bite-sized storytelling can successfully transition into offline cinema environments through distinct formatting strategies.
Format Transformations in Theater Releases
The transition of mobile-first series into brick-and-mortar multiplexes involves distinct technical adjustments depending on the production. According to Ajunews, the high school sports drama “Winding Up: The Movie” debuted exclusively at CGV on July 2, transforming a vertical mobile series into a horizontal widescreen film. The project is a cinematic cut of the original 30-million-view short drama hosted on the global K-pop short-form platform KITZ, directed by Kim Sung-ho and starring NCT members Jeno and Jaemin. Production teams reworked the visual aesthetic and reframed the vertical composition into standard theater aspect ratios to heighten cinematic immersion. The project also secured an official invitation to the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival under its Platform Showcase: Short Form Cinema section.
Preserving Vertical Frames on the Big Screen
In contrast to format conversions, upcoming releases are testing whether audiences will accept native vertical video inside standard auditoriums. Ajunews reports that director Lee Joon-ik’s family drama “Father’s Home-Cooked Meal” will open exclusively at Lotte Cinema on September 9 while retaining its native mobile vertical framing. Adapted from Gorita’s webtoon of the same name, the 156-minute feature depicts a strict household patriarch entering the kitchen for the first time to cook for his wife. The project marks Lee Joon-ik’s first short drama venture, featuring a cast that includes Jung Jin-young, Lee Jung-eun, and Byun Yo-han. Lee stated that keeping the vertical framing allows viewers to observe characters deeply within a confined visual boundary, according to Ajunews. Following its theatrical run, the project will premiere in segmented episodic portions via the short-form platform Lezhin Snack.
Exhibitor Strategies and Industry Outlook
Multiplex operators view the screening of digital shorts as a method of content diversification. A Lotte Cinema representative stated that the company is expanding exhibition boundaries so audiences can experience varied media through theater sound and projection infrastructure, with plans to continue sourcing projects that transcend traditional genre definitions, as reported by Ajunews. The commercial performance of horizontal format adaptations versus vertical frame theatrical screenings will serve as a primary indicator for future offline distribution models in the short-form sector.
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