Scripted

The scripted format market of 2025 showcased a mix of enduring global hits, rising stars, and emerging trends. Formats such as Doctor Foster, Call My Agent!, and High Intellectual Potential (HIP) continued to dominate, proving the resilience of relationship dramas, comedy-dramas, and episodic procedurals. Here’s a closer look at this year’s key successes and trends.

Enduring Giants: Formats That Keep Selling
Doctor Foster (BBC Studios) retained its crown as the most adapted scripted format of the decade, with five new versions added in 2023-2024. The show’s universal themes of betrayal and revenge have resonated with diverse audiences, from Japan to Slovakia.

Meanwhile, Call My Agent! (TF1 Studios/France TV Distribution) reinforced comedy’s ability to transcend borders. New adaptations in Indonesia, India, and a Czech/Slovak co-production demonstrated the format’s flexibility in showcasing local celebrity humor.

The Rising Stars of Scripted Formats
French crime-comedy High Intellectual Potential (HIP), with its relatable protagonist balancing a chaotic personal life and genius problem-solving, added several adaptations, including in Hungary and Greece. Its successful US adaptation, High Potential, hinted at further growth in major markets.

Norwegian comedy-drama Cammo, featuring a bankrupt influencer navigating life as an assistant, quickly became a standout hit with five European remake deals since its 2023 debut.

Korean Formats Lead Innovation
South Korea emerged as the top format originator, contributing nearly a quarter of all new adaptations. Formats like Signal (CJ ENM), blending supernatural and procedural elements, and Lawless Lawyer, a legal-crime hybrid, exemplify Korea’s creative edge.

Genre Shifts: Romance & Relationships Rule
2025 saw a continued shift towards relationship dramas and light-hearted comedies. While gritty thrillers waned slightly, family-focused dramas and romantic narratives surged. Adaptations of Dear Daddies (Paramount Global), celebrating friendship and fatherhood, resonated particularly well in Central and Eastern Europe.

Global Trends and Emerging Buyers
Thailand’s rise to the top buyer reflects Southeast Asia’s growing appetite for adaptations. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Central Europe are steadily transforming from buyers of finished tapes to creators of localized remakes.

The success of formats like Ghosts (BBC Studios) and DOC (Sony Pictures Television) highlights the growing importance of universality in storytelling, where culturally flexible narratives find global appeal.

As 2025 progresses, scripted formats continue to push boundaries, proving that innovative storytelling can unite audiences worldwide.