The invention discloses a hotspot-based video editing method. The method comprises the steps of acquiring a progress selection time point that is corresponding to a target video and is transmitted by at least one user terminal; generating progress bar heat level distribution of the target video according to the progress selection time point; acquiring a hotspot of the target video according to the progress bar heat level distribution; and performing, based on the hotspot, video editing on the target video. The invention further discloses a server and a video play system. The hotspot can be selected objectively and accurately, so that most users can be ensured to watch wonderful and interested content in the video according to the hotspot.