Disney+ Launches Vertical Video to Challenge TikTok & YouTube
With over 130 million subscribers and a catalog that encompasses Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic, ESPN, and Hulu, Disney+ continues to reshape the rules of the streaming game. The latest move? Integrating a short-form, vertical video feature named ‘Verts’ into its app, aiming to capture the same mobile-first audience that made TikTok and YouTube Shorts dominant forces in entertainment.
How ‘Verts’ Brings Disney+ into the Social Video Arena
Disney+ is no stranger to innovation. This new feature leverages the company’s immense back-catalog and introduces creator-driven content reminiscent of social feeds. With ‘Verts,’ users can swipe through rapid-fire clips, highlights, and even the first scenes of iconic movies and original series—all tailored to the smartphone’s vertical screen orientation.
The feature appears directly in the mobile app’s navigation bar, inviting fans to engage in bite-sized storytelling formats. It’s a bold move, blurring the boundaries between streaming and social platforms. The company has also invested in an advanced recommendation algorithm designed to serve up clips matched to each user’s preferences, similar to the algorithms that keep TikTok and Instagram users scrolling for hours.
What Kind of Content Will ‘Verts’ Offer?
Disney+ is starting with vertical clips from its century-spanning vault, offering a new perspective on favorite scenes from familiar franchises. But the ambitions don’t end there. Disney is teasing expansions that will include creator content celebrating movies, shows, theme parks, and more—even hinting at the arrival of microdramas and experimental short-form narratives that could redefine how younger audiences engage with legacy brands.
The move also opens the door for influencers, YouTubers, and TikTok creators who already generate millions of views on Disney-focused content. Formalizing this relationship could lead to exclusive, creator-led experiences within Disney+, reflecting both the company’s fandoms and ever-changing digital trends.
Vertical Video in Action: Disney+ Originals Go Mobile-First
Disney+ has already tested the waters with vertical video experiments in its original series. A standout example is Locker Diaries: Zombies, the first vertical TV series on the platform, extending the popular Zombies franchise in new directions. This project consists of 11 snack-sized episodes produced in vertical format, released weekly on Disney+, and shared across TikTok and YouTube to maximize reach and viral potential.
Technology & Future Prospects
The announcement of vertical video made waves during CES, where Disney also previewed other upcoming app enhancements. Notably, the company mentioned future plans to collaborate with OpenAI’s Sora, suggesting that some AI-assisted content could eventually find a home on Disney+ provided it meets the service’s rigorous curation standards.
With these changes, Disney+ bridges the divide between streaming giants and the fast-growing universe of social-first creators. For fans, this means new ways to experience beloved characters and stories—condensed, shareable, and optimized for the mobile era. As Disney continues to experiment and evolve, users can expect a seamless blend of blockbuster nostalgia and fresh, creator-driven innovation on the small screen.
