Disney+ is launching vertical movies this 12 months

Disney+ will add vertical movies to its service within the US someday this 12 months, in hopes that they will entice viewers to interact with its app on daily basis. The corporate has made the announcement at its Tech + Knowledge Showcase occasion at CES 2026. Disney first dabbled in vertical content material with Verts, which launched for the ESPN app in August 2025, giving it the perception it wanted on how its customers reply to the video format.

Erin Teague, Disney Leisure’s EVP of Product Administration, informed Deadline that the corporate will use the format for all types of content material. The service isn’t simply planning to make use of it as a automobile for film and collection teasers, but in addition for authentic short-form programming. She didn’t say what sorts of authentic programming Disney+ will likely be including as vertical movies to its app, however vertical micro-dramas have change into extremely widespread over the previous 12 months.

“We’re clearly serious about integrating vertical video in methods which can be native to core person behaviors,” Teague stated. “So, it gained’t be a sort of a disjointed, random expertise.” The corporate is concentrating on Gen Z and Gen Alpha customers, particularly, since they’re not inclined to take a seat and watch long-form content material on their telephones for hours. Disney stated in a press release that the expertise will “evolve because it expands throughout information and leisure” and will likely be customized for customers, with making the service “a must-visit each day vacation spot” as its objective. In any case, if a person is already within the app, they’re extra more likely to discover and watch the service’s programming.