Disney+ is launching vertical movies this yr

Disney+ will add vertical movies to its service within the US someday this yr, in hopes that they will entice viewers to have interaction with its app day by day. The corporate has made the announcement at its Tech + Information 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 every kind of content material. The service isn’t simply planning to make use of it as a car for film and collection teasers, but in addition for authentic short-form programming. She didn’t say what sorts of authentic programming Disney+ shall be including as vertical movies to its app, however vertical micro-dramas have turn out to be extremely standard over the previous yr.

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