Is Netflix’s reign coming to an end? Some experts think so. Traditional streaming platforms are facing their biggest threat yet—short-form content—presenting Netflix and its rivals with a fate eerily similar to Blockbuster’s downfall.
To see how short-form video content could more easily resonate with general audiences, one need only look no further than the massive popularity of short-form social media sites. In this modern age, the average young person spends 2.5 hours a day on TikTok and Instagram. In this way, these apps have conditioned younger audiences to prefer quick, engaging content over long-form viewing. If a young audience member has the choice between a two-hour film, which takes as long to watch as the total amount of time they spend scrolling on TikTok in a given day, or a two-minute burst of short-form content that can more easily and accessibly coexist alongside their usual scrolling habits, the shorter of the two will win out.
As 2025 brings seismic industry shifts, short-form content could very soon disrupt streaming giants and redefine media consumption.
Short-Form vs. Traditional Streaming: The Changing Landscape
In the early to mid-2010s, streaming disrupted the traditional theatrical distribution system. Platforms such as Netflix and Hulu offer consumers the unparalleled opportunity to watch movies and television shows on their own terms, at their own convenience. Rather than having to plan an entire night out to go to the theater to see a new movie, these services made it easier and more accessible than ever before to watch brand-new content.
However, in the decade since, streamers have been eclipsed by online platforms. Traditional streaming services such as Netflix are losing younger audiences to fast-paced, mobile-friendly content. As such, the rise of vertical video series has proven to be a serious competitor. While streamers have previously attempted to adapt to these new preferences—such as with the launch of the vertically-minded streaming site Quibi—it has not gone well. Quibi infamously turned into a gargantuan financial disaster.
AI-Driven Storytelling & Interactive Experiences
Now, AI is also being integrated into short-form content creation to enhance engagement. The potential for AI-generated video series and interactive elements presents unprecedented opportunities in the entertainment sector. With AI, short-form content may be capable of delivering personalized, tailored content to each individual user.
Industry Insights: The Rise of Vertical Video Studios
As short-form media gains traction, a growing number of production studios and tech companies are shifting their focus to vertical video formats. This transition reflects the changing consumption habits of global audiences, particularly younger viewers who engage primarily with mobile-first content.
One example is HOLYWATER, a transmedia tech company that started with interactive stories and digital books before pivoting to short-form vertical video series. The company’s expansion into this space aligns with trends seen in China and the U.S., where short-form content is rapidly outpacing traditional streaming.
Rather than competing directly with major streaming giants, companies in this space are refining their approach by increasing content volume, experimenting with AI-driven storytelling, and developing interactive features to boost engagement.
As Bogdan Nesvit, the CEO of HOLYWATER, explains, “Vertical video series are not just a trend; they represent the next evolution of streaming. We’re seeing younger audiences shift away from traditional platforms like Netflix and toward interactive, fast-paced content.”
What’s Next for Short-Form Streaming?
Over the last five years alone, the entertainment industry has been altered dramatically. COVID lockdowns forced studios’ hands, leading many major blockbusters to be released straight to streaming alongside their theatrical releases for the first time ever. AI has also begun to be incorporated into the filmmaking process in multiple ways, with several of the Academy Award Best Picture nominees this year confirmed to have utilized the technology in some form.
To this end, the world around the entertainment industry has influenced its output in tangible ways. As apps such as TikTok continue to grow in popularity and condition users to expect short-form pleasures, the rise of short-form video content seems inevitable. In 2025, short-form platforms are set to expand into new markets and genres.
