What are vertical movies?

Have you noticed vertical movies popping up on platforms like Instagram and TikTok? They usually have wild storylines with titles like “The Billionaire Married a Homeless Girl” or “Secret Life of a Mafia Sweetheart.”

By Rebecca Castillo and Wendy Lee

Oct. 23, 2025 10:27 AM PT

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Rebecca Castillo stopped by the set of one of these modern-day soap operas to learn more.

Entertainment & Arts

Rebecca Castillo

Rebecca Castillo is a content creator for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she was a special projects lead for the Times’ High School Insider and other Public Affairs programs. A Southern California native, she is an alumna of Swarthmore College and USC. In her free time, you can find her hanging out at the Silver Lake Reservoir, drinking boba and exploring the city on foot.

Wendy Lee

Wendy Lee is an entertainment business reporter, covering streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+. She also writes about podcasting services, digital media and talent agencies.