Disney and TikTok partner to let creators use film clips, with videos also streaming on Disney+

The partnership

Disney and TikTok on Wednesday announced a global agreement that will let TikTok creators use official clips from hundreds of Disney films and TV series in short-form videos. The deal spans franchises from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and FX, and marks the first time a traditional media company has opened its library to a social platform in this way. It comes after a planned $1 billion licensing deal with OpenAI for AI-generated videos collapsed in March when OpenAI shut down its Sora tool.

The best storytellers are fans first. This collaboration creates a new bridge between the stories we tell and the creativity they inspire, giving creators a bigger stage to share what they've made, and audiences more to discover on Disney+ every day.

How it works

A pilot program will launch in the United States in the coming months, with expansion to additional markets planned later. Participating creators gain access to a library of scenes, characters and official assets, and their videos will appear on both TikTok and inside Disney+ under the Verts tab, a vertical video feed introduced in March. Disney stressed that every clip will be reviewed and "thoughtfully curated" before appearing on its platform to ensure it meets family-friendly standards; not all fan-made content will be featured. The companies also unveiled the jointly run Disney Creator Ambassador Program, which offers selected creators increased visibility, invitations to exclusive events and career development opportunities.

Streaming ambitions

Verts is designed to give subscribers a reason to open the Disney+ app even when they do not have a specific title in mind. Until now, the feed contained only Disney-produced clips. By adding fan-made videos, the company hopes to turn casual browsing into longer viewing sessions. TikTok's internal data suggests the strategy has merit: users posted an average of 6.5 million film- and TV-related videos each day last year, and nearly half of viewers surveyed said they went on to watch a full movie or show after discovering related content on the platform. Other streamers, including Peacock, Paramount+ and Netflix, have also introduced vertical short-form features to compete with social apps for attention.

Financial context

The announcement landed on the same day Disney reported fiscal third-quarter results. Revenue climbed to $25.2 billion from $23.7 billion a year earlier, while net income attributable to the company was $2.63 billion, down from the prior-year period that had been boosted by a one-time $3.3 billion tax benefit related to Hulu. Streaming operating income more than doubled to $712 million from $329 million, and subscription revenue for Disney+ and Hulu rose 15% year-on-year. Parks, experiences and products revenue grew 10% to nearly $10 billion, helped by higher per-visitor spending at U.S. parks and new cruise ships, offsetting softness in Asia. Disney also announced it is moving its consumer products business from the Experiences division to Studios.

What's next

The TikTok deal represents a pivot after the failed OpenAI collaboration. Financial terms were not disclosed. Disney declined to specify which titles will be available, but the pilot is expected to begin in the coming months. The company said the partnership acknowledges that fan-created content plays an "increasingly important role" in how audiences discover entertainment, and that even niche creators with smaller but highly engaged followings can drive viewership.