In the fast-paced world of online content creation, few platforms were as influential and fleeting as Vine. Launched in 2013, Vine allowed users to share looping six-second videos. Despite its short lifespan, ending in 2017, Vine became a breeding ground for creative talent. Many of its stars captivated audiences with their wit, charm, and originality in mere seconds. What’s remarkable is how some of these internet personalities successfully transitioned into traditional media, including feature films. Their stories reveal not only adaptability but also the evolving nature of entertainment and the increasingly porous boundary between social media and Hollywood.
One of the most prominent examples of this transition is Bo Burnham. While he initially rose to fame through YouTube before Vine’s peak, his influence reverberated across all short-form platforms. Burnham gained recognition for his clever musical comedy, which translated well into longer formats. After years of performing stand-up and releasing comedy specials, he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed feature film Eighth Grade in 2018. Though not a Vine product per se, Burnham exemplifies how digital creators can build a unique voice and bring it to larger screens.
King Bach, born Andrew Bachelor, is one of Vine’s most recognizable names. With over 16 million followers, he was the most followed Viner at the platform’s height. His comedic sketches, often fast-paced and outrageous, made him a household name among internet users. Since Vine’s demise, King Bach has appeared in a variety of television shows and films, including The Babysitter series on Netflix and Greenland. His success stems from a combination of comedic timing, charisma, and a relentless work ethic. He used his online fame as a stepping stone rather than a peak, which has enabled a relatively seamless transition to mainstream entertainment.
Another notable name is Shawn Mendes, who initially used Vine to showcase his musical talent through six-second covers. While Vine primarily served comedians and sketch artists, Mendes demonstrated that musicians could also flourish. His popularity quickly caught the attention of record labels, leading to a meteoric rise in the music industry. Although he is primarily a singer, his global tours, Grammy nominations, and involvement in soundtracks reflect the broader influence Vine creators could wield beyond the app’s original scope. Mendes’s success underscores how platforms like Vine could serve as launching pads for more than just comedic talent.
Liza Koshy also emerged as a dominant force, first on Vine and later expanding to YouTube and beyond. Her quirky, high-energy videos resonated with a broad audience, particularly younger viewers. Koshy transitioned into acting with appearances in Freakish and Work It, while also hosting various events like the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and the revival of Double Dare. She has become a brand unto herself, partnering with major companies and continuing to act, host, and produce. Her adaptability and keen understanding of her audience have made her one of the most successful post-Vine creators in the mainstream.
David Dobrik, though more closely associated with YouTube, also got his start on Vine. After the platform shut down, he pivoted quickly to vlogging, building a massive audience with his high-energy, fast-cut videos featuring a rotating group of friends known as the “Vlog Squad.” His content style bears the hallmarks of Vine’s rapid-fire humor, suggesting that the short-form sensibility helped shape his approach to longer content. Dobrik’s fame led to hosting gigs and even a voice role in The Angry Birds Movie 2, showing how online fame can lead to opportunities in traditional film and television when handled strategically.
The path from Vine to feature films isn’t always straightforward. It requires more than just talent. Timing, branding, and the ability to evolve are just as important. Online platforms offer direct access to audiences, but success in traditional media often involves working within established structures. That said, creators who honed their skills on Vine developed a unique talent: the ability to capture attention instantly. This skill translates surprisingly well to film, where pacing, timing, and engagement are key.
These transitions are also a sign of the times. Traditional gatekeepers in film and television have started to embrace internet personalities, recognizing their built-in audiences and fresh perspectives. It’s a two-way street. Creators bring their fanbases with them, while networks and studios offer polish, structure, and broader exposure. In many ways, the Vine-to-film pipeline is a precursor to the TikTok and YouTube-to-Hollywood movement happening today. Content creators no longer need to follow conventional routes to break into the industry. Their digital presence often speaks for itself.
The jump from six-second videos to ninety-minute films may seem daunting, but the creators who made it prove that storytelling, charisma, and relatability transcend platform constraints. They’ve shown that internet fame isn’t just a flash in the pan but can be the foundation of a lasting career. With talent, perseverance, and strategic moves, today’s content creators can become tomorrow’s movie stars and directors.
As platforms evolve and new ones emerge, the next generation of filmmakers and entertainers might come from even more unexpected places. The legacy of Vine, brief as it was, lives on in the careers it helped launch and the paths it opened for future creators who dare to make the jump.