How to create viral 5120×1080 ultrawide Instagram reels: A guide to the thinnest video trend

There’s a new wave on Instagram that feels less like casual scrolling and more like catching a scene from a movie. Creators are experimenting with a super-ultrawide 5120×1080 resolution cinematic style, and it’s making their Reels pop out in a feed dominated by vertical videos. If you’ve been wondering how to ride this trend and create your own thinnest video on Instagram, here’s your step-by-step guide.

The 5120×1080 trend: What is it?

Most Reels follow the same vertical, fast-cut and designed to be consumed in seconds structure. The viral thinnest video trend flips that script. It lets you post content in a super-wide, letterbox-style frame, which gives viewers the illusion of watching something bigger, almost theatrical.

Step-by-Step: How to create 5120×1080 reel

Step 1: Shoot in Landscape and High Resolution

• Go horizontal: Your footage should be shot in landscape mode to maximise the frame.
• Resolution matters: Aim for 4K (or higher, if available) so that cropping won’t kill quality.
• Keep action centred: Since top and bottom edges may be trimmed, ensure your main subject isn’t lost.

Step 2: Edit with Custom Dimensions

• You’ll need an editor that allows custom aspect ratios. Options include:
• CapCut or VN (mobile) for beginners.
• Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve (desktop) if you want full control.
• Canva if you prefer quick, design-led edits.
• Editing workflow:
• Start a new project and set dimensions to 5120×1080.
• Import your footage and adjust the scale/position to fit the wide frame.
• Add colour grading, text overlays, and audio that enhances the cinematic vibe.
• Export in 5120×1080 resolution.

Step 3: Upload and Optimise for Instagram

• Preview your video before posting and export it in MOV format. Instagram sometimes crops or auto-zooms wide videos. If that happens, re-export with slight adjustments.

The 5120×1080 format isn’t just about looking cool or riding the thinnest video trend, it’s also about how you use the extra space to tell your story. Some of the ideas you can use this for are travel reels depicting landscapes, city skylines or drone footage that feel larger than life, while mini-films can take on a cinematic vibe by using the wide frame. Similarly, product showcases will feel premium when presented in this style and behind-the-scenes glimpses gain a documentary-like quality. Sports and action sequences become more dynamic as the wide view captures the full movement, and transformations, like before-and-after reveals, feel even more dramatic when shown across the frame.

So go ahead and make your reels stand out, and since it’s a new trend, you have a chance to make your reel go viral.