Dan Lin Exits Netflix as Film Chief in Another Shock Move After a Week of Layoffs

It has been a turbulent stretch for Netflix. In the span of a few days, the streamer has cut thousands of roles, shaken up its top creative leadership and left Hollywood wondering what comes next. The upheaval has reshaped one of the most powerful content operations in entertainment.

The changes began last week with a layoff of about 1,000 employees, roughly 6% of the workforce and the largest cut the company has made. Chief content officer Bela Bajaria was then pushed out after nearly 10 years. Former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice was named to replace her, effective October 26.

Now another major name is gone. According to a Variety report, Dan Lin has been dismissed as Netflix’s head of film after almost three years. Sources said he was let go at the start of the weekend and will address his teams on Monday.

The timing is striking. Lin reportedly attended Saturday’s Academy Museum Gala and was spotted Sunday evening at a tastemaker screening for ‘La Bola Negra’ on the Netflix campus. A Netflix spokesperson had no immediate comment.

Lin’s exit follows the departure of several of his closest colleagues. In the days leading up to his ouster, layoffs claimed his right hand, Doug Belgrad, as well as Sheroum Kim, the head of the film vertical’s indie division. Other top executives, including a series of television leaders, were also cut.

Insiders had reportedly suggested that Lin was safe until Rice arrived, which makes the sudden move a surprise. Others had speculated for weeks that his job was at risk. Either way, the film division is now without its leader at a critical moment.

Lin joined Netflix in early 2024 to replace longtime film chief Scott Stuber. He came from his own production company, Rideback, which built the ‘LEGO’ film franchise, Stephen King’s ‘It’ adaptations and the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies. He reported to Bajaria during his tenure.

Stuber’s era made Netflix a destination for name filmmakers, offering big budgets while traditional studios tightened their spending. The streamer regularly earned best picture nominations, though top awards remained elusive. Lin’s time was marked by a slower pace, though The Hollywood Reporter noted that it still included some big swings.

By one count, Lin greenlit or acquired 88 movies during his tenure. Those include Charlize Theron’s action film ‘Apex’, ‘Emilia Perez’, ‘Here Comes the Flood’ and ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’. Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ is also on the slate.

The last two titles are set to release exclusively in IMAX theaters before streaming. That marks a notable shift in how Netflix approaches premium releases. It also means the next film chief will inherit some of the company’s biggest projects.

The shake-up comes after months of headlines about engagement problems and stock stagnation, along with a defeated bid for Warner Bros. Netflix has also gone more than a year without a major zeitgeist-defining title, according to reports. The company appears to be betting that new leadership can change that.

Rice’s arrival is expected to bring a new strategy. He will oversee Netflix’s global content organization, including series, film and live events across all regions. Reports say the focus will be on creating big, buzzy hits.

It remains unclear who will replace Lin. A new film chief is expected to be chosen once Rice takes over. Lin could reportedly return to Rideback, the company he founded.

For filmmakers, agents and producers with projects at Netflix, the uncertainty is real. Many deals were built on relationships with executives who are now gone. The next few weeks should reveal how deep the changes will go.

For now, Hollywood is watching closely. A studio that once felt unstoppable is going through its most dramatic reorganization in years.

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