Dan Lin Out as Netflix Film Chief as Streamer’s Shake-up Deepens

Netflix is in the middle of one of the most turbulent weeks in its history, and the executive shake-up is far from over. On October 14, co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters told staff in an internal memo that the company would cut roughly 1,000 jobs, about 6% of its workforce, marking its largest round of layoffs since 2022.

The cuts arrive during a challenging stretch for the streamer. Engagement grew just 2% in the first half of 2026, and the company’s stock has fallen nearly 40% compared to a year ago.

A day after the layoffs were announced, Netflix confirmed that chief content officer Bela Bajaria was leaving after nearly a decade. Former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice was named as her replacement, effective October 26.

Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016 and became chief content officer in 2023, championing local programming for global audiences and leading the company’s push into live events. Her exit came alongside the departures of several other executives, including film VP Doug Belgrad and indie film head Sheroum Kim.

Now, another major name is gone. As first reported by Variety, Dan Lin has been dismissed as Netflix’s head of film after almost 3 years, with sources saying he was let go at the start of the weekend and would address his teams throughout the day on Monday.

A Netflix spokesperson had no immediate comment. It remains unclear who will replace Lin, though an announcement is expected in the coming days, and Puck reported that new film leadership will be named by Rice.

The timing caught some by surprise. Lin reportedly attended the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday and was spotted Sunday evening at a tastemaker screening for ‘La Bola Negra’ on the Netflix campus.

Lin’s appointment turned heads when it was announced in February 2024. He left Rideback, the production company he founded, which is best known for the ‘Lego’ film franchise, Stephen King’s ‘It’ adaptations and the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies, to replace longtime film chief Scott Stuber.

Under his leadership, Netflix reorganized its film division by genre, with deputies overseeing categories like sci-fi, romantic comedy and family films. The streamer leaned into mid-size movies, including book adaptations like ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ and ‘People We Meet on Vacation’, as well as action films like ‘Apex’ and ‘The Rip’.

His run also coincided with Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time, Sony’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, which drew 325.1 million global views. Still, critics have questioned the direction of the film slate, and David Fincher reportedly exited his Netflix deal after clashing with Lin over ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’.

Lin’s departure leaves the film division without a leader at a critical moment. The next film chief will inherit several major projects, and some reports suggest Lin could return to Rideback.

The executive turmoil also comes just as Netflix prepares to report its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, October 20. Analysts and investors are likely to press the company for answers about its restructuring, slowing engagement, and creative strategy.

Industry observers see the shake-up as a sign that Netflix wants to refocus on its film and TV core while rebuilding relationships with top talent. With Rice taking over content and a new film chief on the way, the streamer appears ready to reshape how it approaches movies. Whether these changes restore confidence among creators and subscribers remains to be seen, but the coming weeks will be pivotal for the company’s future.

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