Netflix film division head Dan Lin departs amid executive reshuffle

The move follows a week‑long series of senior exits and a 6% workforce cut affecting roughly 1,000 staff.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:31:09 GMT

Netflix confirmed that Dan Lin, who has led its film division since 2024, is leaving the company, according to two sources who asked not to be identified.

What happened

Lin’s exit was reported on Monday, October 19, 2026, shortly after the streaming giant announced a 6% reduction in its workforce, amounting to about 1,000 jobs. The layoffs, detailed in a prior Felo report, primarily targeted product, technology, legal and human‑resources teams. The same week saw the departure of chief content officer Bela Bajaria and the appointment of former Disney executive Peter Rice as her successor, effective October 26.

What the reports add

Both the Los Angeles Times and the New York Post note that Lin was tasked with delivering “fewer, better and bigger” movies after taking over the role in early 2024. The Los Angeles Times specifies his appointment in February 2024, while the New York Post cites April 2024. The two outlets also differ on the list of titles released under his tenure: the Los Angeles Times mentions the crime thriller “The Rip” and the animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” whereas the New York Post adds “Happy Gilmore 2,” “War Machine,” and “Train Dreams.” Both agree that Lin’s departure follows industry expectations after Bajaria’s exit.

What was said

Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The New York Post referenced Reuters reporting that recent cuts also affected film vice president Doug Belgrad and independent‑film director Sheroum Kim, but no direct quotes from Netflix executives were provided.

How it came about

The film chief’s exit is part of a broader restructuring that began with the announcement of roughly 1,000 job cuts on October 14 (Felo coverage). The following day, Netflix named Peter Rice as chief content officer after Bela Bajaria’s departure (Felo coverage). Analysts have expressed concern over modest growth in hours watched, which rose only 2% year‑over‑year in the first half of 2026, according to Netflix’s own data.

Key facts

Dan Lin is leaving his role as head of Netflix's film division. (latimes.com)
The departure follows a 6% workforce reduction affecting about 1,000 employees. (nypost.com)
Peter Rice will oversee the film team until a new head is named. (latimes.com)
Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria left the company in mid‑October. (latimes.com)
Hours watched on Netflix rose 2% in the first half of 2026 compared with a year earlier. (latimes.com)

Where accounts differ

Date Dan Lin was appointed head of films: appointed in February 2024 (latimes.com); took over the film division in April 2024 (nypost.com)
Films released under Lin’s tenure: "The Rip" and "KPop Demon Hunters" (latimes.com); "Happy Gilmore 2," "War Machine," "Train Dreams" and others (nypost.com)