Dan Lin Exits Netflix as Film Division Faces Leadership Changes

Netflix is preparing for another leadership transition in its film division after Dan Lin stepped down as chairman, the streaming company confirmed Monday morning. Lin's departure comes nearly three years after he joined the company and amid broader executive changes across Hollywood, with Peter Rice set to oversee the film team until Netflix appoints a successor.

The leadership change follows last week's announcement that Rice would replace Bela Bajaria as Netflix's chief content officer. Rice is scheduled to begin his new role on October 26, adding responsibility for the film division while the company searches for a permanent leader.

Lin's tenure included the release of KPop Demon Hunters, which became Netflix's most-watched film of all time and won two Oscars this year. Other releases under his leadership included Animals, 14th, Frankenstein, War Machine, Happy Gilmore 2 and The Two Popes.

Upcoming projects associated with Lin's tenure include The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth and Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, scheduled for release in 2027. Netflix also acquired several notable films, including La Bola Negra, a leading awards contender for the current season, as well as Train Dreams, an Oscar-nominated film from the previous year, and Emilia Pérez.

In a statement, Lin expressed appreciation for his time at the company and the filmmakers he worked with.

"It's been a great privilege to lead this incredible team and work with amazing filmmakers and talent to bring their movies to the world. Thank you to Ted, Greg and Bela for the opportunity." Lin said.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos credited Lin's production experience and approach to filmmaking and business negotiations. Sarandos said he had worked with Lin before his arrival at Netflix in 2024 and had seen the impact of his leadership firsthand.

"I started working with Dan well before he joined us in 2024 and his strength as a producer was always clear. Once he joined Netflix, I saw up close how his dedication to quality filmmaking, rigour around dealmaking and strategy, and collaborative spirit elevated our film business. I'm grateful to Dan for everything he's done for Netflix films." Sarandos said.

Lin's departure raises questions about the future direction of Netflix's film strategy. His predecessor, Scott Stuber, had championed higher-quality films aimed at awards recognition and backed by prominent filmmakers, while Lin was tasked with shifting investment toward more mainstream productions organized around distinct genres.

During Lin's tenure, Netflix also pursued a stronger theatrical release strategy. The company's release of La Bola Negra last weekend and its plans for Narnia next year reflected that approach, although Netflix faced a slowdown in viewer engagement during the first half of the year.

Lin is not the only senior film executive leaving Netflix. Doug Belgrad, his co-head of film, is also among the executives departing the company.

The changes come as Netflix undertakes a workforce reduction affecting approximately 6% of its employees, described in the source report as the company's largest staff cull. The broader Hollywood industry has also experienced significant layoffs and executive turnover, including the recent departures of Warner Bros. motion picture group co-heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy following the $111 billion Skydance merger.

Before joining Netflix, Lin founded and led Rideback and served as senior vice president of production at Warner Bros. from 1999 to 2007. Films he produced between 2008 and 2024 generated more than $6 billion at the worldwide box office, including titles from The Lego Movie and Sherlock Holmes franchises, It, and the live-action Disney remakes Lilo & Stitch and Aladdin.

Netflix shares fell slightly more than 1% on Monday morning and were trading at approximately $69.57 at the time of the report. Sarandos and co-CEO Greg Peters were scheduled to join other senior executives on Tuesday to report the company's third-quarter earnings.