Netflix Film Head Dan Lin Out
Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Dan Lin is no longer the film chief at Netflix.
The news follows a series of high-level departures and layoffs affecting approximately 1,000 people, the largest cut for the streaming giant since 2022. Prior to Lin's exit, chief content officer Bela Bajaria, VP of film Doug Belgrad, and several high-ranking television executives were also let go.
It remains unclear who will succeed Lin, but Peter Rice, who assumed the chief content officer role, is expected to oversee the search for a new leader.
Lin joined Netflix in 2024, replacing then-film chief Scott Stuber. Under Stuber, Netflix gained a reputation as a destination for renowned filmmakers seeking large budgets and high paydays, as traditional studios adopted more cost-conscious practices. During this period, Netflix consistently earned best picture nominations, but had little success winning top awards.
Lin was brought in to balance spending while improving the overall film slate, not just the titles from big-name directors.
Under his leadership, Netflix's movies division was reorganized by genre, with deputies like Kira Goldberg and Niija Kuykendall overseeing categories like science fiction, romantic comedies, and family films. The platform began offering more mid-size films previously overlooked by theatrical releases, including adaptations like Remarkably Bright Creatures and People We Meet on Vacation, as well as mid-budget action films like Apex and The RIP.
(Notably, Lin's tenure saw some significant swings, such as Greta Gerwig's Narnia film and David Fincher's The Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.)
Lin came from his production company, Rideback, which produced the $1 billion-grossing The Suicide Squad.