Netflix has laid off senior film executive Doug Belgrad as part of a sweeping restructuring involving roughly 1,000 jobs, or about 6 per cent of the streaming giant's global workforce.
Belgrad joined Netflix in 2024 after a long career at Sony Pictures, where he served as president of Columbia Pictures and later president of Sony Motion Picture Group. At Netflix, he worked closely with film chief Dan Lin on the company's original live-action films.
His departure is part of Netflix's biggest round of job cuts since 2022, with reductions extending beyond its film division. Product, technology, legal and human resources teams have been particularly affected, according to reports.
Netflix Cuts 1,000 Jobs in Major Shake-up
Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters informed employees on Wednesday that the company was cutting roughly 1,000 roles as it reassessed how to allocate its workforce and resources.
The reductions come despite the streaming giant continuing to invest heavily in its film and television offering, with its annual content spending estimated at around $20 billion, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
'We know changes like this are tough, but let's stay focused,' the co-CEOs wrote in a company-wide memo detailing the decision. 'This is one of the most dynamic times in the history of entertainment — and it's a moment perfectly suited to a company like ours that's built at the intersection of technology and entertainment. Now it's on us to step up and meet the moment, together, like we always do.'
The co-CEOs added, 'Our business is strong and growing, and we remain on track to deliver our full-year forecast. We'll continue to invest aggressively in high-impact areas to improve our service and further drive growth and innovation.'
The cuts highlight the company's stated intention to streamline its operations while continuing to prioritise areas it believes can improve its service and support future growth.
Why Doug Belgrad's Exit Matters
Belgrad was among the senior executives affected by the restructuring. His appointment in 2024 marked one of Lin's first major executive hires after he succeeded Scott Stuber as head of Netflix's film division.
Before joining the streamer, Belgrad spent more than two decades at Sony Pictures, rising through its film leadership ranks.
The restructuring has also affected movie executive Sheroum Kim, who joined Netflix in 2019 and oversaw independent film projects. Their departures show that the cuts extended into Netflix's film division, although reports indicate that the majority of job losses were concentrated in product, technology, legal and human resources.
Belgrad's Role in Netflix's Film Strategy
Belgrad oversaw around 30 production executives within a studio structure that Lin organised into specialised genre groups. Kira Goldberg oversaw thrillers such as Charlize Theron's Apex, while Jason Young managed action titles including the Alan Ritchson feature War Machine. Animation was handled by a separate team led by Hannah Minghella.
Belgrad also played an important role in Netflix's relationship with Sony Pictures through their pay-one output agreement. Under a global deal announced in January 2026, Netflix is set to become the exclusive global pay-one streaming home for Sony Pictures' feature films after their theatrical and home-entertainment release windows.
The agreement is being rolled out as rights become available in individual territories, with full global availability expected in early 2029.
Projects associated with Belgrad's wider work included People We Meet on Vacation, Voicemails From Isabelle and Kevin Hart's 72 Hours. Other titles linked to Netflix's broader film slate include Adam Sandler's Grown Ups 3, the Ben Stiller feature Matter of Time and Chris Pine's survival thriller Yeti. Not every project is necessarily covered by the Sony pay-one agreement.
Belgrad was also associated with high-profile productions involving filmmakers such as Guillermo del Toro, Peter Berg and Greta Gerwig. These included Frankenstein, the sports drama The Mosquito Bowl and Narnia: The Magician's Nephew.
What Belgrad Is Doing After Netflix
Belgrad continues to serve as chairman of 2.0 Entertainment, the production company he launched after leaving Sony in 2016.
The company has worked on films including Unabomber and a follow-up to The Pope's Exorcist. It is also co-financing projects such as Heart of the Beast and Primate with Sony and Paramount.
Belgrad's ongoing role at 2.0 Entertainment means he remains involved in film production following his departure from Netflix.
