Netflix is cutting more than 1,000 jobs, about 6% of its workforce, as part of a restructuring that is also pushing out VP of Film Doug Belgrad, according to IGN. The job cuts, announced Oct. 14, are the largest in the streamer’s history and land heaviest on its product, technology, legal and human resources teams.
The move comes as Netflix faces questions from Wall Street about its growth trajectory, with user engagement rising just 2% year-over-year in the first half of 2026.
Netflix Layoffs 2026: The Details
IGN reported the cuts affect over 1,000 employees, roughly 6% of Netflix’s total staff. Variety initially reported on Oct. 9 that Netflix was preparing to lay off about 5% of its workforce, which would have amounted to roughly 800 positions based on the company’s 16,000 full-time employees at the end of 2025.
Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters sent the layoff memo to staff.
“Our mission, to entertain the world, is ambitious, and delivering on it requires us to be disciplined about where we prioritize our people and resources,” Sarandos and Peters wrote. “Our business is strong and growing, and we remain on track to deliver our full-year forecast.”
What It Means For Netflix’s Content Operation
Belgrad’s exit is the most notable personnel change tied to the layoffs, according to Deadline. No replacement has been named.
The cuts hit product, technology, legal and HR teams most heavily, sparing the content teams that greenlight shows and films.
Context Behind The Cuts
Netflix has framed the layoffs as part of a broader restructuring to keep the company focused on delivering results. The company pointed to its financial performance and said it remains on track to deliver its full-year forecast, even as analysts have raised concerns about slowing engagement growth.
The company is expanding content in other areas: it secured all 104 matches of the 2030 World Cup in Spain and made a licensing deal with Disney to add select Disney+ content to the platform, suggesting the restructuring targets internal operations rather than Netflix’s content strategy.
What’s Next
Netflix has not named a successor to Belgrad. The company is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Tuesday, Oct. 20, after market close.
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