Amid shift toward streaming, the Walt Disney Company has confirmed that it will lay off several hundred employees across its global operations, with the film, television, and corporate finance departments among the most affected. The move is part of the company’s continued efforts to adapt to the rapidly evolving entertainment landscape, where audiences are increasingly shifting away from traditional cable television in favor of digital streaming platforms.
A Disney spokesperson told the media that the company is striving to manage its operations efficiently while maintaining the level of creativity and innovation that has become synonymous with its brand. “As our industry transforms at a rapid pace, we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently manage our businesses while fueling the state-of-the-art creativity and innovation that consumers value and expect from Disney,” the spokesperson said.
These latest layoffs come on the heels of a major cost-cutting initiative launched in 2023 under CEO Bob Iger, which saw approximately 7,000 employees let go. That restructuring effort aimed to save the entertainment giant around $5.5 billion (£4.1 billion). While Disney has not provided an exact number for the current round of cuts, the scope is said to be smaller and more targeted, focusing on specific departments.
Among the divisions hit are the marketing arms of Disney’s film and television operations, as well as the company’s casting, development, and corporate finance teams. Despite the job losses, Disney emphasized that no entire teams or departments would be shut down, and the layoffs are being conducted in a “surgical” manner to minimize overall impact.
The California-based conglomerate, which employs approximately 233,000 people worldwide—including more than 60,000 outside the United States—owns a wide range of entertainment properties, including Marvel Studios, Hulu, ESPN, and the Disney+ streaming platform.
Interestingly, the decision to downsize comes at a time when Disney is reporting stronger-than-expected financial performance. The company’s earnings report for the first quarter of 2025 showed a 7% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year, totaling $23.6 billion. Much of this growth was driven by a surge in new subscriptions to its Disney+ service, a key pillar of its long-term strategy.
On the content front, Disney has rolled out several major film releases this year, including Captain America: Brave New World and a live-action remake of Snow White. While the latter underperformed at the box office amid mixed reviews, the studio rebounded strongly with Lilo & Stitch, which set a new record over the Memorial Day weekend. According to Box Office Mojo, the animated feature has already grossed more than $610 million global since its May release.
As Disney continues to invest in streaming and global expansion, the current round of layoffs underscores the complex balancing act facing legacy media companies—cutting costs and restructuring, even amid strong financial performance, to stay competitive in a digital-first era.
