The Walt Disney Company has confirmed another round of global layoffs, affecting several hundred employees across its film, television, and finance divisions. This move is part of the entertainment conglomerate’s ongoing efforts to adapt to rapid changes in the media landscape, particularly the shift from traditional cable television to digital streaming platforms.
A company spokesperson stated that Disney is “continually assessing how to manage operations efficiently while maintaining the high level of creativity and innovation that audiences expect.” The latest job reductions follow a significant restructuring in 2023, when approximately 7,000 positions were eliminated as part of a $5.5 billion cost-cutting initiative led by CEO Bob Iger.
The current layoffs will impact various departments, including marketing teams for both film and television, as well as roles in casting, development, and corporate finance. Despite the cuts, Disney emphasized that no entire teams will be disbanded and that the process has been “surgical” to minimize disruption. Disney, which employs around 233,000 people globally over 60,000 of whom are based outside the United States owns a broad portfolio of entertainment brands, including Marvel, Hulu, and ESPN. Financially, the company reported a strong start to 2025, with revenue reaching $23.6 billion in the first quarter, a 7% increase year over year. Growth was largely driven by a rise in Disney+ subscriptions.
On the content front, Disney released several films this year. While the live action remake of Snow White underperformed at the box office amid critical backlash, the animated feature Lilo & Stitch achieved record breaking success during the Memorial Day weekend, generating over $610 million in global ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo.