Business · Companies · 14 hrs ago
Hollywood faces more job fears as production shifts away from the US
Disney workers fear another wave of layoffs after the company cancelled an annual Halloween celebration for some divisions.
The entertainment industry has already seen repeated cuts, including about 1,000 jobs at Netflix, roughly 6% of its workforce.
Paramount’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros.
Discovery is adding to industry anxiety; the combined company is expected to operate as Skydance.
The companies are still separate, but insiders expect integration to begin in about six months, with services, offices and departments brought together.
Workers expect merger-related job cuts by early 2027, though no specific cuts have been announced.
More production spending is going overseas: the US share of film budgets fell from 74% in 1999 to 42% in 2024, according to a study cited in the story.
The shift matters for jobs and the wider economy, and efforts such as Stay In LA are pushing studios to keep productions in the city.
Hollywood workers face further job cuts as production moves away from Los Angeles and the United States.
Disney employees expect another round of layoffs after the company cancelled an annual Halloween celebration in some divisions.
A study by Ernst & Young found that the share of film production budgets spent in the United States fell from 74% to 42% between 1999 and 2024.
Workers also fear job losses as Paramount’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery leads to expected corporate integration.
Higher labor costs following the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes have contributed to companies moving productions away from California.
- Who
- Hollywood workers and entertainment companies, including Disney, Netflix, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
- What
- Workers face fears of further layoffs as production shifts away from the United States. A planned merger is also expected to bring corporate integration and possible job cuts.
- When
- The article was published on 2026-11-08. It says workers expect possible merger-related cuts by early 2027.
- Where
- Los Angeles and California, as well as the United States more broadly.
- Why
- The article links the shift to higher labor costs after new contracts and to productions moving overseas. It also cites expected consolidation after the planned acquisition.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Entertainment companies laid off 7,000 employees.
Another major round of layoffs took place.
Around 1,000 more jobs were cut.
Disney cut another 300 jobs.
Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria departed the company.
Netflix film head Dan Lin was fired from the company.
- Film budget share spent in the U.S.
- Fell from 74% in 1999 to 42% in 2024.
- Film budget share spent overseas
- Rose from 26% in 1999 to 58% in 2024.
- U.S. television episodes filmed domestically
- Fell from 94% to 64%.
- Potential domestic production spending
- $2 billion in additional spending if the productions had remained in the country.
- Planned acquisition
- Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is worth nearly $100 billion.
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