Disney Layoffs: What’s Behind the New Round of Job Cuts in 2025?
Why is Disney laying off hundreds more employees in 2025?
The Walt Disney Company is moving forward with another wave of layoffs, impacting several hundred employees across its global operations. Staff working in film, television, and finance roles are among those affected. The move comes as part of the company’s ongoing effort to cut costs and adapt to changing viewer habits, particularly the decline of traditional cable TV and the continued rise of streaming services.
What areas of Disney are affected by the latest layoffs?
Departments tied to marketing, development, casting, and corporate finance are being restructured, with job losses confirmed across multiple business units. Despite the cuts, Disney stated that no departments will be shut down completely. The company says it has taken a “surgical” approach to minimize the number of roles impacted.
Is this connected to previous Disney layoffs?
Yes. This announcement follows a major workforce reduction in 2023, when around 7,000 positions were eliminated as part of a plan led by CEO Bob Iger to save $5.5 billion. That earlier wave of Disney layoffs targeted similar divisions and marked a shift in how the company manages its entertainment empire in an increasingly digital-first world.
Disney currently employs approximately 233,000 people worldwide. Over 60,000 of those employees are based outside the United States. The company owns and operates a wide range of brands, including Marvel, Hulu, and ESPN.
How is Disney performing financially despite these cuts?
In May 2025, Disney reported stronger than expected earnings, generating $23.6 billion in revenue for the first quarter of the year, a 7% increase from the same period in 2024. Much of the growth is credited to the expansion of its Disney+ streaming platform, which continues to gain new subscribers around the globe.
Disney has released several high-profile films in 2025, including Captain America: Brave New World and a live-action remake of Snow White. While Snow White struggled at the box office due to mixed reviews, Lilo & Stitch became a standout success, grossing over $610 million worldwide and breaking Memorial Day weekend records in the United States.
Were You Affected by the Disney Layoffs?
If you’ve recently lost your job due to Disney’s latest round of corporate layoffs, you may be entitled to more than just a basic severance package.
In Ontario, non-unionized employees in roles such as marketing, finance, film, or television may qualify for significantly more compensation than what is first offered. Severance entitlements are based on several key factors including your length of service, age, role, and salary. In some cases, you could be owed up to 24 months’ pay.
At Whitten & Lublin Employment Lawyers, we’ve represented professionals from across media, entertainment, and corporate sectors and we know how to fight for the severance our clients legally deserve. If you’ve been impacted by the Disney’s downsizing, call us at (416) 640-2667 or reach out online for consultation.