Netflix Adds 3 Seasons of a Canceled Sci-Fi Cult Favorite — Plus Every New Release This Week
Netflix’s April 27–May 3 slate lands all three seasons of NBC’s canceled sci-fi drama La Brea, plunging viewers into a Los Angeles sinkhole survival saga—alongside a fresh wave of new series and films.
If you were planning to spend the week glued to Netflix, the streamer just made it even easier for you. There are a ton of new releases dropping between April 27 and May 3, but the wildcard this week? All three seasons of NBC's terrifically odd sci-fi series, La Brea, have landed on the platform. In case you missed that particular TV fever dream the first time around, let's break down why it's suddenly in the spotlight again.
La Brea: That One With the Giant Sinkhole
Here's the elevator pitch: Los Angeles, a massive sinkhole, and a bunch of strangers who get dumped into what's effectively a prehistoric underworld. Over the course of three seasons (2021-2024), the characters bounce between survival drama, time-travel weirdness, and enough plot twists to make you question the city's zoning laws. Reactions were pretty mixed, but the show picked up a cult following thanks to how unapologetically bonkers it was.
So why did it end? Simple: the budget was gigantic (Australia is apparently expensive for TV), viewership took a hit, and then the 2023 writers and actors strikes happened. NBC decided enough was enough and cut things short, letting the cast out of their contracts after a truncated six-episode final season wrapped the whole saga up. In industry terms, La Brea didn't stick the landing, but at least it got to land at all.
As showrunner David Appelbaum (in so many words) put it after the official ending:
"We wanted to make sure the story had a real sense of closure for the fans who stuck with us."
Other Big Drops: Classic Comedies, a Hitch, and Chaos
If sinkholes aren't your thing, don't worry. Netflix is also padding its library with a buffet of familiar movies and more niche discoveries. One of the big draws: Will Smith's Hitch, aka the rom-com where he plays a professional dating coach, only to get tripped up by Eva Mendes' tenacious gossip columnist. It's the kind of movie you've seen on cable a thousand times, but who can resist a young Kevin James?
You'll also find comfort food options like The Breakfast Club, Pretty Woman, 13 Going On 30, and the original Jumanji. On top of that, there are some eclectic cult picks and disaster movies (three different Airport titles, for example, because why not?).
Netflix Releases: April 27 - May 3
Here's what's new this week (yep, it's a lot):
- Monday, April 27: Straight to Hell
- Wednesday, April 29: Je m'appelle Agneta, Should I Marry A Murderer?
- Thursday, April 30: Man on Fire
- Friday, May 1: Glory; My Dearest Señorita; Son-In-Law; Swapped; 13 Going on 30; 48 Hrs.; Airport; Airport '77; Airport 1975; Bad News Bears; The Boss; The Breakfast Club; Burn After Reading; Den of Thieves; Domestic Disturbance; Eat Pray Love; Fried Green Tomatoes; Green Book; Hitch; Home; Jennifer's Body; Jumanji; Jumping the Broom; La Brea: Seasons 1-3; The Land Before Time; Meet the Parents; Meet the Fockers; Little Fockers; National Lampoon's Animal House; Ouija; Ouija: Origin of Evil; Pretty Woman; The Proposal; Schindler's List; Starship Troopers; Trainwreck; Under the Skin; Veronica Mars; Waterworld
In short: Netflix is going for quantity and nostalgia this week, so set aside some spare time—especially if you want to see how a prime-time network show tried to wrap up a story about a mystical hole in downtown LA. Enjoy the streaming binge.