La bola negra (2026): cast, story, release date and box office

La bola negra (2026) is a drama film inspired by an unfinished play by Federico García Lorca and a work by Alberto Conejero. Directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, and co-written with Alberto Conejero, it explores the lives of three gay men across 1932, 1937, and 2017, connecting them through Lorca's literary legacy. The film is a LGBTQ-related drama produced by El Deseo and distributed by Elastica Films and Le Pacte. It premiered at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2026, with screenings in Toronto, San Sebastián, and other international festivals. The film was released in Spain on 25 September 2026 by Elastica. It is also available in the United States on 16 October 2026.

The story begins in 1932 in Granada, where Carlos, a young man from a wealthy family, is denied membership in a social club due to rumors of his homosexuality. His father urges him to deny the rumors, while his sister describes the limitations faced by women in society. After being denied, Carlos dances at a club and meets an elderly woman who claims to be his missing mother. He flees, then appeals to the club committee, denying his homosexuality. After the Sanjurjada, the club is stormed by a mob, and the building is destroyed and covered in snow. Carlos escapes using painters' scaffolding and walks up a snowy mountain, where he meets a boy with a young woman and a group of skiers. A personified Snow speaks to him, echoing the voice of the elderly woman.

In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, Sebastián, a village trumpeter, survives an attack by Italian aircraft. His mother is killed. Mandatory enlistment in the Nationalist ranks sees him placed in charge of watching over Rafael Rodríguez Rapún, a Republican POW with injuries. Rafael had been in Federico García Lorca’s theatre company, La Barraca, and was Lorca’s lover. As Sebastián bonds with Rafael, he becomes aroused by homosexual desire. Rafael shares Lorca’s poetry with him and requests that Sebastián retrieve a draft of La bola negra from an Alcalá 96 residence. Rafael is later executed in a summary execution (paseo), and Sebastián survives and retrieves the manuscript.

The film stars Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Penélope Cruz, and Glenn Close. The cast also includes Antonio de la Torre, Natalia de Molina, Albert Pla, Yenesi Suárez López, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Daniel Ibáñez, Julio Torres, Mona Martínez, Hugo Welzel, Carmen Rojas, and Nuria Mencía.

The film was released in Spain on 25 September 2026 and in the United States on 16 October 2026. It is not listed on any streaming services, though availability varies by country.

The production budget was €15 million. As of 19 October 2026, the worldwide gross was €26.7 million, with €9.1 million from Spain. The film earned €1.32 million on its opening Friday in Spain, with 175,000 admissions. It grossed €4.67 million in its opening weekend and reached a total of €9.1 million by 29 September 2026. On that Tuesday, the film achieved the top revenue for a Spanish release, thanks to a set €2 ticket price for those 65 and older.

The film is not available on any streaming services, as per the official listing. Availability may change by country.

The film was developed from the unfinished play La bola negra by Federico García Lorca and the play La piedra oscura by Alberto Conejero. It was produced by El Deseo and distributed by Elastica Films and Le Pacte. The music was composed by Raül Refree. The film received the Best Director Award at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for Calvo and Ambrossi. It premiered at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2026 and was also shown at the 73rd Sydney Film Festival, 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival, 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, New Horizons Film Festival, New Zealand International Film Festival, 74th Melbourne International Film Festival, 53rd Telluride Film Festival, 39th Out on Film festival, 28th Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, 39th Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, 22nd Zurich Film Festival, and 70th BFI London Film Festival.

The film is a drama with LGBTQ-related themes. It is 155 minutes long and rated R by the MPA. It was produced by El Deseo and distributed by Elastica Films and Le Pacte. The film's release dates are 21 May 2026 (premiere), 25 September 2026 (Spain), and 16 October 2026 (United States). The budget was €15 million. The worldwide gross as of 19 October 2026 was €26.7 million, with €9.1 million from Spain. On 29 September 2026, the film set a record for highest Tuesday earnings among Spanish films, owing to a €2 admission rate for those 65 and above. The film is not listed on any streaming services, and availability varies by country.

The film is not available on any streaming services. It is shown in theaters in Spain and the United States. It is not listed on any streaming services, and availability may vary by country.

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Where to watch

La bola negra is in US theaters now. It is not listed on a major streaming service in our records yet. Availability changes and differs by country, so check the service before you subscribe. The film box at the top of this guide links to every streaming, rental and purchase option.