Film & Media · Madrid, Los Angeles, and New York
La bola negra becomes Spain's most-watched film of 2026 with 5.5 million tickets sold
The Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi film has passed Spider-Man in tickets sold, while its takings of 37 million euros still trail La Odisea and Spider-Man. Its first US weekend drew 277,500 dollars from four screens.
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In brief
The film has sold 5.5 million tickets in Spain, ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and La Odisea, according to Elástica and Rentrak data.
Pau Brunet put the film's takings at 37 million euros, versus 38.4 million for La Odisea and 39.2 million for Spider-Man.
The film passed Ocho apellidos catalanes and sits behind Ocho apellidos vascos (around 56 million euros) and Lo imposible (42 million euros).
It took 277,500 dollars from four screens in New York and Los Angeles, an average of 69,375 dollars per screen, and has expanded to about 300 screens.
Spain's most-watched film of 2026
La bola negra, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, has sold 5.5 million tickets in Spain, according to distributor Elástica and measurement firm Rentrak. That puts it ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and La Odisea, the two Hollywood titles that had topped the year's ranking until now. The film opened on 25 September and has held the number one spot at the Spanish box office for six consecutive weeks, playing in 552 cinemas. Sources agree on the ticket ranking, but the film has not yet overtaken its rivals in takings.
Revenue still trails the leaders
Analyst Pau Brunet, posting on X, put the film's takings at 37 million euros, compared with 38.4 million for La Odisea and 39.2 million for Spider-Man. eldiario.es linked the ticket lead partly to a discount day at cinemas, which lifted attendance and left the revenue total behind both films.
- La bola negra
- 37 million euros
- La Odisea
- 38.4 million euros
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- 39.2 million euros
Data from the article text
The film is now the third-best-grossing Spanish film of all time, passing Ocho apellidos catalanes, which earned 35.2 million euros in 2015. Only Ocho apellidos vascos, at around 56 million euros, and Lo imposible, at 42 million, rank above it.
- Ocho apellidos vascos
- 56.19 million euros
- Lo imposible
- 42.44 million euros
- La bola negra
- 37 million euros
- Ocho apellidos catalanes
- 35.2 million euros
Data from the article text
A small US opening with strong per-screen numbers
In the United States, the film took 277,500 dollars over its first weekend from four screens in New York and Los Angeles. That comes to 69,375 dollars per screen, the second-highest average for a non-English-language Netflix film, behind Parasite, according to Netflix data cited by Europa Press. The film has since expanded to about 300 US screens, and eldiario.es reported 1.2 million dollars in US takings so far. El Confidencial reported that Netflix bought the rights at Cannes for close to 5 million dollars. Netflix's global release is set for 2 December.
Festival run and awards
The film won Best Director at Cannes and went on to take audience prizes at Toronto, San Sebastián, the BFI London Film Festival and Busan. It also received the best international film award at the Sydney Film Festival and a nomination for best independent international film at the British Independent Film Awards. In early October the Critics Choice Association gave Calvo and Ambrossi the best director award, mirroring Cannes.
Spain will represent the film in the race for the Oscars at the 99th Academy Awards. eldiario.es reports that Oscar forecasters see it as the strongest challenger to La Odisea, the favourite. The Gotham Awards nominated it for its audience award, and the musician Guitarricadelafuente, who appears in the cast, is in contention for breakout performance for his acting debut. In Hollywood music awards it earned nominations for best independent film soundtrack and for best song for 'La nieve'.
Madonna's endorsement and release dates
On Saturday, 31 October, Madonna recommended the film to her Instagram followers around Halloween, and Javier Calvo answered her post with an enthusiastic reply. The film reaches Portuguese cinemas on Thursday, 5 November.
La bola negra is an original Movistar Plus production and will be exclusive to that platform in Spain after its cinema run, though no date has been announced. Its global Netflix premiere is scheduled for 2 December.
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Sources and context
- La Razón“La bola negra” surpasses “La Odisea” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” in Spain and is now the third highest-grossing Spanish film in history'La bola negra' supera a 'La Odisea' y a 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' en España y ya es la tercera película española más taquillera de la historia · original in Spanish
- SAPOMadonna praises Spanish film “La Bola Negra”: “A transformative experience”Madonna elogia filme espanhol "La Bola Negra": "Uma experiência transformadora" · original in Portuguese
- europa press“La bola negra” surpasses “Spider-man” and becomes the most-watched...'La bola negra' supera a 'Spider-man' y se convierte en la más vista... · original in Spanish
- El ConfidencialMadonna surrenders to “La bola negra” after its arrival in the US and praises Los Javis: “It is a transformative experience”Madonna se rinde ante 'La bola negra' tras su llegada a EEUU y elogia a Los Javis: "Es una experiencia transformadora" · original in Spanish
- Javier Calvo
- Co-director of La bola negra, who replied to Madonna's post and spoke at a TIFF press conference
- Javier Ambrossi
- Co-director of La bola negra, with Javier Calvo
- Madonna
- Singer who recommended the film to her Instagram followers
- Guitarricadelafuente
- Musician in the cast, nominated for breakout performance at the Gotham Awards
- Places
- Madrid, Spain, Los Angeles, United States, New York City
- Organizations
- Netflix
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