La Bola Negra has grossed $43.4 million worldwide, including $41 million in Spain, making it the country’s highest-grossing local film of 2026 so far, according to Rentrak. The film has sold 5.5 million tickets in Spain, the most of any movie there this year, according to figures from Rentrak and distributor Elastica.
Directed, written and produced by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the film overtook Torrente Presidente, which has earned $31.6 million, and returned to the top of Spain’s box office in its sixth weekend. It made $1.4 million in that frame, ahead of Clayface’s $402,000 and the opening of South Korean sci-fi film Hope, which took $440,000.
With a reported Spanish gross of €36.7 million, La Bola Negra has entered the country’s all-time top 10 at No. 10. It is also the third-highest-grossing local production in Spain, behind Spanish Affair at €56.2 million and The Impossible at €42.5 million. Across all releases in Spain this calendar year, it ranks third, behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.
The film opened in Spain on Sept. 25 during Fiesta del Cine, when tickets were discounted to €3.50. In North America, it began a platform release in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 16, earning $277,500. Its reported cumulative gross there is $1.2 million after three weekends at 38 locations. Netflix acquired U.S. rights for a reported $5 million.
La Bola Negra follows three men in different eras whose stories are linked by sexuality, desire, pain and inheritance. Its cast includes Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close. The film won Best Director at Cannes for Calvo and Ambrossi, and received the People’s Choice Award at TIFF. It has also earned a British Independent Film Award nomination for Best International Independent Film.
The film is scheduled to open in France on Dec. 16. Its reported estimated gross in Australia and New Zealand is $300,000.
Sources: Deadline.