Never one to slow down, Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar is back with this follow-up to last year’s “The Room Next Door.” But his new film, titled “Black Christmas,” isn’t an English-language affair with turns from star actresses like Tilda Swinton and Juliette Lewis.
Instead, the auteur’s latest is something more in his regular speed: a holiday-set domestic drama that sees a romance begin to fray when a burnt-out woman decides to travel to see a friend for Christmas, leaving behind a beleaguered partner.
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Here’s an official synopsis for “Bitter Christmas,” translated from Spanish:
After her mother dies in December, advertising director Elsa immerses herself in work to cope. When a panic attack forces her to take a break, she decides to travel to Lanzarote with her friend Patricia while her partner Bonifacio stays in Madrid.
“Bitter Christmas” stars Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Milena Smit, Carmen Machi, Bárbara Lennie, Rossy de Palma, and Leonardo Sbaraglia. Victoria Luengo, Patrick Criado, Milena Smit, Quim Gutiérrez, and Gloria Muñoz round out the main cast.
Almodóvar direct “Bitter Christmas,” with Agustin Almodóvar producing the film.
So when should American audiences expect “Bitter Christmas” in theaters? The film hits Spanish theaters on March 20, 2026, via Warner Bros. Instead, Sony Pictures Classics, Almodóvar’s usual US distributor, handles its US theatrical release, and it’s unclear when it may arrive. Expect sometime in 2026, in any case.
Watch the new teaser for “Bitter Christmas” below.
