Netflix has set a prime Oscar-season release date for “La Bola Negra,” the Cannes Film Festival sensation from Spanish filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, known as Los Javis. The film will debut on Netflix on December 4, 2026, following a theatrical run that begins November 6, 2026.
The streamer has officially closed U.S. rights to the film after a highly competitive bidding war. “La Bola Negra” premiered at Cannes, where it tied for the Best Director prize at the festival’s closing ceremony.
Directed, co-written, and produced by Calvo and Ambrossi, the film is described as a bold, passionate triptych spanning nearly a century of Spanish history, from the 1930s to the modern day. The film follows three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and inheritance, exploring themes of memory, love, queer identity, and Federico García Lorca’s legacy.
“When we began writing La Bola Negra, we wanted to tell a story about freedom, legacy, and the importance of LGBTQIA+ visibility. Above all, we wanted to honor the generations of people whose courage and sacrifice made our freedoms possible today.
We couldn’t imagine a better home for this story than Netflix, bringing it to audiences across the United States. We are deeply grateful and excited that its message will reach millions of viewers and help carry Federico García Lorca’s legacy to audiences around the world. This is the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for La Bola Negra, and we can’t wait for audiences to discover it,” Calvo and Ambrossi said in a joint statement.
The film features Spanish music sensation Guitarricadelafuente in his acting debut, alongside “Elite” star Miguel Bernardeau. The ensemble also includes Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, Penélope Cruz, and Glenn Close.
Los Javis co-wrote the film with Alberto Conejero and produced alongside Jorge Pezzi. The Cannes acquisition gives Netflix a major international prestige title heading into the fall awards corridor, with the November theatrical run positioning the film squarely for Oscar season consideration before its December streaming debut.
“La Bola Negra” opens in theaters on November 6, 2026, and debuts on Netflix on December 4, 2026.
