La bola negra

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  • Trailer 1

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo

Producer:

Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo, Jorge Pezzi

Writer:

Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo, Alberto Conejero

Release Date:

Oct 16, 2026

Runtime:

2hr 39m

Synopsis

A bold tapestry spanning nearly a century of Spanish history, La Bola Negra tells the story of three generations of men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and love in this celebrated film from Cannes-winning directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi.

Cast

  • Penélope Cruz
  • Glenn Close
  • Miguel Bernardeau
  • Guitarricadelafuente
  • Lorenzo Zurzolo
  • Julio Torres
  • Milo Quifes
  • Daniel Ibáñez
  • Lola Dueñas
  • Antonio de la Torre
Moviegoers are saying
Audiences describe this as a wrenching, devastatingly beautiful film that leaves them with a lump in the throat long after the credits roll. Reviewers single out Carlos smoking and dancing like Ian Curtis, a one-take bar sequence called "brutal," and a Penélope Cruz cameo, while the two-and-a-half-hour runtime is praised as an emotional endurance test. Viewers say they left the cinema crying and still can't sleep, with the film's reflections on historical memory and freedom staying with them.
Top Mentions
Epic-Scale
Rewatch-Worthy
Awards-Season-Buzz
Ache-in-the-Throat
Star-Studded-Ensemble
Tear-Jerker
Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews

Letterboxd User Reviews

4.4
269.6K
55.9K
142.4K
RATINGS 18.6K FANS
4.4
  • Sep 14, 2026

    craziest grindr notification placement in cinematic history

    10.1K Likes
    -ˏˋ mak ˊˎ-
    -ˏˋ mak ˊˎ-
    Sep 3, 2026

    He salido del cine vacía sin saber qué hacer con mi vida, sin ser un gay en la guerra civil.  Siempre nieva en verano para algunos, que te cubra la nieve hasta las pestañas, hay que vivir, es la única manera. El alma en un puño toda la peli.  La secuencia de Carlos fumando…

    9.0K Likes
    Esty
    Esty
    Sep 25, 2026

    “Siento que nunca he vivido porque las horas no me han pertenecido” Inventen la sexta estrella, cinco no son suficientes

    5.3K Likes
    Paula
    Paula
  •
    May 21, 2026

    primera pelicula en competición de cannes en mencionar las palabras MARIO VAQUERIZO

    5.3K Likes
    alba
    alba
    Aug 26, 2026

    uno tiene la sensación de estar viendo una cosa monumental durante cada fotograma de las dos horas y media que dura la película. de principio a fin con el corazón en un puño. una absoluta barbaridad

    5.3K Likes
    Carlos Peguer
    Carlos Peguer
    Sep 25, 2026

    Los Oscar poniendo el clip de Yenesi en la categoría de Mejor película para que Christopher Nolan se entere en directo de que el corazón de un maricón es un océano lleno de secretos. Esto es más grande que lo de Fátima y lo de Lourdes juntos. Salí de la sala seis de los…

    5.1K Likes
    Rubén Linde
    Rubén Linde
  •
    Sep 22, 2026

    una dedicatoria, tan bonita como dolorosa, a la memoria, al amor y a la vida.

    3.9K Likes
    aloma bye
    aloma bye
    May 23, 2026

    Ever just sit and cry during the credits

    3.6K Likes
    Amanda the Jedi
    Amanda the Jedi
    Sep 26, 2026

    Menuda obra de arte.  Creo que nunca había estado con el nudo en la garganta desde tan pronto en una película.  Me ha encantado la historia, cómo se conectan los diferentes relatos. La ambientación increíble, la fotografía me ha gustado mucho, la historia maravillosa, la…

    3.6K Likes
    Borja Iglesias Quintás
    Borja Iglesias Quintás

Atom Users Reviews

5.0
3
0
0
0
0

Reviews

  • DF
    Diego Funes
    #epic
    #seeingitagain
    #awardbuzz
    MB
    Melvin Batista
    #inspiring
    #<3
    DI
    Dmitriy Ivanov
    #heartpounding

Metacritic

86
metacritic
Based on 16 Critics
tbd

USER SCORE (0)

There are no user reviews yet
100
Sep 6, 2026

A gay, opulent and transcendently monumental work and the best film of the year.

Erik Anderson
AwardsWatch
100
May 25, 2026

These characters stay alive within the moment and within us, exuding a life-affirming quality akin to García Lorca’s lines so often uttered in this sensational film.

Metacritic review by Jan Tracz
Jan Tracz
The Film Stage
100
May 25, 2026

The result feels like a Gabriel García Márquez novel with a rocket under its bum.

Ed Potton
The Times

Frequently Asked Questions

When does La bola negra come out in theaters?
October 16, 2026 is the release date.
Is La bola negra (2026) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is La bola negra (2026)?
The movie is 2hr 39min long.
What's La bola negra (2026) about?
A bold tapestry spanning nearly a century of Spanish history, La Bola Negra tells the story of three generations of men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and love in this celebrated film from Cannes-winning directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi.
Who's the cast of La bola negra (2026)?
  • Penélope Cruz as Nené Romero
  • Glenn Close as Isabelle Durand
  • Miguel Bernardeau as Rafael Rodríguez Rapún
  • Guitarricadelafuente as Sebastián
  • Lorenzo Zurzolo
  • Julio Torres as Juan Pablo
  • Milo Quifes as Carlos
  • Daniel Ibáñez
  • Lola Dueñas as Teresa
  • Antonio de la Torre
Who's the director behind La bola negra (2026)?
Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo directed La bola negra (2026).
Who produced La bola negra (2026)?
Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo and Jorge Pezzi produced La bola negra (2026).
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