Netflix has shattered a significant theater record with its next big 2026 Oscar contender. The upcoming Spanish film has officially surpassed a distribution milestone previously set by one of the streamer’s most acclaimed Adam Driver dramas.
Following its debut at the recently held Cannes Film Festival, Netflix managed to acquire the distribution rights to the Spanish film La Bola Negra. They are planning to significantly push the Spanish epic for the awards season. Before it lands on streaming screens, however, the platform is granting the film an unusually long exclusive theatrical run.
According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix is providing a window of 47 days before the movie becomes available for streaming online. Previously, this record was held by the 2019 release Marriage Story. Directed by Noah Baumbach, the movie had a gap of 31 days between its theatrical release and online premiere. In this movie, Driver portrayed the role of Charlie Barber.
When will people have the chance to see Netflix’s big 2026 Oscar contender in theaters?
La Bola Negra is set for a September 25, 2026, theatrical release. However, this date will be for the viewers in Spain. For US audiences, the Spanish epic will hit the theaters almost a month later, on October 16, 2026. The movie is directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. The duo also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Alberto Conejero.
Coming to the plot of the movie, the synopsis, per Goodfellas.film, reads, “LA BOLA NEGRA tells the story of three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and inheritance across three different eras – 1932, 1937, and 2017.”
The film marks the acting debut of Spanish music sensation Guitarricadelafuente. The likes of Julio Torres, Milo Quifes, Miguel Bernardeau, Lola Duenas, and Carlos Gonzalez will be featured in the movie. Interestingly, a couple of Hollywood stars, namely Penelope Cruz and Glenn Close, have also been listed to appear in the film in a limited capacity.