August 7, 2026, 12:53 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Netflix is typically associated with being the most successful streaming service in the world, having made the transition from cinema to living room mainstream. However, it can’t entirely do without the big screen. Netflix occasionally releases select films in theaters. For “La Bola Negra” (international title “The Black Ball”), they’re going further than ever before.
Netflix Brings “La Bola Negra” to Theaters for an Extended Run
The epic drama made waves at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, winning a prize for best direction. Netflix has secured the rights for the U.S. and Canada and seems to believe it has a strong Oscar contender that could also generate extra revenue. As Deadline now reports, Netflix has even moved up the theatrical release date. It will premiere in North America on October 16, with the digital release following on December 2.
This means the film will be exclusively in theaters for 46 days—a new record for a Netflix-distributed film. And by a significant margin: The previous leader was “Marriage Story” from 2019, which ran for 30 days in theaters.
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A Major Exception for Netflix
While Netflix primarily focuses on gaining new paying subscribers, prestige has long played a role as well. Each year, the company enters films into award races, such as the Oscars. However, to be eligible for nomination, a prior theatrical release is often required.
With few exceptions, Netflix usually opts for a particularly short window during which a title is exclusively in theaters. Two weeks is common before the film appears on the streaming platform. Not so with “La Bola Negra.” This is an unusual decision for the company.
“La Bola Negra” Impresses Critics
Few people have seen “La Bola Negra” yet, mostly professional film critics. They are very impressed. On Metacritic, for example, the average score is an excellent 85 out of 100 based on twelve reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, 88 percent of the 32 reviews are positive.
The number of reviews is currently still very low and is expected to grow significantly. The result could still change. However, the current results are early indicators that the score could remain stable or even improve.
What’s it about? The story centers on three men from different times, whose stories unfold in 1932, 1937, and 2017 and are closely connected. Their bond is formed through longing, physical and emotional experiences, and suffered injuries. It also deals with handling historical legacy and the question of how guilt and responsibility are passed on. Stars like Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close were part of the Spanish-French co-production. Incidentally, the German theatrical release is planned for November 19 and will be handled by Pandora Film Distribution, not Netflix.