The Black Ball has become the third-highest-grossing Spanish film, meaning only two Spanish films have earned more from ticket sales. By November 1, it had earned €36.7 million and attracted 5.4 million moviegoers. Directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, it stars Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close and takes inspiration from Federico García Lorca.
The film has attracted a younger audience than is usual for dramas. According to a Rentrak survey, almost 40% of respondents were under 35, while women made up more than 62%. It has also been placed on an initial list of candidates to represent Spain at the 2027 Oscars, which could help increase ticket sales.
Its success comes as Spanish movie theaters recover financially. Ticket sales reached €489.4 million during the first 41 weeks of 2026, an increase of 40%. That total was also 8% above the average for the same period before the pandemic.
However, attendance has not fully recovered. Between January and September, the number of moviegoers increased by 29% compared with 2025. Despite that rise, attendance remained 13% below the average recorded between 2017 and 2019.
