Netflix’s Epic War Movie Already Winning Awards Debuts Sweeping First Trailer

Published Sep 1, 2026, 11:06 AM EDT Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour. Netflix has released the teaser trailer for its upcoming Spanish-language film La Bola Negra. The war movie has a massive cast that includes Guitarricadelafuente, Carlos González, Miguel Bernardeau, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Alberto Cortés, Penélope Cruz, Julio Torres and Glenn Close, and tells the story of three gay men in 1932, 1937 and 2017. Instead of being released directly on Netflix, La Bola Negra is getting a theatrical release on October 16 before joining the streamer on December 2. With a month-and-a-half to go until it's released in theaters, Netflix has now shared the official teaser trailer, giving moviegoers a taste of what to expect from the film when it hits the big screen next month. Check out the trailer below: The La Bola Negra trailer begins with a voiceover saying, "I'm not going to intrude on your heart, but outside this door, you have to be what you're meant to be: a man!" One of the characters is forced to keep his truth a secret, as footage is shown of service members during the Spanish Civil War hanging out, going for a drive and dancing. The camaraderie between the group is on full display, but they must lean on each other during the difficult times, which is teased in the trailer when explosions start raining down on everyone, and they're surrounded by fire on the battlefield. Amid the dangers of the war, though, a beautiful love story plays out behind closed doors. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay together with Alberto Conejero. The story is based on a play by Spanish poet Federico García Lorca that he never got the chance to finish before he was murdered in 1936. La Bola Negra has already earned two major achievements this year. During its premiere at Cannes in May, Ambrossi and Calvo won Best Director (tying in this category with Fatherland's Paweł Pawlikowski), and the film was nominated for the Palme d'Or award, an honor that ultimately went to Fjord. Then, the following month, the movie received the award for Best International Feature at the Sydney Film Festival. Critics have been praising La Bola Negra since its Cannes premiere, and it currently holds an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Early reviews have called the film epic, intimate, bold, passionate and a cinematic achievement. The performances from the cast have been singled out as a highlight of La Bola Negra, including Cruz and Close's cameos. La Bola Negra marks Cruz's third film in 2026 after The Invite and The Bride!, while Close will follow up this Netflix movie with a role in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping on November 20. La Bola Negra will be released in theaters on Friday, October 16 and on Netflix on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. Release Date September 25, 2026 Runtime 155 minutes Director Javier Ambrossi Producers Jorge Pezzi Cast Guitarricadelafuente Sebastian