Netflix Reports Box Office Grosses for the First Time With ‘La Bola Negra’

In a notable shift in theatrical strategy, Netflix has publicly reported box office figures for the first time, revealing that its awards contender "La Bola Negra" earned $277,500 from just four theaters.

Directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, known professionally as Los Javis, the generation-spanning queer epic achieved a per-screen average (PSA) of $69,375. According to reported data, this marks the second-highest screen average ever for a non-English language film, trailing only 2019's "Parasite," and stands as the highest-ever PSA for a Spanish-language film. By comparison, Neon's "Fjord" debuted with a $31,000 per-location average across four theaters.

Theatrical Rollout and Future Plans

• Window Details: Netflix plans to keep "La Bola Negra" in theaters for 45 days before its streaming release on December 2.
• Future Disclosures: The company reportedly intends to share box office grosses for upcoming titles, including David Fincher’s "The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth" around Thanksgiving, alongside Greta Gerwig’s "Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew" and Taika Waititi’s animated "Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory" in 2027.
• Festival Background: The film previously received a 16-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, where it tied for the best director prize, and won the Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award.

Industry Context and Practical Implications

Historically, Netflix has treated theatrical releases as marketing events rather than financial ventures, keeping specific ticket sales private while co-CEO Ted Sarandos frequently criticized traditional cinema windows. This transparency arrives amid broader corporate adjustments for the streamer, including executive changes and workforce reductions.

For industry observers and exhibitors, verified box office reporting offers a standardized metric to evaluate performance compared to proprietary streaming data. Readers and industry watchers can verify these figures by checking standard box office tracking reports and official studio announcements.