28 Days Later (film series)

The 28 Days Later film series consists of post-apocalyptic horror films, based on a concept by Alex Garland. It includes four released films, with a sequel in development. The franchise depicts the outbreak of the Rage Virus, a contagious disease that induces homicidal rage in those infected. Following the virus's accidental release from a laboratory in England, the resulting epidemic causes widespread societal collapse.

The first film, 28 Days Later (2002) was well-received by critics and a box office success. It has been called a horror classic and has a cult following. It has also been credited with redefining, influencing, and expanding the popularity of the zombie horror genre. The 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later, was also a financial success and received positive reviews.

Sony Pictures Releasing, through its Columbia Pictures label for distribution, continued the series with three additional sequels. The first sequel, 28 Years Later, was released in 2025, with the follow-up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, released on 16 January 2026. A fifth film is also in development. Other media in the franchise includes the graphic novel 28 Days Later: The Aftermath (2007), and the comic book series 28 Days Later (2009–2011).

Films

28 Days Later (2002)

Main article: 28 Days Later

When animal activists infiltrate a top-secret laboratory of scientists to release the animals, the activists unknowingly release chimpanzees infected with a pathogen, resulting in a rapid outbreak. The scientists were studying a highly contagious and powerful disease named the Rage Virus. Twenty-eight days afterward, a bicycle courier named Jim awakens in a hospital after a near-death accident placed him into a coma and under medical care, and discovers that Great Britain is completely desolated, with savage infected and crazed survivors.

28 Weeks Later (2007)

Main article: 28 Weeks Later

During the first outbreak, survivors, including Donald Harris and his wife Alice, sheltered in an isolated London cottage. An orphaned boy begs for help, is allowed in, and a horde of infected follows, overtaking the home. Don retreats while the group is overwhelmed. Twenty-eight weeks later, the infected die off, and NATO controls Britain, establishing safe zones for refugees, including Tammy and Andy Harris, Don and Alice's children. When the children return home, they find their mother alive but infected with the Rage Virus. Chaos erupts as a second outbreak begins, and Major Scarlet Levy of the US Army must protect the children, believing they hold a potential cure for mankind.

28 Years Later (2025)

Main article: 28 Years Later

Twenty-eight years after the Rage Virus devastated Great Britain, the island is heavily quarantined, and survivors of the outbreak are abandoned, forcing them to find ways to survive with the infected. When a father and son embark on a journey from the safety of a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway, they discover many secrets and horrors of the outside world.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

Main article: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Nia DaCosta directed the fourth film; Boyle, Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, and Bernie Bellew are attached as producers. Principal photography was scheduled to commence directly after production was completed on 28 Years Later, and completed in October 2024. The film was released on 16 January 2026.

Untitled fifth film (TBA)

As of 2024, a trilogy of sequels to 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later was in development, with Alex Garland as screenwriter of all three. In January 2025, Boyle confirmed he would direct the third film in the new trilogy.

Film	U.S. release date	Director	Screenwriter(s)	Producer(s)
28 Days Later	Template:Start date	Danny Boyle	Alex Garland	Andrew Macdonald
28 Weeks Later	Template:Start date	Juan Carlos Fresnadillo	Jesús Olmo, Rowan Joffé, E.L. Lavigne & Juan Carlos Fresnadillo	Danny Boyle, Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald & Enrique López Lavigne
28 Years Later	Template:Start date	Danny Boyle	Alex Garland	Peter Rice, Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, Bernie Bellew & Andrew Macdonald
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple	Template:Start date	Nia DaCosta
Untitled fifth film	Template:TBA	Danny Boyle		Peter Rice, Danny Boyle, Alex Garland & Andrew Macdonald

Production

In June 2007, Fox Atomic studio confirmed potential for a third film, dependent upon the financial performance of the film following its home video release. In July of the same year, Boyle said that the story for a third instalment had been mapped out. By October 2010, Garland stated that due to differences involving the film rights, the project had been delayed. In January 2011 however, Boyle stated that he believed the project would be realized, stating confirming further developments for the story. By April 2013 however, the filmmaker expressed uncertainty as to whether the movie would be made. In January 2015, Garland addressed the project's status, confirming that while it had fallen into development hell there were serious discussions going on behind the scenes to produce the project. Reiterating that development was progressing, stating that the script he was working on would tentatively be titled 28 Months Later. In June 2019, Boyle confirmed that he and Garland had been working on the third installment. In March 2020, Imogen Poots expressed interest in reprising her role, followed by Cillian Murphy in May 2021.

In June 2023, Boyle and Garland expressed in collaboration their intentions to "seriously" and "diligently" see the project enter production; while announcing that the script was now titled 28 Years Later, acknowledging the years it had taken to be developed. Boyle stated that he would like to serve as director, unless Garland chooses to. By July of the same year, Murphy stated that he had recently discussed the possibility of a third film with Boyle; once again expressing interest in reprising his role if Boyle and Garland return to the franchise in their creative roles.

In January 2024, it was announced that a third film titled 28 Years Later, was officially in development; with plans for the project to be the first of a new trilogy of sequels. Danny Boyle will direct the first instalment, with a script written by Alex Garland; while the latter will also write the scripts for each of planned sequels. Boyle, Garland, Andrew Macdonald, and Peter Rice will serve as producers. Sony Pictures will distribute the movie. In February of the same year, Murphy discussed his potential involvement with the project. In March 2024, Garland confirmed that he is writing a trilogy of sequel films. The following month, the writer stated that Kes was a major influence on his work for 28 Years Later. By April, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes joined the cast, while Charlie Hunnam entered early negotiations to appear in its cast. Later that month, Garland announced that pre-production was underway on the film, while also confirming that the plot will explore how the passage of time influences survival in a post-apocalyptic society. In May of the same year, Cillian Murphy was confirmed to be reprising his role from 28 Days Later, though it was later announced that he will not appear in the first movie of the trilogy. Jack O'Connell joined the cast in a supporting role, which will expand into a leading role for the sequel. The project will enter production back-to-back with its sequel.

In May 2024, 28 Years Later began principal photography and was released on June 20, 2025.

Main cast and characters

Character
	28 Days Later	28 Weeks Later	28 Years Later	[[28 Years Later: The Bone Temple|28 Years Later: Template:Small]]	[[#Untitled fifth film (TBA)|Template:Small 28 Years Later Template:Small]]
	Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Small	Template:Small
Jim	Cillian Murphy	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Cillian MurphyTemplate:Ref	Cillian Murphy
Selena	Naomie Harris	colspan="4" Template:CEmpty
Hannah	Megan Burns	colspan="4" Template:CEmpty
Frank	Brendan Gleeson	colspan="4" Template:CEmpty
Maj. Henry West	Christopher Eccleston	colspan="4" Template:CEmpty
Mark	Noah Huntley	colspan="4" Template:CEmpty
Sgt. Farrell	Stuart McQuarrie	colspan="4" Template:CEmpty
Donald "Don" Harris	Template:CEmpty	Robert Carlyle	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
Maj. Scarlet Levy	Template:CEmpty	Rose Byrne	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
Sgt. Doyle	Template:CEmpty	Jeremy Renner	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
Tammy Harris	Template:CEmpty	Imogen Poots	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
Andy Harris	Template:CEmpty	Mackintosh Muggleton	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
BG. Stone	Template:CEmpty	Idris Elba	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
Alice Harris	Template:CEmpty	Catherine McCormack	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
Flynn	Template:CEmpty	Harold Perrineau	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty
Spike	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Alfie Williams
Kelly Template:Small	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Erin Kellyman
Jamie	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Aaron Taylor-Johnson	rowspan="2" Template:N/A	Template:CEmpty
Isla	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Jodie Comer	Template:CEmpty
Dr. Ian Kelson	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Ralph Fiennes		Template:CEmpty
Sir. Lord Jimmy Crystal	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Jack O'ConnellTemplate:Ref Template:SmallTemplate:Ref	Jack O'Connell	Template:CEmpty
Jimmima	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Emma Laird		Template:CEmpty
Jimmy Jones	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Maura Bird		Template:CEmpty
"Samson"	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Chi Lewis-Parry		Template:CEmpty
Anthony	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Geoffrey Newland	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty
Dave	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Joe Blakemore	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty
Erik Sundqvist	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty	Edvin Ryding	colspan="2" Template:CEmpty
Jimmy Fox	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Sam Locke	Template:CEmpty
Jimmy Jimmy	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Robert Rhodes	Template:CEmpty
Jimmy Snake	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Ghazi Al Ruffai	Template:CEmpty
Jimmy Jones	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Maura Bird	Template:CEmpty
Jimmy Shite	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Connor Newall	Template:CEmpty
Tom	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Louis Ashbourne Serkis	Template:CEmpty
Cathy	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Mirren Mack	Template:CEmpty
George	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	David Sterne	Template:CEmpty
Sam	colspan="3" Template:CEmpty	Maiya EastmondTemplate:Ref	Maiya Eastmond

Additional production and crew details

Film	Crew/detail
	Composer	Cinematographer	Editor	Production companies	Distribution companies	Running time
28 Days Later	John Murphy	Anthony Dod Mantle	Chris Gill	DNA Films Film Council	Fox Searchlight Pictures	113 mins
28 Weeks Later		Enrique Chediak		Fox Atomic DNA Films Figment Films Sogecine Koan Films	20th Century Fox Template:Small Fox Atomic Template:Small	99 mins
28 Years Later	Young Fathers	Anthony Dod Mantle	Jon Harris	Columbia Pictures Decibel Films DNA Films	Sony Pictures Releasing	115 mins
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple	Hildur Guðnadóttir	Sean Bobbitt	Jake Roberts			109 mins
Untitled fifth film	Template:TBA	Template:TBA	Template:TBA			Template:TBA

Reception

Template:Further-text The first film was well received by critics, and was a box office success. In the years that followed, contemporary analysis have called the release a horror classic with a cult following among its fans; while the movie has also been credited with redefining, as well as influencing, and expanding the popularity of the zombie horror genre.

The 2007 sequel was similarly a success critically, while it turned a smaller profit financially. Several reviews called it a rare worthy and successful sequel, and Philip French of The Guardian called it superior to its predecessor.

28 Years Later received generally positive reviews from critics and had the biggest opening for the series to date.

Box office and financial performance

Film	Box office gross			Box office ranking		Domestic home Template:Nowrap	Budget	Template:Ref heading
	North America	Other territories	Worldwide	All-time Template:Nowrap	All-time worldwide
28 Days Later	$45,064,915	$37,719,602	$82,784,517	#2,110	#2,206	Template:N/A	$8,000,000
28 Weeks Later	$28,638,916	$43,665,561	$72,304,524	#3,075	#3,398	$25,255,977	$15,000,000
28 Years Later	$70,446,897	$80,839,626	$151,286,523	#1,293	#1,341	Template:TableTBA	$60,000,000
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple	$24,786,229	$31,800,000	$56,586,229	#	#	Template:TableTBA	$63,000,000
Total	$Template:Val	$Template:Val	$Template:Val			$25,255,977	$Template:Val

Critical response

Film	Rotten Tomatoes	Metacritic
28 Days Later	87% (240 reviews)	73 (39 reviews)
28 Weeks Later	73% (200 reviews)	78 (34 reviews)
28 Years Later	88% (399 reviews)	77 (56 reviews)
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple	92% (320 reviews)	81 (58 reviews)