Minor Spoilers for 28 Years Later are below!

Summary

28 Years Later introduces a unique reality in the UK, showcasing new infected types and isolated survivors.
Despite positive critical reception, audience reviews for the film have been mixed, leading to lower scores and some complaints.
The financial success of the sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, could determine the fate of a potential third film in the trilogy.

28 Years Later is expected to start a trilogy of new films, but one big problem may hinder that plan. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland returned to the franchise they created with 2002's 28 Days Later, which starred Cillian Murphy as a man navigating the Rage virus' zombie plague in the UK. A 2007 sequel followed with 28 Weeks Later, which saw the U.S. Military aiding in combating the Rage virus, and helping people move back into the UK, only for disastrous results to play out for the returning civilians.

Boyle and Garland have continued the story in 28 Years Later, telling the terrifying story of the survivors who persist in the UK, with the infected still running rampant. A follow-up sequel has already been shot, with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple due to hit theaters in January. However, plans for a third film still require funding, which could be jeopardized thanks to a potentially unforeseen outcome.

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By Timothy McClelland

28 Years Later Introduces Audiences To A Unique New Reality

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The first two films in the franchise showed audiences how the UK had been ravaged by the Rage virus over days and weeks. The new sequel takes on the unique task of imagining how the UK survived almost 30 years, extrapolating the horrors initially seen by audiences for several more decades. 28 Years Later acknowledges earlier films in the opening exposition that clues viewers in on the state of the world, which sees the UK completely cut off from the rest of the world, holding the Rage virus in the island country.

The plot follows Spike, a 12-year-old boy who has lived his whole life in the quarantined UK, specifically on a secluded island just off the coast. Spike is taken on his first excursion away from their haven, traveling to the main island to search and hunt. However, Spike sees a fire in the distance, which he learns is likely a long-forgotten doctor. This spurs Spike's curiosity, as his mother is very ill, and he was told all the doctors were dead. This kicks off the film's true story, which sees Spike leaving his secluded island with his mother on a perilous journey to get her to the doctor who may be left in the UK.

28 Years Later offers new thrills for audiences, fleshing out a world that has seen the infected evolve over the last three decades. New types of infected people roam the UK, and the survivors have no chance of any outside help. They live on what they can grow and hunt, with their community raised to fill their required roles to merely exist. It's a bleak existence, which the movie examines in great depth, even finding ways to sympathize with the infected, making the sequel a unique take on the world.

Critics And Audiences Look To Be Enjoying 28 Years Later In Different Ways

Despite initial praise from critics, audiences have been less enthusiastic about 28 Years Later. The trailer for the third franchise installment was met with big numbers upon release, which had the films poised for success. However, viewers who have now gotten a chance to see the movie are walking away with some complaints that see 28 Years Later garnering a wavering reception from paying audiences. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the critics' and audience scores are both still in positive territory, but the audience score is 24 points lower than the critics'. At the time of writing, the Rotten Tomatoes critics' score is 89%, while the audience score is only 66%.

Beyond the discrepancy in the Rotten Tomatoes scores, paying audiences have also given the movie a less-than-stellar CinemaScore. According to Discussing Film, 28 Years Later has garnered a B CinemaScore.

‘28 YEARS LATER’ debuts with a B on CinemaScore. Read our review: bit.ly/DFYears [image or embed] — DiscussingFilm (@discussingfilm.net) June 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM

Many audiences have pointed to specific gripes, as some find the zombie nudity distracting despite fitting the world's narrative, and others feel the very last scene before the credits roll is tonally jarring, feeling oddly out of sync with the rest of the movie. Even with complaints, the scores given by audiences are still positive, merely showing 28 Years Later has a unique appeal to critics that may miss the average audience.

Could The Discrepancy Between Critics And Audiences Be Detrimental For 28 Years Later's Trilogy Plans?

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The opening weekend for 28 Years Later brought in $30 million in the U.S., with foreign markets adding another $30 million, putting the movie at a worldwide gross of $60 million after just three days. The budget for the sequel was reportedly also $60 million, which means the movie is well on its way to financial success. While this bodes well for 28 Years Later, the actual test may now come from the already-filmed follow-up.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will hit theaters in January, and it will be the first test of whether audiences disappointed by the current release show up for the next installments. Even if audiences enjoy it more, the studios behind the film respond best to financial returns that prove a third film would be a lucrative endeavor. The studios behind the movie could be motivated to shell out the money for the third film, which is said to feature Cillian Murphy, before the second movie hits theaters if the box office grosses continue to prove impressive. Still, given the somewhat mixed reception, the third film's green light may be held off until The Bone Temple hits theaters in January.

Despite a discrepancy in the movie's reception, the future could still be bright for the franchise if audiences continue to show up at theaters. 28 Years Later may also get a VOD boost when The Bone Temple hits theaters, bolstering the film's box office returns, but that remains to be seen. The franchise could continue, and 28 Years Later may yet finish its trilogy plans. Still, the studio will likely be a bit more trepidatious about the third film now that audiences aren't as hyped by the experience.

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