In the ever-shifting landscape of streaming entertainment, the battle for viewers’ attention can be as fierce as any on-screen disaster or post-apocalyptic struggle. This past week has seen a particularly dramatic skirmish atop the Netflix charts, as two high-profile films—one a blockbuster disaster flick, the other a much-anticipated horror sequel—have vied for the number one spot in the United States. According to Flix Patrol, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s 2015 disaster thriller San Andreas surged to the top just three days after the release of 28 Years Later, the latest installment in the acclaimed British horror franchise.
San Andreas landed on Netflix on September 22, 2025, and wasted no time in dethroning 28 Years Later, which had itself only been added to the platform on September 20. The rapid ascent of Johnson’s film—despite its middling 48% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes—speaks volumes about the enduring appeal of high-octane spectacle and star power. As San Andreas racked up views, it also reminded audiences of the film’s original box office triumphs: a $54.5 million opening weekend, the biggest of Johnson’s career as a leading man at that point, and a global haul of $474 million against a $110 million budget, as reported by Collider.
For the uninitiated, San Andreas follows Ray Gaines (Johnson), an LAFD search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, as he navigates a California devastated by a record-shattering magnitude 9 earthquake. The plot, described by some as "big on special effects, and light on plot," sees Ray risking everything to save his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) and their daughter (Alexandra Daddario) from the crumbling chaos of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The supporting cast includes Ioan Gruffudd, Archie Panjabi, and Paul Giamatti, rounding out a film that, while not beloved by critics, has found a devoted audience in the disaster genre’s fanbase.
Audience reactions to San Andreas have been mixed but passionate. Its Rotten Tomatoes audience score sits at 52%, with some viewers hailing it as "one of the best disaster films ever made," placing it in the company of The Day After Tomorrow and 2012. Others, however, have been less forgiving. One user quipped, "I literally felt dumber after watching this," while another lambasted the film’s hero for prioritizing personal rescue over his first responder duties, noting, "I'm glad real first responders aren't like this... or we'd all be f***ed." Still, the film’s blend of relentless action and Johnson’s charisma has kept it in the public’s good graces, especially as it finds new life on streaming platforms.
Meanwhile, 28 Years Later—which debuted in June 2025 and quickly became one of the year’s most talked about horror releases—has not faded quietly into the background. The film, a continuation of the iconic British franchise that began with Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later, has set the stage for even more ambitious storytelling with the announcement of its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Shot back-to-back with its predecessor, The Bone Temple is set to hit theaters on January 16, 2026, promising to expand the series’ exploration of survival, violence, and humanity in a world ravaged by the Rage Virus.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the upcoming film will see the return of several key players: Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson, Alfie Williams as Spike, Jack O'Connell as the enigmatic Sir Jimmy Crystal, Chi Lewis-Parry as the monstrous Samson, and Erin Kellyman. Notably, Cillian Murphy—who played bike courier Jim in the original 28 Days Later—will reprise his role in The Bone Temple, marking his first on-screen return to the franchise in more than two decades. Murphy told The Observer, "Everyone's got to go and see the second one. I'm sure they will – it's really, really good." His appearance, though brief, is said to set up a major role in a potential third and final installment.
Behind the camera, the creative team is equally impressive. Alex Garland returns as writer, ensuring thematic continuity, while Nia DaCosta (best known for Candyman and The Marvels) takes over directing duties from Danny Boyle, who remains involved as a producer. The official trailer for The Bone Temple dropped on September 3, 2025, showcasing a darker, even more harrowing vision for the franchise. The footage teases Dr. Kelson’s mysterious structure—the Bone Temple itself—and hints at new dangers that transcend the infected hordes, focusing instead on the terrifying inhumanity of surviving factions like the Jimmies.
Fiennes, speaking to Entertainment Weekly, highlighted the film’s deep dive into the complexities of human nature in crisis. "The ultimate human moment is an infected woman who is giving birth to a baby who is not infected. The theme of innate humanity— is it still alive in the soul, in the heart, in the mind of an infected person? Are they completely corrupted? Are they only rabid? Or is there the possibility of something? Something human, it's still there." He added, "We carry in us the potential for terrible destruction and pain. That theme is picked up very strongly in the next film." As the series progresses, it is clear that the greatest threats may no longer be the infected, but the survivors themselves and the choices they make.
Fans eager to catch up on the franchise can find 28 Years Later currently streaming on Netflix, with 28 Days Later also available on the platform and 28 Weeks Later on Hulu. With The Bone Temple on the horizon, anticipation is building for how these interconnected stories will resolve the fate of the UK—and perhaps humanity itself—amid the ongoing Rage Virus apocalypse.
As for Dwayne Johnson, his reign on Netflix may be just the beginning of a busy season. He is set to appear next in The Smashing Machine, which is already generating significant buzz ahead of its release on October 3, 2025. Whether audiences are in the mood for seismic destruction or existential horror, it’s clear that streaming platforms are serving up plenty of reasons to stay glued to the screen.
With disaster films and horror sequels trading places at the top of the charts, viewers are left to decide: do they crave the spectacle of cities crumbling, or the chills of humanity unraveling? Either way, the competition for their attention is only getting fiercer.
