More than two decades after the groundbreaking release of 28 Days Later, the franchise returns with its latest installment, 28 Years Later, which hit UK cinemas on June 19, 2025. Directed and produced by Danny Boyle with a screenplay by Alex Garland, this new chapter not only revisits the harrowing world ravaged by the Rage virus but also reshapes the narrative continuity established by its predecessors.
The original 28 Days Later, released in 2002, was a landmark in horror cinema. It introduced audiences to Jim, played by Cillian Murphy, who wakes up from a coma to find London deserted and overrun by fast-moving infected, victims of the Rage virus unleashed when animal rights activists accidentally freed infected chimpanzees from a lab. The film’s bleak, haunting imagery—especially Jim wandering through empty London streets—set a tone of isolation and despair that resonated deeply with viewers. Its opening sequence is often hailed as one of the most memorable in horror history, effectively conveying the scale and emotional impact of the outbreak without relying on typical zombie tropes.
The sequel, 28 Weeks Later (2007), directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and executive produced by Boyle, shifted the story six months forward. It followed American NATO forces as they attempted to establish a safe zone in London’s Canary Wharf, known as District One. Robert Carlyle’s character, Don, and his wife Alice (Catherine McCormack) are introduced in a rural safehouse scene that quickly turns tragic. When the infected breach their refuge, Don chooses to save himself, leaving Alice behind in a gut-wrenching moment that highlights the brutal cost of survival. The outbreak seemingly extends beyond the UK, ending with infected seen running near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, suggesting a global spread.
However, 28 Years Later retcons this European outbreak. A title card at the film’s start clarifies that the French managed to push the virus back across the Channel, confining the infection to the UK. Danny Boyle explained this creative decision was motivated by a desire to keep the story rooted in Britain, emphasizing the unique tension of a catastrophic event unfolding within a familiar landscape. This choice grounds the film’s narrative firmly in the UK, which has been quarantined and cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 30 years, leaving survivors isolated and forced to fend for themselves.
The film introduces a new generation of characters, focusing on Spike, a 12-year-old boy played by Alfie Williams. Spike lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a heavily guarded causeway. The opening scenes depict Spike’s first journey to the mainland with his father, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. This setting in the Scottish Highlands offers a stark contrast to the urban desolation of previous films, while maintaining the franchise’s signature atmosphere of dread and survival.
One of the most striking aspects of 28 Years Later is its opening sequence, which centers on children watching the innocuous television show Teletubbies on a vintage TV. The cheerful, high-pitched voices quickly become ominous as screams erupt outside, and the infected burst in. The camera never shows the brutal violence directly; instead, it lingers on blood splattered across the TV screen, symbolizing the death of childhood innocence both literally and metaphorically. This harrowing scene introduces Jimmy, a child who escapes the carnage and becomes the focal point of the opening, joining the ranks of Jim and Don from earlier films.
Jimmy’s journey leads him to a church where his father, the local priest, awaits. The priest is entranced, viewing the infection as a form of salvation for humanity and willingly accepts his fate as the infected close in. This religious element marks a new thematic layer for the franchise, exploring how faith intersects with the apocalypse. The perspective remains tightly focused through Jimmy’s eyes, often hiding or closing them to shield himself from the horror around him, offering a fresh narrative angle that relies less on visual gore and more on psychological tension.
Over the years, the Rage virus has evolved, introducing new types of infected beyond the fast-moving zombies fans know. 28 Years Later reveals two distinct new forms: Slow Lows and Alphas. Slow Lows are bulky, obese-looking infected who crawl rather than walk, appearing hindered by the virus. Alphas, on the other hand, are massive, muscular, and incredibly resilient, capable of withstanding multiple deadly blows. Spike explains that the virus acts like steroids in Alphas, enhancing their strength and durability, making them formidable adversaries for the survivors.
The film’s world is grim—Europe has contained the virus, but the UK remains a quarantined island, patrolled by international military forces to prevent any movement in or out. Survivors like Spike and his father must rely solely on their own resources to endure in this isolated, hostile environment. This bleak setting underscores the franchise’s ongoing exploration of humanity’s struggle not just against the infected but against isolation, fear, and the collapse of society.
For fans eager to revisit the franchise, 28 Days Later is currently streaming for free on Pluto with ads and available to rent or buy on platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV. 28 Weeks Later can be streamed on Hulu and rented or purchased on Amazon Prime. The latest film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes, continues to build on the series’ legacy while offering a standalone story accessible to new viewers.
Critics, including Rolling Stone’s David Fear, have praised 28 Years Later for its sharp reflection of contemporary anxieties, noting its “jaundiced, bloodshot eye” on modern society’s fragility. The film’s haunting opening sequences and evolving narrative demonstrate the franchise’s remarkable ability to reinvent itself while maintaining the emotional depth and terror that made the original so impactful.
Looking ahead, the franchise is set to continue with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, already filmed and scheduled for release in January of an upcoming year. This sequel promises to delve further into the transformed world and the new horrors spawned by the Rage virus’s evolution.
After more than 20 years, the 28 Days Later series remains a powerful exploration of survival, humanity, and the consequences of viral catastrophe. With 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have delivered a worthy continuation that honors the franchise’s roots while charting new territory, ensuring the saga’s relevance and resonance for years to come.
