With 28 Days Later and its sequel, 28 Weeks Later, Alex Garland and Danny Boyle reinvented the zombie movie with the simple but horrifying idea that the undead could run...fast. Riffing on themes from George A. Romero’s Living Dead films, they also changed how post-apocalyptic storytelling felt in ways that continue to echo in everything from Children of Men to The Road and The Last of Us.
Now Garland and Boyle are bringing the series back a full trilogy of films, beginning with 28 Years Later, continuing with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, already confirmed for a January 2026 release, and concluding with an untitled sequel. Before all that, find out how to watch the 28 Days Later franchise in order.
28 Days Later (2002)
Patient zero of the series, 28 Days Later begins 28 days after the outbreak of the “rage virus.” In a hospital in central London, a bike courier named Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma to discover that society as he knows it has essentially collapsed. After being chased by a group of infected and rescued by two survivors, he attempts to make his way across the city, then to Manchester, and beyond.
Look out for: Brendan Gleeson being typically gruff and a young Naomie Harris in an early role.
28 Weeks Later (2007)
The franchise returned five years later with a new director (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo) and a whole new group of characters. Taking place six months after the outbreak, 28 Weeks Later mostly plays out in a quarantine zone called District One on the Isle of Dogs in London. NATO forces have taken control of Great Britain under the illusion that the infected have already started dying of starvation.
Look out for: Trainspotting alum Robert Carlyle leading a cast of then up-and-comers Idris Elba, Jeremy Renner, and Rose Byrne.
28 Years Later
Almost three decades on, the rage virus has not gone away. What’s left of the quarantined humans of Great Britain have had to learn to live amongst it, rebuilding their society as best they can. 28 Years Later begins on a heavily guarded island just off the mainland but becomes a journey of discovery when a father and son are forced to leave. We expect further examples of humans being the worst monsters of all.
Look out for: Alfie Williams and Aaron Taylor-Johnson star, but Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell look to have the tastiest roles.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)
Apparently shot simultaneously with 28 Years Later, fans eager for the next installment will only have to wait seven months for its January 2026 release. For obvious reasons, little about the script of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has been revealed, but going by the title, it will presumably have something to do with those piles of skulls on the poster.
Look out for: Candyman director Nia DaCosta is on board to direct in what will hopefully be a welcome return to horror after The Marvels.
28 Years Later Part 3 (TBA)
Naturally, even less is known about 28 Years Later Part 3, a rumored fifth installment in the franchise. In an interview with Empire in January 2025, Boyle suggested he will direct the finale. Garland has also claimed to have already written the trilogy. Start prepping the shelters for the long haul!
Where To Watch The '28 Days Later' Franchise Online
To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the UK, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
