28 Days Later
Logo featuring thebiohazard symbol
Created by	Alex Garland
Original work	28 Days Later (2002)
Owners	Sony Pictures Entertainment Searchlight Pictures 20th Century Studios
Years	2002–present
Print publications
Comics	28 Days Later
Graphic novel(s)	28 Days Later: The Aftermath
Films and television
Film(s)	List of films
Audio
Soundtrack(s)	28 Days Later: The Soundtrack Album 28 Weeks Later: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 28 Years Later (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

The28 Days Later film series consists ofpost-apocalyptichorror films, based on a concept byAlex Garland. It includes four released films, with a sequel in development. The franchise depicts the outbreak of the Rage Virus, acontagious disease that induces homicidal rage in those infected. Following the virus's accidental release from a laboratory inEngland, the resultingepidemic causes widespreadsocietal collapse.

The first film,28 Days Later (2002) was well-received by critics and a box office success.^[1][2] It has been called a horror classic and has acult following.^[3][4] It has also been credited with redefining,^[5][6] influencing,^[7][8] and expanding the popularity of thezombie horror genre.^[9] The 2007 sequel,28 Weeks Later, was also a financial success and received positive reviews.

Sony Pictures Releasing, through itsColumbia Pictures label for distribution, continued the series with three additional sequels.^[10][11][12] 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.^[13] A fifth film is also in development.^[14] Other media in the franchise includes the graphic novel28 Days Later: The Aftermath (2007), and the comic book series28 Days Later (2009–2011).

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 thatGreat Britain is completely desolated, with savage infected and crazed survivors.^[15][16][17]

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, andNATO 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.^[18][19][20]

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.^[21]

Nia DaCosta directed the fourth film; Boyle, Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, and Bernie Bellew are attached as producers.^[22][23] Principal photography was scheduled to commence directlyafter production was completed on28 Years Later,^[22][24] and completed in October 2024.^[25] The film was released on 16 January 2026.

As of 2024, a trilogy of sequels to28 Days Later and28 Weeks Later was in development, with Alex Garland as screenwriter of all three.^[10][11][12] In January 2025, Boyle confirmed he would direct the third film in the new trilogy.^[14]

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.^[26] In July of the same year, Boyle said that the story for a third instalment had been mapped out.^[27] By October 2010, Garland stated that due to differences involving thefilm rights, the project had been delayed.^[28] In January 2011 however, Boyle stated that he believed the project would be realized, stating confirming further developments for the story.^[29] By April 2013 however, the filmmaker expressed uncertainty as to whether the movie would be made.^[30] In January 2015, Garland addressed the project's status, confirming that while it had fallen intodevelopment 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 titled28 Months Later.^[31] In June 2019, Boyle confirmed that he and Garland had been working on the third installment.^[32] In March 2020, Imogen Poots expressed interest in reprising her role,^[33] followed by Cillian Murphy in May 2021.^[34]

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 titled28 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.^[35] 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.^[36]

In January 2024, it was announced that a third film titled28 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.^[10][11] In February of the same year, Murphy discussed his potential involvement with the project.^[37] In March 2024, Garland confirmed that he is writing a trilogy of sequel films.^[12] The following month, the writer stated thatKes was a major influence on his work for28 Years Later.^[38] By April,Jodie Comer,Aaron Taylor-Johnson, andRalph Fiennes joined the cast,^[24] whileCharlie Hunnam entered early negotiations to appear in its cast.^[39][40] Later that month, Garland announced that pre-production was underway on the film,^[41] while also confirming that the plot will explore how the passage of time influences survival in a post-apocalyptic society.^[42] In May of the same year, Cillian Murphy was confirmed to be reprising his role from28 Days Later,^[43] though it was later announced that he will not appear in the first movie of the trilogy.^[14]Jack O'Connell joined the cast in a supporting role, which will expand into a leading role for the sequel.^[23] The project will enter productionback-to-back with its sequel.^[24]

In May 2024,28 Years Later began principal photography^[44] and was released on June 20, 2025.^[13]

The first film was well received by critics,^[1] and was a box office success.^[2] In the years that followed, contemporary analysis have called the release a horror classic with acult following among its fans;^[3][45][4] while the movie has also been credited with redefining,^[5][6] as well as influencing,^[7][8] and expanding the popularity of thezombie horror genre.^[9]

The 2007 sequel was similarly a success critically,^[46][47] while it turned a smaller profit financially.^[48] Several reviews called it a rare worthy and successful sequel,^[49][50] andPhilip French ofThe Guardian called it superior to its predecessor.^[51]

28 Years Later received generally positive reviews from critics^[52][53][54] and had the biggest opening for the series to date.^[55]

• 28 Days Later (film series)
• Film series introduced in 2002
• American film series
• British film series
• Spanish film series
• Horror film series
• Post-apocalyptic film series
• Science fiction horror film series
• Zombie film series
• 20th Century Studios franchises
• Columbia Pictures franchises
• DNA Films films
• Dune Entertainment films
• Fox Atomic films
• Searchlight Pictures franchises
• Sogecine films
• Sony Pictures franchises
• UK Film Council films
• American post-apocalyptic films
• American science fiction horror films
• American zombie films
• British post-apocalyptic films
• British science fiction horror films
• British zombie films
• Spanish horror films
• Spanish post-apocalyptic films
• Spanish science fiction horror films
• Spanish zombie films
• Films about viral outbreaks
• Films adapted into comics

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• All articles lacking reliable references
• Articles lacking reliable references from August 2024
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata