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Third ‘28’ Installment Divides Audiences, Paves Way for 2026 Sequel

Polarized reactions highlight its bold narrative innovation ahead of its sequel’s January 2026 release

Overview

  • 28 Years Later marks Danny Boyle’s return to the franchise with writer Alex Garland, following the original 2002 film and largely bypassing the 2007 sequel
  • The film’s reception split critics and moviegoers, evidenced by a 67% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a B grade from CinemaScore
  • Innovative camera work—including extensive use of iPhone 15 Pro Max rigs—backdrops a story of a family’s survival on a quarantined island and their journey into infected territory
  • Sony and the creative team confirmed a sequel, tentatively titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, due January 16, 2026, with Nia DaCosta stepping in as director
  • Cillian Murphy is set to reprise his role as Jim in the upcoming sequel and play a larger part in the planned third film of the trilogy