Your Guide to Watching the 28 Days Later Movies, Including Bone Temple

Cillian Murphy in ’28 Days Later’ (2003).
Credit:

Sundance/WireImage

Need to Know

• 28 Days Later, starring Cillian Murphy, premiered in 2002.
• Since then, there have been three sequels: 28 Weeks Later (2007), 28 Years Later (2025), and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026).
• Some of the films are available to stream on Netflix, but not all of them.

In the 28 Days Later franchise, the passage of time has not offered healing.

The latest installment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, premiered in theaters on January 16, 2026. The franchise explores the aftermath of a “Rage Virus” that devastates the UK, reflecting not only the chaos of a zombie apocalypse but also the darker facets of human behavior.

Cillian Murphy first starred in the original film, 28 Days Later (2002), portraying Jim, who awakens from a coma to discover deserted streets in London four weeks after the outbreak of the Rage Virus. The sequel, 28 Weeks Later (2007), depicts events occurring approximately six months after the outbreak.

In 2025, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland brought the franchise back to life with 28 Years Later, set 28 years post-sequel. The upcoming film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directly continues the storyline of its predecessor. Reports suggest that another installment is in development, though specific details regarding its title or release date remain undisclosed.

Here’s what to know about where to watch the previous films before seeing 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

28 Days Later (2002)

Cillian Murphy in ’28 Days Later’ (2003).

DNA/20th Century Fox

Cillian Murphy stars in 28 Days Later as Jim, who emerges from a coma to find himself alone in an abandoned London. He soon meets other survivors who explain that a “Rage Virus” transmitted from chimpanzees has overwhelmed Great Britain.

Joined by a small group, including Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, and Noah Huntley, Jim navigates the dangers of a world where threats come not only from the infected.

Watch 28 Days Later on Netflix

28 Weeks Later (2007)

Mackintosh Muggleton in ’28 Weeks Later’ (2007).

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Set seven months after the initial outbreak, 28 Weeks Later features Robert Carlyle as Don, who fled after abandoning his wife Alice during an attack. The film reveals the consequences of the virus containment as NATO takes control of Great Britain.

Supporting actors include Rose Byrne, Harold Perrineau, Idris Elba, and Jeremy Renner, as the characters face both infected and military threats once the virus appears contained.

Watch 28 Weeks Later on Hulu or Disney+

28 Years Later (2025)

Ralph Fiennes and Jodie Comer in ’28 Years Later’ (2025).

Miya Mizuno/Columbia Pictures

In 28 Years Later, nearly three decades pass since the Rage Virus outbreak. The story centers around Jamie, his wife Isla, and their son Spike, who live in a quarantined community on Holy Island.

Their journey takes them to the mainland for a ceremonial hunting trip, leading to a harrowing encounter with the infected. They later seek Dr. Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, hoping he can provide a cure for Isla’s mysterious illness.

Watch 28 Years Later on Netflix

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

Ralph Fiennes in ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ (2026).

Sony Pictures

The second film in the new trilogy, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, released theatrically on January 16, 2026. This sequel marks the return of Murphy’s character Jim for the first time since 2002.

Directed by Nia DaCosta, the film picks up immediately after the events of 28 Years Later. Spike, portrayed by Alfie Williams, also returns, while the franchise continues to explore evolving narratives around human relationships in a world transformed by the Rage Virus.

“[Spike] will run right through the films,” Boyle shared in a 2025 interview. “We’ve shot the first two back-to-back for logistical and narrative continuity.” In this outing, Spike’s encounter with cult leader Sir Jimmy Crystal takes on a nightmarish significance.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is currently available in theaters.