‘28 Years Later’ Launches with Critical Praise and a Bloody New Vision — “Danny Boyle’s best film in 15 years”

The rage returns. 28 Years Later, the long-anticipated follow-up to 28 Days Later, hits cinemas today with preview screenings ahead of its full release tomorrow and early reactions are already setting the tone for a triumphant comeback. As of this morning, the film boasts a glowing 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 90 reviews, suggesting that this is more than just a nostalgic return.

Director Danny Boyle reunites with screenwriter Alex Garland for the first time since the 2002 original, marking a full-circle moment for the franchise that helped reshape zombie horror. With a new cast led by Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, this isn’t just another sequel, it’s the start of a new trilogy, with part two, The Bone Temple, already in the pipeline under director Nia DaCosta.

Critics have responded with enthusiasm. Empire wrote, “There’s blood, but also real guts and brain and heart — visceral cinema soaked in viscera.” IGN added, “Boyle has plenty of new tricks up his sleeves for how to shoot 28 Years Later in a way that evokes the spirit of the original without copying it.” Meanwhile, The Telegraph delivered a perfect score, their 5 star review said, “This transfixingly nasty zombie horror sequel, starring Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes, is Danny Boyle’s best film in 15 years.”

The film picks up decades after the original outbreak, presenting a UK still bearing the scars of mass devastation. While details of the plot are being kept under wraps, glimpses in the latest trailer reveal a bleaker, more desperate world than ever before. The rage virus hasn’t burned out—it’s evolved.

Cillian Murphy, who played Jim in the first film, is confirmed to return, but not in this chapter, whether or not his character makes a cameo will remain to be seen. His involvement is rumored to be saved for the second installment, hinting at a larger story arc planned across the trilogy. This approach gives the franchise room to expand, without retreading old ground.

With a reported $75 million budget for each installment and Garland scripting all three entries, 28 Years Later is being positioned not just as a sequel, but as a new cornerstone in apocalyptic cinema. Full theatrical release begins June 20.

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