The hotly anticipated three-quel28 Years Laterdebuted theatrically this weekend, nearly two decades after the franchise’s last installment. The movie unites directorDanny Boyleand writerAlex Garland, who also worked together on the series' debut film,28 Days Later. Produced ona reported budget of $60 million, the third installmentopened to positive reviewsand solid box-office reception, but audiences that checked it out on opening day weren’t entirely pleased with its radical storytelling. The movie hasearned mediocre responses from crowdson several aggregator platforms.
28 Years Latercurrently holds a 67% audience score onRotten Tomatoes, which stands in contrast to its far more positive 90% critics' score on the website. It alsoearned a disappointing BCinemaScorefrom opening day crowds, which is just about okay for an R-rated horror movie, but on the lower end of the spectrum for a franchise picture. By comparison,Ryan Coogler’sSinnersearned an A grade according to CinemaScore just a couple of months ago.28 Years Later’s B grade puts it in the same bracket as recent horror releases such asAbigail,Nope,M3GAN,Candyman,MaXXXine,Terrifier 3,The Substance, andDrop.
However, the movie scored higher thanNosferatu,The Crowremake,Halloween Kills,Renfield, andSmile, all of which earned B- grades on CinemaScore.The First Omen,Immaculate, andKnock at the Cabinearned C grades on the polling platform, which tabulates how likely an audience member is to recommend a given movie to others. Critics seem to be responding more enthusiastically to28 Years Later, which featuresAaron Taylor-Johnson,Ralph Fiennes, andJodie Comer, alongside newcomerAlfie Williams.
‘28 Years Later’ Is Aiming for the Number Two Spot at the Box Office This Weekend
Describing it as Boyle’s best movie sinceTrainspotting, Collider’sEmma Kielywrotein her reviewthat28 Years Lateris “an exciting, terrifying, and frenzied zombie movie while forging a story of mortality, morality, what makes a true hero in the face of adversity, and the importance of accepting the most inevitable thing in life: death.” The zombie horror film isexpected to finish second at the domestic box office this weekend, behind the holdover hitHow to Train Your Dragon. It will also likely be the first film of the trilogy to pass the $100 million mark worldwide. A direct sequel, titled28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, has been filmed withNia DaCostaat the helm. you may watch the movie in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
28 Years Later
