28 Years Later’s box office runs past a reboot of a classic horror franchise with a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Reuniting Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, who wrote and directed the original movie, the third film follows a new group of survivors on a British island, and after one of them ventures to the mainland, they discover a world full of secrets and horror.
The28 Years Latercastincludes Alfie Williams in his feature film debut, Emmy-winner Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), BAFTA nominee Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals), three-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List,The English Patient,Conclave), Edvin Ryding, Chi Lewis-Parry, Christopher Fulford, Stella Gonet, Jack O’Connell, and Rocco Haynes.
28 Years Laterreviewshave been overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising it for channeling modern fears into a chilling and gripping experience that defies expectations.The film was released in theaters on June 20alongside Pixar’sElioand made $30 million in its opening weekend, finishing second behind the holdoverHow to Train Your Dragonand becoming the horror franchise’s highest opening weekend.
Now, nearly a month later,28 Years Later’s box officehas quietly surpassed a reboot of a classic horror franchise.
28 Years Later’s Box Office Is Now Even Bigger Than Scream
It’s Made $139.9M To Date
To date,28 Years Laterhas made $139.9 million at the box office, surpassing the worldwide total ofScream(2022), which made $138.8 million. That’s not bad for a franchise in which the first two films didn’t crack $100 million –28 Days Latermade $82 million in 2002, while28 Weeks Latermade $72 million in 2007. On the other hand, theScreamfranchiseis a much bigger thing.
28 Years Laterhas achieved these numberswithout as much of a built-in audience asScream. After an 18-year gap between installments, the film still managed to connect with fans, new audiences, and critics alike, all while revitalizing interest in the series. This bodes well for the planned trilogy, including28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which has already been shot and is set for release in January 2026.
Compare this to other horror movies28 Years Laterhas beaten at the box office, many of them installments in much more popular franchises, such as 2020’sThe Invisible Man($139M), 2024’sSmile 2($138M), 2012’sAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter($137M), 2018’sThe First Purge($137M), 2023’sThe Exorcist: Believer($136M), 2007’sSaw IV($135M), 2021’sHalloween Kills($130M), and many more.
28 Years Laterhas surely surpassed expectations at the box office, powered mostly by strong word-of-mouth.
28 Years Laterhas surely surpassed expectations at the box office, powered mostly by strong word-of-mouth. It’s a boldly ambitious entry that might let down fans hoping for the gritty horror of the original, but its powerful emotional core, elevated by its strong cast, has clearly resonated with audiences at the box office.
