28 Days Later will finally be available to purchase on digital soon

By now, you've probably seen the 28 Years Later trailer. Many people are clamoring over one particular still that appears to show a desiccated Cillian Murphy. Murphy, who starred in the 2002 film as bicycle courier Jim, will return in some capacity, and the trailer seems to indicate he might have fallen victim to the Rage Virus... or something else entirely.

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are also returning for this sequel, the start of a new trilogy that will debut in June 2025. Considering the hype surrounding this movie, perhaps one of the most influential modern films of all time on the outbreak subgenre, it's understandable why many people are looking to revisit the 2002 movie. Unfortunately, most people are out of luck.

28 Days Later hasn't been available to rent or buy digitally in years, and the physical media is out of print. Right now, the only way to get a copy is to purchase one secondhand, which can get pricey. Thankfully, Sony is about to change that. The company just launched a new website teasing the return of 28 Days Later to digital. You can sign up now to get notified when it becomes available to preorder.

Sony has yet to announce a release date for the digital version, but we can assume it will be out before 28 Years Later hits theaters. The 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later is widely available and can be streamed on Hulu or purchased through digital retailers.

So, why has 28 Days Later been impossible to find? Dexetro published a good write-up on the situation, but it boils down to a rights issue. The initial movie was independently funded and then distributed by Searchlight Pictures, part of Fox. When Disney took over Fox, they lost the rights.

Fangoria says producer Andrew MacDonald purchased the rights to the first film earlier this year. Now, it's just a matter of waiting for Sony to release the movie on digital platforms.

28 Years Later hits theaters on June 20, 2025. It will be followed by a sequel, 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman). No information has been shared about the third film in the planned trilogy yet. Murphy will return for 28 Years Later, joined by a cast that includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Jack O'Connell, Ralph Fiennes, and more.