Eight years before Rick Grimes awoke from a coma in a Georgia hospital to find himself in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by flesh-eating revenants, it happened to Jim (Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer, Inception)—in London.
Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later revolutionized and revitalized the zombie genre in 2002 by introducing scarily fast-moving infected and a virus that fully takes over the human host in 10-20 seconds, making it the fastest-moving contagion in cinematic history. Technically, Return of the Living Dead first introduced speedier zombies, but in a satirical manner that was not scary. The infected in the 28 Days Later Universe are fast, relentless, and terrifying.
The First Scene of 28 Days Later Tells You Everything You Need to Know
In my memory, 28 Days Later opened much like The Walking Dead—a man in a hospital wakes up alone, wanders through empty halls, and emerges into a deserted world. But that’s not actually how the film begins.
The actual opening scene is far more disturbing: grainy footage reveals the origin of the lab-created Rage virus. A chimpanzee, restrained in a laboratory, is forced to watch a relentless stream of violent imagery until it succumbs to uncontrollable aggression. A group of well-meaning animal rights activists breaks in to “liberate” the test subject, unaware of the catastrophic consequences they’re about to unleash. While animal testing is undeniably troubling, accidentally releasing a bioengineered virus that leads to the collapse of civilization is exponentially worse. The virus itself was modeled after Ebola—a hemorrhagic fever known for causing rashes, red eyes, and severe internal and external bleeding.
That first scene sets the tone for everything that follows—and arguably gives you enough context to jump straight into the latest installment now in theaters. Still, the original two films are absolutely worth revisiting, especially with Cillian Murphy’s character, Jim, set to return in 28 Years Later: Boneyard. Filmed concurrently with 28 Years Later, the sequel is scheduled for release in January 2026. Additionally, the then-innovative choice to shoot much of the film on digital video enhances its gritty, realistic atmosphere. This stylistic decision had a lasting impact on the genre, influencing later films such as Shaun of the Dead, the Dawn of the Dead remake, World War Z, and I Am Legend.
Humanity vs. Horror: The Infected Aren’t the Only Monsters in 28 Days Later
As Jim makes his way out of the hospital and through a deserted London, his survival hinges on the help of other survivors—Selena (Naomie Harris) and the father-daughter duo Frank and Hannah (Brendan Gleeson and Megan Burns). They repeatedly save him, even as his rookie mistakes put them all in danger. One scene that’s stayed with me over the years takes place just outside the army barricade: a crow feeds on the corpse of an infected, and a single drop of blood falls into Frank’s eye, instantly turning him. No plot armor here—just brutal, unflinching consequences.
“Rescued” by a group of soldiers stationed at a makeshift military encampment in a remote estate, the remaining trio soon discover that their saviors have sinister intentions. Led by Major Henry West (David Eccleston, who took a pay cut to play the role on the film’s shoestring budget), the unit plans to use the two female survivors to “repopulate” the mainland. As the group splinters over the morality of this horrifying plan, chaos erupts. Eventually, our trio escapes to a secluded waterfront cottage, where they manage to signal a scout plane—and it seems, for a moment, like they might get their happily ever after.
Only they don’t.
Note: The original ending, where Jim died of a gunshot wound sustained during their escape from the military encampment, was significantly bleaker and didn’t test well with preview audiences, but it was later included in the DVD’s special features.
Despite Flaws in Logic, 28 Weeks Later Delivers the Tension and Style of Its Predecessor
Released five years after 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later shifts focus from the original characters to the broader societal impact of the Rage virus, exploring what happens as the quarantine on mainland England is gradually lifted and efforts to rebuild begin.
When 28 Weeks Later was released in 2007, Robert Carlyle—cast in the lead role of Don—was the most recognizable name attached to the project. However, the film also features standout performances from future stars Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, Idris Elba, and Harold Perrineau. Set four months after the Rage virus decimated London, the infected have since starved to death, and the American military has begun cautiously lifting the quarantine, declaring the city safe for controlled repopulation.
In the opening scene, it’s revealed that Don and his wife were among a small group of survivors living in a safe house when a young boy accidentally leads the infected to their door. Their two children, however, were spared—away on a school trip abroad when the Rage virus swept through the population. In a tense and heartbreaking moment, Don abandons his wife to save himself as chaos erupts. The children later return as part of the first wave of civilians allowed back into the city during the early stages of repopulation.
Although repopulation has begun, civilians remain confined to a heavily guarded military compound, with no access to their former homes in the city or suburbs. After learning of their mother's presumed death—and without so much as a photo to remember her by—the children, acting on impulse, sneak out of the restricted zone. They find an abandoned moped and take a reckless joyride through the deserted streets to retrieve personal belongings from their old home.
What they find instead is their mother—still alive, infected, yet somehow retaining elements of her humanity. She is brought back to the base as a medical anomaly, believed to carry a form of immunity to the Rage virus.
Strangely, her presence is not treated as the severe security risk it clearly poses. The virus inevitably spreads within the compound, leading to another outbreak. This time, however, the film’s ending ominously suggests the infection will not be confined to London.
Rage Reignited: The New Trilogy Takes Shape
28 Years Later (click here for our spoiler-free review) received a wide theatrical release on June 20, 2025, earning $60 million worldwide in its opening weekend. The film was met with strong critical acclaim, though audience reactions were somewhat more mixed. The original creative team—writer Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle—returned to head the project, leading a cast that includes standout performances from Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) and Ralph Fiennes (The Menu). Set in a radically changed world, the film follows small groups of survivors who have adapted to life in a landscape still haunted by the infected.
The second installment in the planned trilogy, 28 Years Later: The Boneyard, was filmed back-to-back with the first and is scheduled for release in January 2026. Directed by Nia DaCosta, it marks the long-awaited return of Jim (Cillian Murphy), the protagonist of the original film.
While the third chapter has not yet been officially greenlit, Garland has confirmed plans to complete the trilogy.
Get your Rage on! 28 Days Later is available to stream for free (with commercials) on Pluto, 28 Weeks Later is streaming on Hulu with a subscription, and 28 Years Later is currently playing in theaters.