Cillian Murphy’s Cult-Favorite Indie Horror 28 Days Later Is Leaving Netflix As Sequel Dominates Box Office

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Cillian Murphy has returned to the popular horror series he’s known for. But the original movie in the series is leaving Netflix soon, just as a new installment hits theaters.

If you enjoyed 28 Days Later, you’ll want to watch it on Netflix soon! It’s leaving the streaming service on February 1st. This comes as its sequel, 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, is currently doing very well in theaters.

In the film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, a man named Jim wakes up from a coma after a serious accident to discover London completely empty. He quickly learns that a fast-spreading, rage-inducing virus has wiped out most of Great Britain, leaving him as one of the few people still alive.

When 28 Days Later came out in 2002, it was a big success, earning over $82.8 million despite only costing $8 million to make. Critics also loved the film; it currently has an 87% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from 240 critics.

A sequel, 28 Weeks Later, came out in 2007, co-written by Rowan Joffé, E.L. Lavigne, and Jesus Olmo. Similar to the first film, it was a box office hit, earning over $72.3 million despite costing only $15 million to make. While not as critically acclaimed as the original, 28 Weeks Later still received mostly positive feedback from both critics and viewers.

Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, 28 Years Later offers a fresh take on a post-apocalyptic Britain, diverging from the previous film. The story follows Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Isla (Jodie Comer), a couple trying to protect their son, Spike (Alfie Williams), who is battling a mysterious sickness.

Following the success of previous films, 28 Years Later proved to be another hit, earning $151.3 million in theaters on a $60 million production budget. The film has also been recognized by the industry with 24 award nominations, winning three so far: Golden Trailer Awards for Best of Show, Most Original Trailer, and Best Voice Over.

The Future of the 28 Days Later Franchise — Explained

The newest installment in the series, 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, was released in North American theaters on January 16th. The film features the return of Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell, reprising their roles as Spike, Doctor Ian Kelson, and the ruthless cult leader Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal.

As expected, the latest film in the series has received excellent reviews. Currently, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has a 94% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating widespread critical acclaim, and a 90% audience score.

Since the movie just came out, it’s too early to know how well it will do in theaters. Experts predict it will open with $15 million, making it the second-highest opening weekend behind the previous film, 28 Years Later (released in 2025), which earned $30 million domestically. It’s currently scheduled to be released after Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Fans will be thrilled to see Cillian Murphy reprise his role as Jim in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. This film is expected to connect to the next installment, which will conclude writer Alex Garland’s planned trilogy. Murphy shared in October 2025 that he believes director Nia DaCosta has created a fantastic movie that complements Danny Boyle’s original, and while his role is small, he’s very proud to be a part of it.

28 Days Later is currently available for streaming on Netflix until Feb. 1.

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2026-01-18 05:08