The weird reason why 28 Days Later is impossible to find on streaming

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As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the evolution of entertainment from floppy disks to streaming services. The convenience that these platforms offer has been nothing short of revolutionary, but sometimes they can leave us scratching our heads like a certain zombie in 28 Days Later.

Following the release of the initial trailer for 28 Years Later, you might find yourself yearning to re-experience Danny Boyle’s classic zombie film, 28 Days Later – however, you won’t find it readily available on streaming platforms, and there’s an unusual explanation behind its absence.

It’s one of the most frustrating consequences of the streaming service boom: you’re direct debited up the wazoo with subscriptions to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and other platforms — and when you want to watch something specific, it isn’t available on any of them.

Sometimes, a movie might not be available on the streaming services you’ve subscribed to because these platforms usually license films for limited periods. It’s quite possible that the film is on a different service (and unfortunately, it’s often the one you aren’t currently paying for).

28 Days Later, an outstanding horror movie, has disappeared entirely from streaming and digital services. If you wish to own a physical copy, be prepared to spend a significant amount of money.

How to watch 28 Days Later

28 Days Later is a movie that can exclusively be viewed in a physical format, either on a DVD or Blu-Ray disc. Regrettably, it’s not accessible for streaming globally, and there’s no option to purchase or rent it digitally.

There’s a couple of weird things about this. Firstly, its sequel 28 Weeks Later is widely available on streaming; you can watch it on Hulu in the US, while UK viewers can stream it on Disney Plus.

In other words, unfortunately, you won’t find a brand new copy of 28 Days Later anymore because it has gone out of print. This means you’ll have to purchase it from second-hand sources, and be aware that these can be quite costly. A quick search on eBay shows prices ranging from around $30 for the DVD version up to as much as $150 for the Blu-ray (and if you’re after the steelbook edition, be prepared to pay even more).

Why 28 Days Later isn’t on streaming

The movie “28 Days Later” isn’t currently available for streaming, as Disney no longer holds the rights to it, and Sony hasn’t released it on any streaming platforms so far.

28 Weeks Later was initially backed by Searchlight Pictures, which is now part of Disney following their acquisition of Fox, after the success of 28 Days Later. However, it’s crucial to note that while Searchlight handled the distribution of the original movie, its funding was independent, making the rights situation a bit more intricate.

As an enthusiast, I’m excited about Sony acquiring the rights for the initial film, paving the way for the production of 28 Years Later and its sequels. However, I can’t help but wonder why they haven’t yet reached a deal with a streaming service to share this cinematic masterpiece.

28 Days Later is coming to digital in 2025

Thankfully, Sony is rectifying its mistake by making 28 Days Later available on digital again.

The specific launch date for its Video On Demand (VOD) debut hasn’t been determined yet, but it’s anticipated to occur prior to the release of “28 Years Later”, possibly in early 2025. If you’re interested, you can go ahead and express your preference now.

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2024-12-11 16:57