View source for 28 Days Later

{{short description|2002 film by Danny Boyle}}
{{about|the horror film|the franchise|28 Days Later (film series)|the comics|28 Days Later (comics){{!}}''28 Days Later'' (comics)|the romantic comedy film|28 Days (film){{!}}''28 Days'' (film)}}
{{use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = 28 days later.jpg
| alt            = A monochrome black on red image, with a large biohazard warning symbol and underneath a man walking with London in the background
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Danny Boyle]]
| writer         = [[Alex Garland]]
| producer       = [[Andrew Macdonald (producer)|Andrew Macdonald]]
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Cillian Murphy]]
* [[Naomie Harris]]
* [[Christopher Eccleston]]
* [[Megan Burns]]
* [[Brendan Gleeson]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Anthony Dod Mantle]]
| editing        = Chris Gill
| music          = [[John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy]]
| studio         = {{plainlist|
* [[DNA Films]]
* [[UK Film Council|Film Council]]
}}
| distributor    = [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]]
| released       = {{film date|2002|11|1|UK}}
| runtime        = 113 minutes<ref name=mojo>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1262585345/|title=28 Days Later|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=3 February 2015|archive-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226150326/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=28dayslater.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country        = United Kingdom
| language       = English
| budget         = $8&nbsp;million<ref name=mojo/>
| gross          = {{US$|82.8&nbsp;million|long=no}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=28 Days Later… (2003) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/28-Days-Later |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=The Numbers}}</ref><ref name="mojo2"/>
}}

'''''28 Days Later''''' (sometimes stylised with [[ellipsis]] as '''''28 Days Later...'''''<ref name='bfi'>{{Cite web |title=28 Days Later... (2002) |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/bd4cc955-a617-5a8b-b164-aed26d582552/28-days-later |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=BFI |language=en}}</ref>) is a 2002 British [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic]] [[horror film]] directed by [[Danny Boyle]] and written by [[Alex Garland]]. It stars [[Cillian Murphy]] as a bicycle courier who awakens from a [[coma]] to discover that the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing [[virus]] has caused the [[Societal collapse|breakdown of society]]. [[Naomie Harris]], [[Christopher Eccleston]], [[Megan Burns]], and [[Brendan Gleeson]] appear in supporting roles.

Garland took inspiration from [[George A. Romero]]'s [[Night of the Living Dead (film series)|''Night of the Living Dead'' film series]] and [[John Wyndham]]'s 1951 novel ''[[The Day of the Triffids]].'' Filming took place in various locations in the United Kingdom in 2001. The crew filmed for brief periods during early mornings and temporarily closed streets to capture recognisable and typically busy areas when they were deserted. [[John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy]] composed [[28 Days Later: The Soundtrack Album|an original soundtrack]] for the film, with other instrumental songs by [[Brian Eno]], [[Godspeed You! Black Emperor]], and other artists.

''28 Days Later'' was released on 1 November 2002 in the United Kingdom and 27 June 2003 in the United States to generally positive reviews and commercial success. Grossing $82.8 million worldwide on a budget of $8 million, it became one of the most profitable horror films of 2002. Reviewers praised Boyle's direction, the cast's performances, Garland's screenplay, the atmosphere and soundtrack.

Despite Boyle not considering it a [[zombie film]], ''28 Days Later'' is credited with reinvigorating the genre and influencing a revival in it a decade after its release, with its fast-running infected and character-driven drama.<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /><ref name="Bloody-Disgusting" /> It has been featured in several "best-of" film lists. The film's success launched its [[28 Days Later (film series)|titular film series]], featuring two further installments, ''[[28 Weeks Later]]'' (2007) and ''[[28 Years Later]]'' (2025). A wider franchise also includes the graphic novel ''[[28 Days Later: The Aftermath]]'' (2007), and the comic book series ''[[28 Days Later (comics)|28 Days Later]]'' (2009–2011). 

== Plot ==
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A group of animal rights activists infiltrate a [[Huntingdon Life Sciences|laboratory]] in [[Cambridge]] which houses abnormally aggressive [[Chimpanzee|chimpanzees]]. Despite a scientist warning that the chimpanzees are infected with a highly contagious 'Rage' virus, an activist frees one; it attacks her and, within seconds of exposure, she succumbs to the virus. She immediately attacks the others, and the virus spreads rapidly across [[Great Britain]], resulting in total [[societal collapse]].

Twenty-eight days later, bicycle courier Jim, who had a traffic accident and fell into a [[coma]] before the outbreak, wakes in [[St Thomas' Hospital]] in [[London]] to find it deserted. Leaving the hospital, Jim wanders the empty streets of London, discovers newspapers headlining a mass evacuation, and eventually enters a church and witnesses the aftermath of a massacre, presumably caused by the infected people. An infected priest and members of the public appear and chase after Jim, but he is rescued by survivors Selena and Mark, who take him to their refuge in a streetside shop.

At Jim's request, the group travels on foot to his parents' house in [[Deptford]], where he learns that they have died by [[Suicide pact|suicide]]. When dusk settles in, the group decides to stay the night. Staying up, Jim reminisces family memories and lights a candle, drawing the infected neighbors to the house. Mark is bitten while eliminating them, forcing Selena to kill him. Jim and Selena make their way up [[Balfron Tower]] after seeing a makeshift [[signal lamp]] in a flat belonging to [[Hackney carriage|cab driver]] Frank and his young daughter Hannah. Frank plays them a military radio broadcast offering protection and "salvation from infection" at a blockade outside [[Manchester]]. Frank plans to take Hannah to the blockade, and the four agree to travel together. Reaching Manchester, they find the blockade deserted. Frank, frustrated, kicks a gate on which a dead infected body is balanced. A drop of blood from the corpse falls into Frank's eye, infecting him. As he warns the others to keep their distance, hidden soldiers appear and shoot him dead.

The soldiers bring Jim, Selena and Hannah to a heavily fortified country house under the command of Major Henry West, and treat their guests to a tour and banquet. However, the sanctuary turns out to be a ruse; West reveals to Jim that his broadcast was intended to lure female survivors into [[sexual slavery]] to maintain his troops' morale, giving them faith in a future where the human race survives. Jim and Sergeant Farrell refuse to go along with this scheme, so West orders them to be imprisoned. While chained, Farrell tells Jim that the infection has not spread across the Atlantic and that Britain has been quarantined from the rest of the world. Two soldiers shoot Farrell and then argue, allowing Jim to escape into the woods. Jim notices a jet [[contrail]] in the sky, showing proof that the outside world is still active.

After luring West away from the mansion with a siren and killing a soldier, Jim returns and frees Private Mailer, an infected soldier kept chained up for observation, to infect and kill the remaining soldiers. One, Corporal Mitchell, attempts to abduct Selena, but Jim kills him. Jim, Selena, and Hannah attempt to escape in Frank's cab, but West, who has hidden in the back seat, shoots Jim in the stomach. Hannah retaliates by putting the cab in reverse, causing Mailer to burst through the rear window and drag West out before mauling him to death as the car drives away.

Another twenty-eight days later, Jim recovers at a remote cottage in [[Cumbria]], where the infected are shown lying on the roads, dying of starvation. As a [[Hawker Hunter]] jet flies overhead, Jim, Selena, and Hannah unfurl a huge cloth banner spelling the word "HELLO". The three survivors wave at the jet, and wonder among themselves if the pilot had spotted them.

== Cast ==
{{Multiple image
| image1            = Cillian Murphy-2014.jpg
| caption1          = [[Cillian Murphy]]
| image2            = Naomie Harris 2, 2012.jpg
| caption2          = [[Naomie Harris]]
| image3            = Brendan Gleeson.jpg
| total_width       = 400
| caption3          = [[Brendan Gleeson]]
}}
* [[Cillian Murphy]] as Jim, a bicycle courier who was previously in a coma 
* [[Naomie Harris]] as Selena, a survivor in London
* [[Brendan Gleeson]] as Frank, a taxi driver 
* [[Megan Burns]] as Hannah, Frank's young daughter
* [[Christopher Eccleston]] as Major Henry West
* [[Noah Huntley]] as Mark, a fellow survivor with Selena
* [[Stuart McQuarrie]] as Sergeant Farrell
* [[Ricci Harnett]] as Corporal Mitchell
* [[Leo Bill]] as Private Jones
* [[Luke Mably]] as Private Clifton
* Junior Laniyan as Private Bell
* [[Ray Panthaki]] as Private Bedford
* Sanjay Rambaruth as Private Davis
* Marvin Campbell as Private Mailer

Additionally, Alex Palmer, Bindu De Stoppani, and Jukka Hiltunen portray the animal liberation activists, while [[David Schneider (actor)|David Schneider]] portrays a scientist at the laboratory. Christopher Dunne and Emma Hitching appear as Jim's parents. [[Toby Sedgwick]] plays an infected priest encountered by Jim.

== Production ==
=== Development ===
Early influences on writer [[Alex Garland]] included the [[George A. Romero]] films ''[[Night of the Living Dead]]'' (1968) and ''[[Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)|Dawn of the Dead]]'' (1978), which he loved as a child. Garland claimed to have largely forgotten about the zombie genre until he played the video game ''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]'' (1996), which reminded him how much he loved zombies after "having not really encountered zombies for quite a while".<ref name="interview">{{cite news |last=Hasan |first=Zaki |title=INTERVIEW: Director Alex Garland on Ex Machina |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/zaki-hasan/interview-director-alex-g_b_7038618.html |work=HuffPost |date=10 April 2015 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=10 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410071357/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/zaki-hasan/interview-director-alex-g_b_7038618.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Ralph |date=2023-06-27 |title='28 Days Later': The Oral History of Danny Boyle's Genre-Redefining Zombie Masterpiece |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/28-days-later-oral-history-danny-boyle-alex-garland |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]] |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611123951/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/28-days-later-oral-history-danny-boyle-alex-garland |url-status=live }}</ref> Director [[Danny Boyle]] liked Garland's screenplay for a proposed zombie film, having directed [[The Beach (film)|the 2000 film adaptation]] of Garland's 1996 novel ''[[The Beach (novel)|The Beach]]''.<ref name=":2" />

Rather than portraying zombies as supernatural beings, the film's [[rage (emotion)|rage]] virus was conceived as a biological contagion.<ref name="Cinema28DaysLaterProductionNotes"/> Boyle and Garland intended the virus to amplify an inherent aspect of human nature—psychological aggression—depicting rage as an uncontrollable viral force intrinsic to humanity rather than merely a physical infection.<ref name="Cinema28DaysLaterProductionNotes"/> This was designed to serve as a metaphor for contemporary social rage, including [[road rage]], [[air rage]], and other everyday aggressive behaviors.<ref name="Cinema28DaysLaterProductionNotes">{{cite web|title=28 Days Later : Production Notes|url=https://cinema.com/articles/1465/28-days-later-production-notes.phtml|website=Cinema.com|date=2002|publisher=DNA Films Ltd.|access-date=2025-07-17|author=DNA Films Ltd.}}</ref> Additional influence was drawn from contemporary cases in the United Kingdom of [[mad cow disease]] and [[foot-and-mouth disease]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Michael |title=28 Days Later: The Inspiration For The Rage Virus Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/28-days-later-movie-rage-virus-explained/ |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet Inc. |language=English |date=January 26, 2020 |access-date=17 July 2025}}</ref>

Producer [[Andrew Macdonald (producer)|Andrew Macdonald]] had access to funding from the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]], and pitched it to [[Universal Pictures]], who declined to support it. Budget constraints proved to be an issue, with [[Christopher Eccleston]] having to take an emergency pay cut.<ref name=":2" /> In June 2001, it was reported that [[Searchlight Pictures|Fox Searchlight Pictures]] had picked up for co-financing as well as worldwide distribution.<ref name="Searchlight28Days">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/searchlight-up-for-days-heads-east-1117801498/|last=Swanson|first=Tim|date=June 14, 2001|title=Searchlight up for 'Days,' heads 'East'|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=June 18, 2025|archive-date= June 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618222044/https://variety.com/2001/film/news/searchlight-up-for-days-heads-east-1117801498/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the [[Audio commentary|DVD commentary]], Boyle and Garland frequently call the film [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic]] and a [[horror film]], commenting on scenes that quote from Romero's [[Night of the Living Dead (film series)|''Dead'' trilogy]]. During the initial marketing of the film, Boyle tried to distance the film from such labels. Boyle identified [[John Wyndham (writer)|John Wyndham]]'s 1951 novel ''[[The Day of the Triffids]]'' as Garland's original inspiration for the story.<ref name="Guardian2">{{cite news |last=Kermode |first=Mark |date=6 May 2007 |title=A capital place for panic attacks |work=The Guardian|location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/may/06/features.review |url-status=live |access-date=12 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513170940/http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0%2C%2C2073292%2C00.html |archive-date=13 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Inglis |first=Becca |date=2022-11-19 |title=28 Days Later gutted the apocalyptic thriller – but is it a zombie movie? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/28-days-later-how-danny-boyle-reanimated-zombie-movie/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FILMMAKER MAGAZINE {{!}} Summer 2003: The Diseased World |url=https://www.filmmakermagazine.com/archives/issues/summer2003/features/diseased_world.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.filmmakermagazine.com}}</ref>

Five months after the film was released in Europe, video game publisher [[NovaLogic]] hosted a [[graffiti]] competition in a cross-promotion with the game ''[[Devastation (video game)|Devastation]]'' (2003). The connection was owed mainly to the similar theme of a devastated world. The prizes consisted of signed screenplay copies and posters along with DVDs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novalogic.com/press.asp?ID=74 |title=DEVASTATION GONE GOLD |date=14 April 2003 |access-date=1 October 2022 |website=[[NovaLogic]] |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611123959/http://www.novalogic.com/press.asp?ID=74 |url-status=live }}</ref> For the Infected, Boyle took inspiration from real-life diseases, particularly [[Ebola]], with aspects of [[rabies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/film-interviews/28-days-later-interview-anniversary-cillian-murphy-danny-boyle-3340282|title='28 Days Later' at 20: Danny Boyle and Cillian Murphy on why it wouldn't get made today|first=Dan|last=Seddon|website=[[NME]]|date=1 November 2022|access-date=11 February 2024|archive-date=11 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611124000/https://www.nme.com/features/film-interviews/28-days-later-interview-anniversary-cillian-murphy-danny-boyle-3340282|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Casting ===
On the DVD commentary, Boyle explains that with the aim of preserving the [[suspension of disbelief]], relatively unknown actors were cast in the film. Cillian Murphy had starred primarily in small independent films, while Naomie Harris had acted on British television as a child, and Megan Burns had only one previous film credit. However, Christopher Eccleston and Brendan Gleeson were well-known [[character actor]]s. Murphy originally auditioned for the role with a [[Standard Southern British]] accent, as Jim was written to be English.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Cillian Murphy and Danny Boyle fear they could never make '28 Days Later' now {{!}} Movie News {{!}} Landmark Cinemas |url=https://www.landmarkcinemas.com/movie-news/cillian-murphy-and-danny-boyle-fear-they-could-never-make-28-days-later-now |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241015214748/https://www.landmarkcinemas.com/movie-news/cillian-murphy-and-danny-boyle-fear-they-could-never-make-28-days-later-now |archive-date=2024-10-15 |access-date=2025-06-15 |work=Landmark Cinemas |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Seddon |first=Dan |date=2022-11-01 |title='28 Days Later' at 20: Danny Boyle and Cillian Murphy on why it wouldn't get made today |url=https://www.nme.com/features/film-interviews/28-days-later-interview-anniversary-cillian-murphy-danny-boyle-3340282 |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> However, during filming, Boyle and Murphy decided to revert to the actor's natural accent, and rewrote the character as Irish.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> [[James McAvoy]] auditioned for a role as an Infected.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 March 2013 |title=James McAvoy interview on Trance & X:Men Days of Future Past – GQ.COM (UK) |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2013-03/22/james-mcavoy-interview-trance-macbeth-x-men |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326222534/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2013-03/22/james-mcavoy-interview-trance-macbeth-x-men |archive-date=26 March 2013 |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref>

=== Filming ===
[[File:London, United Kingdom (Unsplash mfbEp8lS1hA).jpg|thumb|Busy areas of [[Central London]], including [[Westminster Bridge]], had to be filmed early in the morning or while the crew briefly closed streets for the film's opening sequence.]]
The film features scenes set in normally bustling parts of London, such as [[Westminster Bridge]], [[Piccadilly Circus]], [[Horse Guards Parade]] and [[Oxford Street]]. To depict these locations as desolate, the film crew closed off sections of street for minutes at a time, usually on Sunday mornings. They typically had around 45 minutes after dawn to shoot the locations devoid of members of the public and traffic.

The majority of the film (except for the final sequence when the military plane finds Jim, Selena, and Hannah, which was shot on 35mm film) was shot on [[Canon XL1S|Canon XL1]] [[digital video]] (DV) cameras,<ref>{{cite news |first=Douglas |last=Bankston |url=https://theasc.com/magazine/july03/sub/index.html |title=Anthony Dod Mantle, DFF injects the apocalyptic 28 Days Later with a strain of digital video |work=TheASC.com |date=1 July 2003 |access-date=1 May 2007 |archive-date=20 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120182055/https://theasc.com/magazine/july03/sub/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> which were smaller and more manoeuvrable than traditional film cameras, which would have been impractical on such brief shoots. The scenes of the empty [[M1 motorway]] were also filmed within limited periods, during which a mobile police roadblock slowed traffic sufficiently to leave a long section of carriageway empty. The section of the motorway depicted runs near [[Milton Keynes]], Buckinghamshire, around 150 miles southeast of Manchester.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nigel|first=Freestone|title=The Ultimate British Roads and Motorways Quiz Book: 200 Questions on Road and Motorway History|publisher=Andrews UK|year=2013}}</ref>

For the London scene in which Jim walks by an overturned [[double-decker bus]], the film crew placed the bus on its side and removed it when the shot was finished, all within 20 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|title=28 Days Later : About The Shoot|url=https://www.cinema.com/articles/1468/28-days-later-about-the-shoot.phtml|access-date=22 March 2021|website=cinema.com|archive-date=11 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611123953/https://www.cinema.com/articles/1468/28-days-later-about-the-shoot.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The crew had asked [[Westminster City Council]] for permission to place the bus outside [[Downing Street]], which was denied; when they arrived there at 4am and nobody from the council was present, they placed the bus there anyway.<ref name=":2" />

The [[September 11 attacks]] took place during filming.<ref name=":2" /> Boyle notes the parallel between the "missing persons" flyers seen at the beginning of the film and similar flyers posted in New York City in the wake of the attacks. Boyle said his crew probably would not have been granted permission to close off [[Whitehall]] for filming after the terrorist attacks.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Trimble |first=Sarah |year=2010 |title=(White) Rage: Affect, Neoliberalism, and the Family in 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later |journal=Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=295–322 |doi=10.1080/10714413.2010.495255 |s2cid=146485661}}</ref>

The mansion used in the film was [[Trafalgar House (Wiltshire)|Trafalgar Park]] near [[Salisbury]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The History|url=http://trafalgarpark.com/history/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=Trafalgar Park|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302003706/http://trafalgarpark.com/history/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=12 April 2016|title=This glorious country house was gifted to Horatio Nelson's family after he died in battle. It's up for sale – take a look around.|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trafalgar-park-sale-inside-12m-country-house-gifted-admiral-nelsons-grieving-family-1554498|access-date=22 March 2021|website=International Business Times UK|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525013815/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trafalgar-park-sale-inside-12m-country-house-gifted-admiral-nelsons-grieving-family-1554498|url-status=live}}</ref> The old ruins used as the setting for an idyllic interlude in their journey to Manchester were those of [[Waverley Abbey]], Surrey. The end scenes of the film with Jim, Selena and Hannah living in a rural cottage were filmed around [[Ennerdale Water|Ennerdale]] in Cumbria.<ref name="Cumbria">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/03/31/cumbriaonfilm_others_feature.shtml |title=Cumbria live |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=30 September 2010 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611123953/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/03/31/cumbriaonfilm_others_feature.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The production team hired an [[optometrist]] to supervise with the red [[contact lens]]es needed for cast members playing the infected.<ref name=":2" />

At a certain point, Macdonald announced to the crew that the production had run out of money, and filming ceased without a satisfactory closing sequence having been shot. After several different pitches for a new ending, with the original ending which featured Jim's death having [[Test screening|tested]] badly with audiences, the studio granted more funding to shoot the ending eventually used. The crew arranged for a real jet to fly overhead for them to film, as this was cheaper than approximately £70,000 for a [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] one.<ref name=":2" />

=== Alternative endings ===
The DVD extras include three alternative endings, all of which conclude with Jim dying. One of these was filmed, which involved Jim dying of his gunshot wounds.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=2021-06-12 |title=The Original Ending of 28 Days Later Was Far More Haunting |url=https://screenrant.com/28-days-later-movie-alternate-ending-darker/ |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=ScreenRant |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611124000/https://screenrant.com/28-days-later-movie-alternate-ending-darker/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In another, Jim dreams of the accident that left him in a coma as he dies from his gunshot wounds.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-02-22 |title=28 Days Later (2002) - All Alternate Endings |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOLXWcA5Y1E |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Youtube}}</ref> The third, a more radical departure, was presented only in [[storyboard]]s; instead of Frank being killed by soldiers after being infected, the other survivors tie him up and discover a research laboratory at the blockade, where Jim undergoes a [[blood transfusion]] in order to save Frank.<ref name=":1" /> The US cinematic release included one of the alternative endings after the film's credits in response to intense online debates over whether or not it was a more appropriate conclusion than the official ending.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2 February 2008 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3153077.stm |title=Plotting alternative film endings |date=15 August 2003 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611123953/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3153077.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Music ==
{{main|28 Days Later: The Soundtrack Album}}

{{listen
|filename=In The House - In A Heartbeat.ogg
|title=John Murphy – "In the House - In a Heartbeat"
|description=Music from the 2002 film ''28 Days Later''.}}

The film's score was composed by [[John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy]], featuring [[electric guitar]] and atmospheric [[Electronic music|electronic]] production. It also features tracks from [[Brian Eno]], [[Grandaddy]] and [[Blue States (band)|Blue States]],<ref>{{Citation |title=28 Days Later (Enhanced) (Score)/O.S.T. – Original Soundtrack {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/28-days-later-enhanced-score-ost-mw0000033709 |access-date=2022-03-28 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328093859/https://www.allmusic.com/album/28-days-later-enhanced-score-ost-mw0000033709 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was released in a combined score and song compilation in 2003. A heavily edited version of the track "[[East Hastings (song)|East Hastings]]" by the [[post-rock]] band [[Godspeed You! Black Emperor]] appears in the film, but the track is excluded from the soundtrack, because Boyle could only obtain the rights to use it in the film.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2002/nov/10/features.review27|title=Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Adjusting to Fame After '28 Days Later' |access-date=26 November 2006|work=The Guardian|location=London|author=Kitty Empire|author-link=Kitty Empire|date=10 November 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209205941/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0%2C6903%2C836839%2C00.html|archive-date=9 December 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''28 Days Later: The Soundtrack Album'' was released on 17 June 2003. A modified version of the track "In the House - In a Heartbeat" was used as the character Big Daddy's theme in the 2010 film ''[[Kick-Ass (film)|Kick-Ass]]''.<ref name="Y">{{cite web|publisher=[[Yahoo]]|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/kick-ass-soundtrack-movie-best-212900739.html|title=Kick-Ass' Soundtrack Is the Movie's Best Aspect 15 Years Later|author=Wilds, Stephen|date=April 16, 2025}}</ref> The same song was played in the 2012 advertisement campaign of [[Louis Vuitton]], "L'Invitation au voyage".<ref>{{cite web|last=Kilic|first=Uygar|title=Louis Vuitton L'Invitation au Voyage Advertisement Campaign: Video and Collection|url=http://carsandlife.net/2012/11/louis-vuitton-linvitation-au-voyage.html|work=Cars & Life|date=19 November 2012|access-date=28 November 2012|archive-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206191332/http://www.carsandlife.net/2012/11/louis-vuitton-linvitation-au-voyage.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, the song was remixed and used in the video game ''[[Metro Exodus]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/381Hy4x1rsWKJaxEHFYots?si=29922ba17a054924 |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=open.spotify.com}}</ref>
== Release and reception ==
=== Box office ===
''28 Days Later'' was a considerable success at the box office and became highly profitable on a budget of about £5&nbsp;million. In the UK, it took in £6.1&nbsp;million, while in the US, it became a surprise hit, taking over $45&nbsp;million despite a limited release at fewer than 1,500 screens across the country.<ref name=mojo/> The film garnered over {{US$|82.8&nbsp;million|long=no}} worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=28 Days Later… (2003) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/28-Days-Later |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=The Numbers}}</ref><ref name="mojo2">{{cite web |title=28 Days Later... |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0289043/ |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811023732/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0289043/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:28DL V002 20CS SM.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Retrospective screening poster variation]]

=== Critical reception ===
Critical views of the film were positive. On the film review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]], 87% of 237 critics' reviews gave ''28 Days Later'' a positive review, with an average rating of 7.40/10. The site's consensus reads: "Kinetically directed by Danny Boyle, ''28 Days Later'' is both a terrifying zombie movie and a sharp political allegory."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/28_days_later |title=28 Days Later (2003) |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=4 June 2023 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611130430/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/28_days_later |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film received a rating of 73 out of 100 based on 39 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/28-days-later |title=28 Days Later... Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=6 June 2010 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611124956/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/28-days-later/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]]'' awarded it the 100th spot on their list of 'The 100 Scariest Movie Moments' in a four-episode 2004 television series. The commentators explained that making the zombies move fast for the first time was a bright and effective idea.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Scariest Movie Moments |url=https://www.bravotv.com/The_100_Scariest_Movie_Moments/index.shtml |work=BravoTV.com |access-date=18 July 2012 |url-status=dead  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030070540/http://www.bravotv.com/The_100_Scariest_Movie_Moments/index.shtml |archive-date=30 October 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=The 100 Scariest Movie Moments (TV Mini-Series 2004) – IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450892/|access-date=22 March 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422111112/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450892/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' named it the second-best [[List of zombie films|zombie movie]] of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stylus Magazine's Top 10 Zombie Films of All Time |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/movie_review/stylus-magazines-top-10-zombie-films-of-all-time.htm |work=StylusMagazine.com |access-date=18 July 2012 |archive-date=31 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231170606/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/movie_review/stylus-magazines-top-10-zombie-films-of-all-time.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film also ranked at number 456 in [[Empire (film magazine)|''Empire'']]'s 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time.<ref>[https://www.empireonline.com/500/8.asp "Empire's 500 Greatest Movies of All Times"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011902/http://www.empireonline.com/500/8.asp |date=24 September 2015 }}. ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]''. Retrieved 18 July 2012.</ref> [[Bloody Disgusting]] ranked the film seventh in their list of the Top 20 Horror Films of the Decade, with the article saying "Zombie movie? Political allegory? Humanist drama? ''28 Days Later'' is all of those things and more—a genuine work of art by a director at the top of his game. What's so amazing about the film is the way it so expertly balances scenes of white-knuckled, hell-for-leather horror with moments of intimate beauty."<ref name="Bloody-Disgusting">{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18425 |title=00's Retrospect: Bloody Disgusting's Top 20 Films of the Decade... Part 3 |work=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=18 December 2009 |access-date=3 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224094428/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18425 |archive-date=24 December 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, a poll of 150 actors, directors, writers, producers and critics for ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' magazine ranked it the [[Time Out 100 best British films|97th-best British film ever]].<ref>[https://www.timeout.com/london/film/100-best-british-films#tab_panel_4 "The 100 best British films"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208092408/http://www.timeout.com/london/film/100-best-british-films-the-full-list |date=8 February 2013 }}. ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]''. Retrieved 24 October 2017</ref> Rotten Tomatoes lists the film on its 100 Best Zombie Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=100 Best Zombie Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/essential-zombie-movies/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2025, it was one of the films voted for the "Readers' Choice" edition of ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century", finishing at number 156.<ref>{{cite web |title=Readers Choose Their Top Movies of the 21st Century |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/readers-movies-21st-century.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 July 2025}}</ref> That same month, it ranked number 53 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century,"<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-of-the-21st-century-1235200512/ | title=100 Best Movies of the 21st Century | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=July 1, 2025 }}</ref> and ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' ranked the film at number six on its list of the "25 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century."<ref>{{cite web |date=July 23, 2025 |title=25 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century, Ranked|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/25-best-horror-movies-of-the-21st-century-ranked/sinners-2025/ |access-date=2025-08-02}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
* Best Horror Film (2003 US Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films&nbsp;– Saturn Award)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saturnawards.org/The-Saturn-Awards-Past-Winners.php?action=search#c|title=Past Saturn Award Recipients|website=saturnawards.org|accessdate=11 February 2024|archive-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225183728/http://www.saturnawards.org/The-Saturn-Awards-Past-Winners.php?action=search#c|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Best British Film (Empire Award)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/empire-awards-2003/|title=The Empire Awards 2003|date=2 May 2003|website=Empire|accessdate=11 February 2024|archive-date=14 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814154232/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/empire-awards-2003/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Danny Boyle (Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver)<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=28 Days Later...|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/awards|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-date=11 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611125503/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Best Director – Danny Boyle (International Fantasy Film Award)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fantasporto.com/premiados|title=Fantasporto|access-date=20 November 2015|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215201531/http://fantasporto.com/premiados|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Best International Film – Danny Boyle ([[Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival|Narcisse Award]])<ref name=":0"/>
* Best Breakthrough Performance – Naomie Harris (Black Reel)<ref name=":0"/>
* Best Cinematographer – Anthony Dod Mantle (European Film Award)<ref name=":0"/>

=== Home media ===
''28 Days Later'' was notorious for being largely unavailable to purchase on home video, attributed to out-of-print copies and expensive secondhands of the film in [[Blu-ray]], [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] and digital unavailability from its original distributor, [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herndon |first=Alise |date=2024-12-15 |title=Why You Can't Watch 28 Days Later Anywhere |url=https://screenrant.com/28-days-later-not-streaming-available-watch-why/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> In February 2024, it was revealed that producer [[Andrew MacDonald (producer)|Andrew MacDonald]] had bought back the rights to the film from [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] (parent company of [[Searchlight Pictures]]), promptly selling it to [[Sony Pictures]] (via [[Columbia Pictures]]) along with the then-upcoming sequel ''[[28 Years Later]]'' and its future sequels, though ''[[28 Weeks Later]]'' (a film largely produced by Fox), would remain with the former.<ref name="puck" >{{cite web | url=https://puck.news/ryan-cooglers-25-year-plan/ | title=Ryan Coogler's 25-Year Plan | date=9 February 2024 | access-date=10 February 2024 | archive-date=9 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209071014/https://puck.news/ryan-cooglers-25-year-plan/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="fangoria" >{{Cite web |last=T |first=Amber |date=2024-12-10 |title=Looks Like 28 DAYS LATER Is Finally Coming To Digital |url=https://www.fangoria.com/28-days-later-coming-to-digital/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=www.fangoria.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2024, following a largely favourable response from the public to the trailer for ''28 Years Later'', Sony announced that it would be making ''28 Days Later'' available for purchase on digital and rental platforms from 18 December.<ref>{{cite web|title='28 Years Later' Is 2nd Most Watched Horror Trailer Ever; Sony Releasing '28 Days Later' On Digital Due To Fan Response|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=16 December 2024|access-date=16 December 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/28-years-later-record-28-days-later-digital-release-1236204600/}}</ref> The following year, Sony announced a 4K remaster of the film to be released with a [[steelbook]] cover.<ref>{{Cite web |last=T |first=Amber |date=2025-04-18 |title=28 DAYS LATER Is Getting A 4K UHD SteelBook Release |url=https://www.fangoria.com/28-days-later-4k-uhd/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=www.fangoria.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Legacy and cultural impact ==
[[File:COVID-19 - Piccadilly Circus, London UK.jpg|thumb|During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], some media commentary compared images of deserted city streets (such as London, pictured) to scenes in ''28 Days Later''.]]

''28 Days Later'' had an impact on subsequent [[horror film]]s,<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite news |date=29 June 2018 |title=How '28 Days Later' Changed the Horror Genre |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/have-get-a-quiet-place-killed-zombie-genre-1121491 |access-date=31 May 2019 |archive-date=31 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531092014/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/have-get-a-quiet-place-killed-zombie-genre-1121491 |url-status=live }}</ref> and is credited with starting a revival for the [[Zombie film|zombie genre]],<ref name="interview" /><ref name="hollywoodreporter" /><ref name="revival">{{cite news |date=10 May 2013 |title=Is The Zombie Revival Dead? |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/planet-ivy/zombie-films-revival_b_3252303.html |access-date=31 May 2019 |work=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref> along with the ''[[Resident Evil]]'' franchise.<ref name="interview" /><ref name="hollywoodreporter" /><ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=2 August 2012 |title=Vertigo is named 'greatest film of all time' |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19078948 |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-date=15 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815153000/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19078948 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)|2004 remake of ''Dawn of the Dead'']], for example, was influenced by ''28 Days Later''.<ref name="interview" /> ''28 Days Later'' was also followed by other infection films. Subsequent film examples include: ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'' (2004), ''[[Black Sheep (2006 New Zealand film)|Black Sheep]]'' (2006),<ref name="revival" /> ''[[I Am Legend (film)|I Am Legend]]'' (2007),<ref name="ew">{{cite news |last=Jensen |first=Jeff |date=August 16, 2007 |title=Will Smith: Making a 'Legend' |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/09/06/will-smith-takes-i-am-legend/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125200746/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20052055,00.html |archive-date=November 25, 2007 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> ''[[Planet Terror]]'' (2007),<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> ''[[Doomsday (2008 film)|Doomsday]]'' (2008),<ref name="cfq">{{cite news |last=Biodrowski |first=Steve |title=Interview: Neil Marshall Directs "Doomsday" |url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/03/07/interview-neil-marshall-directs-doomsday |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309212354/http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/03/07/interview-neil-marshall-directs-doomsday/ |archive-date=2008-03-09 |access-date=10 April 2020 |publisher=Cinefantastique.com}}</ref> ''[[Dead Snow]]'' (2009),<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> ''[[Zombieland]]'' (2009),<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> ''[[Devil's Playground (2010 film)|Devil's Playground]]'' (2010),''<ref>{{cite web |last=Bibbiani |first=William |date=10 October 2011 |title=DVD Review: 'Devil's Playground' |url=http://www.craveonline.com/film/reviews/175844-dvd-revi-devils-playground |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520020550/http://www.craveonline.com/film/reviews/175844-dvd-revi-devils-playground |archive-date=20 May 2014 |accessdate=21 February 2014 |work=[[CraveOnline]]}}</ref>'' ''[[The Night Eats the World]]'' (2018),<ref name="THR">{{cite web |last=Mintzer |first=Jordan |date=7 March 2018 |title='The Night Eats the World' ('La Nuit a devore le monde'): Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/night-eats-world-la-nuit-a-devore-le-monde-review-1092691 |accessdate=12 July 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]}}</ref> and ''[[Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea]]'' (2023),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Roger |date=2025-01-15 |title=Movie Review: Zombie Apocalypse is the least of This Cali Hamlet's problems — "Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea" |url=https://rogersmovienation.com/2025/01/15/movie-review-zombie-apocalypse-is-the-least-of-this-cali-hamlets-problems-hemet-or-the-landlady-dont-drink-tea/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Movie Nation |language=en}}</ref> as well as books such as ''[[World War Z]]'' (2006), ''[[Pride and Prejudice and Zombies]]'' (2009) and ''[[Warm Bodies]]'' (2010),<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> and zombie-themed graphic novels and television shows such as ''[[The Walking Dead (franchise)|The Walking Dead]]''.<ref name="revival" /> The film was parodied in the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[Die Hippie, Die]]" (2005)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matar |first=Chris Longo, Daniel Kurland, David Crow, Nick Harley, Joe |date=2019-04-16 |title=The Complete Guide to South Park Movie Parodies and References |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-complete-guide-to-south-park-movie-parodies-and-references/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=[[Den of Geek]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Treehouse of Horror XX]]" (2009).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seemayer |first=Zach |date=October 28, 2014 |title=12 Truly Scary 'Simpsons - Treehouse Of Horror' Segments |url=https://www.etonline.com/tv/153187_12_truly_scary_simpsons_treehouse_of_horror_segments |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101020827/https://www.etonline.com/tv/153187_12_truly_scary_simpsons_treehouse_of_horror_segments |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |access-date=2020-10-24 |website=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The zombie revival trend lasted for more than a decade after ''28 Days Later'', before eventually declining in popularity by the late 2010s.<ref name="hollywoodreporter" />

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], images of a [[COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom|national lockdown in the United Kingdom]] and [[COVID-19 lockdowns|stay-at-home orders elsewhere]] were compared to the opening sequence of ''28 Days Later''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dobraszczyk |first=Paul |title=Empty cities have long been a post-apocalyptic trope – now, they are a reality |url=https://theconversation.com/empty-cities-have-long-been-a-post-apocalyptic-trope-now-they-are-a-reality-153263 |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=The Conversation |date=18 January 2021 |archive-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327234353/https://theconversation.com/empty-cities-have-long-been-a-post-apocalyptic-trope-now-they-are-a-reality-153263 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Lee |date=2021-01-26 |title=Video reveals eerily empty London amid strict COVID-19 lockdown |url=https://nypost.com/2021/01/26/deserted-london-streets-look-eerie-amid-covid-19-lockdown/ |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=New York Post |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328091806/https://nypost.com/2021/01/26/deserted-london-streets-look-eerie-amid-covid-19-lockdown/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Reis Filho |first=Lúcio |date=2020-07-16 |title=No Safe Space: Zombie Film Tropes during the COVID-19 Pandemic |journal=Space and Culture |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=253–258 |doi=10.1177/1206331220938642 |bibcode=2020SpCul..23..253R |issn=1206-3312|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Coronavirus: What can we learn from a Hollywood pandemic? The positives from four outbreak films |url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-can-pandemic-disaster-films-help-us-navigate-the-outbreak-11979655 |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Sky News |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328091806/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-can-pandemic-disaster-films-help-us-navigate-the-outbreak-11979655 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, Megan Burns said of the film, "When I joined the cast of ''28 Days Later'' I had no idea of how big a cultural impact it would have and what a game-changer it would be to the 'zombie' genre. Even now after all these years, (or perhaps especially now with the current situation), people want to talk about the film and that's incredible."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ewingpublished |first=Jerry |date=2021-10-31 |title=blanket release cover of in the House, In A Heartbeat from 28 Days Later |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/blanket-release-cover-of-in-the-house-in-a-heartbeat-from-28-days-later |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=loudersound |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611124958/https://www.loudersound.com/news/blanket-release-cover-of-in-the-house-in-a-heartbeat-from-28-days-later |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Christopher Nolan]] said he cast Murphy as [[Scarecrow (DC Comics)|Scarecrow]] in ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005) after being impressed by his performance in ''28 Days Later''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-cillian-murphy-in-conversation/ |title=Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy discuss their epic movie partnership |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=9 June 2024 |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509184730/https://ew.com/movies/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-cillian-murphy-in-conversation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Subsequent media ==
=== Sequels ===
A sequel, ''[[28 Weeks Later]]'', was released on 11 May 2007.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Gingold |url=https://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=2322 |title=July 14: Fox sets HILLS II and more release dates |work=[[Fangoria (magazine)|Fangoria]] |date=14 July 2006 |access-date=1 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831234938/http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=2322 |archive-date=31 August 2006 |url-status=dead   }}</ref> Danny Boyle and [[Alex Garland]] took producing roles alongside [[Andrew Macdonald (producer)|Andrew Macdonald]]. The plot revolves around the arrival of American troops about seven months after the incidents in the original film, attempting to restore order and revitalise a nearly desolate Britain. The cast includes [[Robert Carlyle]], [[Rose Byrne]], [[Jeremy Renner]], [[Imogen Poots]], [[Harold Perrineau]], [[Catherine McCormack]], Mackintosh Muggleton and [[Idris Elba]].

A third film, ''[[28 Years Later]]'', was released on 20 June 2025, its development having been announced in January 2024. Danny Boyle had said in March 2007 that he would be interested in making a third film in the series, ''28 Months Later''.<ref>{{cite web |title=28 Months Later? |url=http://www.moviehole.net/news/20070328_28_months_later.html |work=Moviehole.net |access-date=18 July 2012 |url-status=dead  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012031055/http://www.moviehole.net/news/20070328_28_months_later.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> In 2019, he said "Alex Garland and I have a wonderful idea for the third part".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stolworthy |first1=Jacob |title=28 Days Later: Danny Boyle reveals 'wonderful' idea for third film |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/28-days-later-3-danny-boyle-alex-garland-james-bond-interview-robert-pattinson-a8971776.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624130434/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/28-days-later-3-danny-boyle-alex-garland-james-bond-interview-robert-pattinson-a8971776.html |archive-date=2019-06-24 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |website=The Independent |date=24 June 2019 |access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref> ''28 Years Later'' is considered the first instalment in a potential trilogy, with Boyle directing the first film and Garland writing all three. With a planned $75 million budget per instalment, the duo will also produce the trilogy alongside the original producer Andrew Macdonald and former Fox Searchlight Pictures head [[Peter Rice (executive)|Peter Rice]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/28-years-later-in-the-works-1235783306/ |title=Danny Boyle, Alex Garland Teaming for Sequel to Their Zombie Hit '28 Days Later' (Exclusive) |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |last2=Galuppo |first2=Mia |date=10 January 2024 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520013841/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/28-years-later-in-the-works-1235783306/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

=== Comic books ===
In 2007, [[Fox Atomic|Fox Atomic Comics]], in association with [[HarperCollins]], published ''[[28 Days Later: The Aftermath]]'', a [[graphic novel]] written by [[Steve Niles]]. The work serves as a tie-in to the films, depicting events surrounding the Rage virus outbreak and providing background that connects ''28 Days Later'' with its sequel ''[[28 Weeks Later]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fox Atomic Comics |url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/9006/fox-atomic-comics |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=icv2.com |language=en}}</ref>

A separate monthly comic book series, also titled ''[[28 Days Later (comics)|28 Days Later]]'', was launched in 2009 by [[Boom! Studios]] following the closure of Fox Atomic. The series continues the story of Selena, one of the film’s central characters, and explores her actions and whereabouts between the events of the two films.<ref>{{cite web |title=BOOM!, Fox Announce "28 Days Later" Comic Book Series |url=https://www.cbr.com/?page=article&id=20690 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617002332/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20690 |archive-date=17 June 2011 |access-date=18 July 2012 |work=ComicBookResources.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sun |first1=Michael |date=11 January 2024 |title=28 Years Later: Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reportedly reuniting for third zombie film |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/11/28-years-later-sequel-28-days-later-danny-boyle-alex-garland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611125502/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/11/28-years-later-sequel-28-days-later-danny-boyle-alex-garland |archive-date=11 June 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
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* {{IMDb title|0289043}}
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