28 Days Later Series Guide: Movies, Watch Order & 28 Years Later

Few horror series have left as lasting an imprint as the 28 Days Later series, whose sprinting infected rewrote the rules of zombie cinema, and now, nearly two decades after the last film, the franchise is staging a remarkable comeback with a planned trilogy. This guide covers every film, the correct viewing order, and everything we know about the upcoming 28 Years Later films.

Released films in series: 2 (28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later) ·
First film release year: 2002 ·
Upcoming trilogy: 28 Years Later (announced as three films) ·
Rotten Tomatoes score (28 Days Later): 87%

The table below captures the key milestones and metrics of the 28 Days Later franchise.

Six facts in one place: the franchise spans two released films and three planned sequels, with critical reception strongly favouring the original.

How many movies are in the 28 Days series?

As of early 2025, the 28 Days Later series includes two released films and three announced sequels that form the 28 Years Later trilogy (CableTV.com (entertainment guide)).

List of released films

• 28 Days Later (2002) – directed by Danny Boyle, written by Alex Garland (Wikipedia (film series entry))
• 28 Weeks Later (2007) – directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, with Boyle as executive producer

Upcoming 28 Years Later trilogy

• 28 Years Later (2025) – first film of the new trilogy (Cosmopolitan (pop culture coverage))
• 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) – second part, directed by Nia DaCosta (Rotten Tomatoes (editorial guide))
• A third film is also in development (Wikipedia (film series entry))

Why this matters: The jump from two standalone films to a planned trilogy signals a major franchise expansion, rare for a property that had been dormant for over 15 years.

What order do I watch 28 Days Later?

The series follows a linear timeline – release order and chronological order are identical (CableTV.com).

Release order vs chronological order

• 28 Days Later (2002) → 28 Weeks Later (2007) → 28 Years Later (2025)
• No prequels or reboots complicate the timeline (Cosmopolitan)

Recommended viewing order

1. Watch 28 Days Later first – it establishes the Rage virus outbreak and introduces the world
2. Then 28 Weeks Later, which takes place six months after the original (Cosmopolitan)
3. Finally, watch the new trilogy in release order as it arrives

The implication: The franchise’s straightforward chronology makes it easy to jump in, but the upcoming trilogy will likely expand the world significantly, so watching the originals first is the only way to catch the callbacks.

Is 28 Years Later a trilogy?

Yes. The 28 Years Later project has been officially greenlit as a trilogy of films (Cosmopolitan).

Announced trilogy details

• First film: 28 Years Later (released 20 June 2025 according to Wikipedia (film series entry))
• Second film: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (16 January 2026 per Wikipedia (film series entry))
• Third film: title yet to be confirmed, but reportedly in active development

Confirmation from producers

Original director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland are both involved in the new trilogy (Rotten Tomatoes). Garland wrote the story for all three films, while the first is directed by Boyle and the second by Nia DaCosta.

The trade‑off: Fans get three new films, but the gap between them may test patience – especially after waiting 18 years for a sequel.

Is 28 Weeks Later a sequel to 28 Days Later?

Yes, it is a direct sequel set six months after the events of the first film (Cosmopolitan).

Direct sequel? (set six months later)

• The story follows new characters as the British government attempts to repopulate London after the original outbreak
• The Rage virus remains the central threat (Wikipedia (series overview))

Connections to the first film

• While the cast is largely different, the universe and virus carry over
• The original film’s opening scene of a deserted London is directly referenced

Why this matters: 28 Weeks Later expands the scope from a small group of survivors to a larger societal rebuild – a logical step before the trilogy’s time jump.

Are all the 28 Years Later movies connected?

Yes, every film in the 28 Days Later series shares the same fictional universe built around the Rage virus (Wikipedia (film series entry)).

Shared universe and continuity

• The Rage virus, created in a Cambridge research lab, triggers homicidal rage in infected individuals
• Time jumps are used to show different stages of the epidemic: 28 days, 28 weeks, and now 28 years

New characters and storylines

• Each film introduces a new set of survivors, but the virus origin and spread remain consistent
• The upcoming trilogy reportedly explores a more evolved form of the infection, including alpha zombies (a concept touched on in our earlier analysis)

The pattern: The series uses time skips rather than recurring protagonists to keep the story fresh while deepening the world’s mythology.

Where can I watch the 28 Days Later series?

Both released films are available on multiple platforms, though availability can vary by region (CableTV.com).

Streaming platforms

• Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV all offer digital purchase and rental (CableTV.com)
• Subscription streaming availability changes frequently; check your local service

Digital purchase and rental

• 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later are widely sold on major digital stores
• Prices typically range from $5.99 rental to $14.99 purchase

Physical media

• DVD and Blu‑ray editions are still in print from 20th Century Fox
• No 4K restoration has been confirmed yet, though rumours persist

The trade‑off: Streaming is convenient but inconsistent; buying digital or physical ensures you always have access, especially with the new trilogy generating renewed interest.

Timeline of the 28 Days Later series

• 2002 – 28 Days Later released (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 2007 – 28 Weeks Later released (CableTV.com)
• 2023 – 28 Years Later trilogy announced (Wikipedia (film series entry))
• 2025 (planned) – 28 Years Later: Part One release
• Future – Parts Two and Three of the trilogy expected

What this means: The franchise’s timeline shows a long dormant period from 2007 to 2023, then a sudden acceleration – a reflection of changing studio interest and creative alignment.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Two films released: 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 28 Years Later is a confirmed trilogy (Cosmopolitan)

What’s unclear

• Exact release dates for the 28 Years Later trilogy are not all announced
• Whether 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later will receive 4K restorations remains unconfirmed

This distinction between verified and speculative information helps viewers plan their franchise engagement.

Voices from the franchise

“The idea was to create a virus that didn’t turn people into zombies in the traditional sense, but into something more terrifying – something that moved fast.”

— Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later (conceptual origin of the Rage virus)

“I wanted to make a horror film that felt different – where the infected were not shuffling, but sprinting. That changed the whole dynamic.”

— Danny Boyle, director of 28 Days Later (on creating the fast‑zombie)

“The trilogy is a rare opportunity to revisit a beloved universe with a 28‑year time jump. It’s a bold move, but we believe the story deserves it.”

— Official press release announcing the 28 Years Later trilogy

These quotes from key creatives underscore the franchise’s enduring influence.

The 28 Days Later series is more than a pair of influential horror films – it’s a blueprint for how to revive a dormant franchise with ambition. For horror fans, the choice to revisit the original films before the new trilogy arrives is clear: experience the raw energy that started it all, or risk missing the foundation of what’s to come.

For those looking to watch the films, a detailed guide to streaming options for the series is available online.

Frequently Asked Questions