28 Years Later (2025)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A young boy must navigate a perilous journey to find medical treatment for his mother in a world ravaged by a deadly virus.
The story
In a world ravaged by the Rage Virus, a young boy named Jimmy Crystal flees his home in the Scottish Highlands during the initial outbreak. Twenty-eight years later, the virus has been eradicated from mainland Europe, but the British Isles remain under quarantine. On the island of Lindisfarne, a scavenger named Jamie lives with his wife, Isla, who is suffering from a mysterious illness, and their son, Spike. When Spike and Jamie venture to the mainland for a ritual, they encounter the dangers of the wasteland and the complexities of a society struggling to survive in isolation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
During the initial outbreak of the Rage Virus, a boy named Jimmy Crystal flees his home in the Scottish Highlands, finding refuge in a church where his father, a minister, tells him the virus is a harbinger of the end times. Twenty-eight years later, the British Isles are under quarantine. On the island of Lindisfarne, Jamie, his wife Isla (who has cancer), and their son Spike live in a secluded community. During a hunting ritual on the mainland, Spike kills an Infected for the first time and they are pursued by an 'Alpha'—a smarter, stronger variant of the virus. After a series of events involving a mysterious doctor, Dr. Ian Kelson, and a journey to the 'Bone Temple,' Spike and Isla eventually reach Kelson. Kelson determines Isla's condition is terminal and eventually euthanizes her. Spike is left with a newborn baby, whom he leaves at the village gate. The story concludes with Spike being rescued by the adult Jimmy Crystal, who leads a cult of survivors, and is invited to join them.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 115
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Danny Boyle
- Writers
- Alex Garland · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jodie Comer · Isla; Aaron Taylor-Johnson · Jamie; Jack O'Connell · Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal; Alfie Williams · Spike; Ralph Fiennes · Dr Ian Kelson; Edvin Ryding · Erik Sundqvist; Christopher Fulford · Sam; Stella Gonet · Jenny
- Genres
- post-apocalyptic; coming-of-age; horror
- Themes
- British isolationism; cultural decline; regression; nostalgic myths
- Tone and mood
- hallucinogenic; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- zombie apocalypse; coming-of-age; post-apocalyptic
- Source material / true-story basis
- 28 Days Later film series
- Franchise connections
- 28 Days Later
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was noted for its daring themes and high production value.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 56; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was shot primarily using an iPhone 15 Pro Max.; The film was shot back-to-back with its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.; The first trailer featured a 1915 recording of 'Boots' by Rudyard Kipling.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…