What is 28 Years Later and when does the film hit UK cinemas this weekend with cast and release details

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the film British audiences are most likely to be talking about this weekend. The long-awaited sequel to the 28 Days Later franchise arrives as the biggest UK cinema release of January, continuing one of the most influential British horror series ever made. After months of marketing build-up and strong online interest, the film opens in cinemas across the United Kingdom on Friday, 17 January 2026, bringing viewers back to the bleak, post-apocalyptic world first introduced in Danny Boyle’s landmark 2002 film 28 Days Later, reports The WP Times.

Major UK cinema chains including ODEON, Cineworld, Vue, Showcase and Picturehouse have scheduled extensive screenings across the country, making it the dominant new theatrical release of the weekend. Whether you are searching for 28 days later UK cinema times, checking the official 28 Years Later run time, looking for 28 Years Later cast details, or simply wondering if the film is worth the ticket price, this guide brings together everything British viewers need to know.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – the main UK cinema release

The undisputed headline film of the weekend is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nia DaCosta. It is the second instalment in a planned trilogy produced by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland and follows directly from last summer’s commercially successful 28 Years Later. Interest in the film has been particularly strong in Britain, where the original movie became a cultural milestone, helped redefine modern zombie cinema, and turned empty London landmarks into unforgettable cinematic images. Film critic Brett Arnold summed up the moment:

“In theatres this weekend is The Bone Temple, the sequel to 28 Years Later, which was in cinemas a mere six months ago.”

For UK audiences, the release represents one of the most significant domestic film events of early 2026 and one of the highest-profile British productions of the winter season.

What is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple about

Set nearly three decades after the original Rage virus outbreak, the film explores a Britain that has never fully recovered from societal collapse. The story centres on:

• Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) – a scientist struggling with the moral consequences of decisions made in the early years of the crisis
• Spike (Alfie Williams) – a teenage survivor attempting to navigate a violent new world
• Samson – a terrifying new variant of infected, described in the film as an “alpha zombie” with enhanced intelligence and brutality

The narrative blends survival horror with psychological drama, examining how communities adapt when fear, scarcity and violence become permanent features of everyday life. Critics have highlighted the film’s dramatic tonal shifts. Arnold noted: “It’s a movie that’s laugh-out-loud funny at one moment, and the next, it’s depicting the most sadistic, nihilistic violence ever seen in a major studio film.”

Key facts for UK audiences

Tickets are already on sale across the UK, with many venues offering multiple screenings per day due to exceptionally high demand.

What British critics are saying

Early reactions from UK and international reviewers point to a bold, uncompromising sequel that deliberately pushes the franchise into darker and more experimental territory. Critics agree that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is not a conventional follow-up, but a film willing to take creative risks with tone, structure and character.

The Los Angeles Times captured the unusual balance of styles, describing the film as:

“Gruesomely both low and highbrow.”

AV Club critic Jesse Hassenger highlighted director Nia DaCosta’s distinctive contribution to the series, writing:

“It’s a neat surprise that Nia DaCosta extracts more dark humour from the series than Danny Boyle.”

Several UK reviewers have echoed that view, noting that the sequel combines brutal horror with moments of bleak comedy and psychological tension. Trade publications including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have described the film as “visually striking,” “intense,” and “risk-taking,” praising its refusal to follow predictable franchise formulas. British critics have also focused on the strength of the central performances. Ralph Fiennes, in particular, has received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Dr Kelson. His character is being described as the film’s emotional core – a conflicted figure whose personal history reflects the moral complexity of the post-apocalyptic world.

Jack O’Connell and newcomer Alfie Williams have similarly been singled out for grounded, believable performances that anchor the film’s more extreme elements in human drama. While not all reviews have been unreservedly positive, the general consensus is that The Bone Temple is an ambitious and challenging sequel that respects the legacy of the original while confidently forging its own identity.

UK box office expectations and early forecasts

The arrival of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple sets up one of the biggest cinema battles of the winter, as it competes directly with James Cameron’s continuing blockbuster Avatar: Fire and Ash, which remains strong in British multiplexes. Industry analysts expect the film to open strongly in the UK market, with early international projections suggesting a global opening weekend in the region of $15–18 million. Given the franchise’s British roots, box office specialists believe the UK could be one of the strongest territories worldwide. Analytics firm RelishMix, which tracks online audience engagement, reported:

“The sequel’s social media interest is 17% behind where 28 Years Later was last summer, but slightly ahead of typical horror franchise benchmarks.”

Cinemas across London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow are reporting robust advance bookings, particularly for opening-night and weekend evening screenings.

Why 28 Days Later remains a landmark British film franchise

The 28 Days Later franchise holds a unique place in UK cinema history. Released in 2002, the original film redefined modern horror by introducing fast-moving infected rather than traditional zombies and by using real British locations to create a realistic vision of national collapse.

Key factual reasons the series matters in Britain:

• Iconic UK settings. The first film was shot on recognisable London streets and landmarks, including Westminster Bridge and Piccadilly Circus, giving the story a distinctly British identity.
• Global influence. 28 Days Later helped reshape the international zombie genre and inspired major Hollywood productions such as World War Z and The Walking Dead.
• British filmmaking success. The film launched the careers of director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland as major global voices.
• Cultural impact. The image of an empty London became one of the defining cinematic moments of the early 2000s.
• Box office legacy. The 2002 film earned more than $84 million worldwide on a modest budget, proving the commercial power of British horror.

The new trilogy, including 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, continues this approach by keeping the story rooted in UK locations and themes such as social breakdown, public fear and moral compromise.

For British audiences, the latest release is therefore not simply another horror sequel, but the continuation of a franchise that helped put modern UK genre cinema on the global map.

Where to watch 28 Years Later in UK cinemas – locations and showtimes

This weekend in British cinemas, the major new release is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the latest sequel in the 28 Days Later franchise. The film opened across the UK on 13–14 January 2026 and is scheduled to play throughout January and into early February at major multiplex chains, independent venues and local neighbourhood cinemas. The guide below provides essential, practical information for UK audiences, including run time, age rating, ticket prices and confirmed cinema locations.

Film details: duration, rating and UK release

• Title: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
• UK release date: 13–14 January 2026
• Run time: Approximately 109 minutes
• BBFC rating: 18 (strong violence and disturbing scenes)
• Format: Standard 2D digital screenings (premium formats vary by cinema)
• Franchise origin: Continuation of the 28 Days Later universe

Ticket prices in the UK – typical ranges

• Standard adult ticket: around £7.50–£12.50, depending on city and cinema chain
• Independent cinema pricing: often lower – for example, Peckhamplex London lists tickets at £6.99 plus a small booking fee
• Premium formats and peak sessions: prices can exceed £15, particularly for IMAX, Dolby Cinema, luxury seating or weekend evening showings

Prices vary by region, screen type and time of day. Matinee screenings are generally cheaper than prime-time evening slots.

Where 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is currently showing in the UK

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