28 Years Later’s debut weekend sees it hitting a solid box office milestone. The new release, which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Alfie Williams, is the third installment in the post-apocalyptic horror franchise that follows the Rage virus sweeping its way across the British Isles. It is set to be the beginning of a new trilogy. While the third installment has yet to be funded, theupcoming28 Years Later: The Bone Templeis already set to premiere in January 2026.
PerSony Pictures Entertainment, as of Sunday morning,28 Years Lateris projected to earn an opening weekend of $60 million worldwide. This total comprises a $30 million debut at the domestic box office (the best ever for director Danny Boyle) and an additional $30 million from 59 international markets. In addition to this total making it the 26th movie of 2025 to pass the $50 million milestone worldwide within just three days, its projected debut weekend gross exactly matches its reported $60 million budget.
What This Means For 28 Years Later
It’s On Its Way Toward Turning A Profit
Just because the new movie has made back its budget (and hit a gross that sees it poised to surpass the $64.2 million worldwide haul of 2007’s28 Weeks Laterto become the second highest-grossing installment in the franchise within mere days) does not mean that it is in the black just yet. While the exact break-even point of the movie is unknown, the relatively hefty reportedbudget of28 Years Latermeans thatit might need to make $150 million or more to turn a profit.
Because theaters keep half of ticket sales and publicity costs are not factored into production budgets, many movies need to earn back two and a half times their budgets to break even in theaters.
However, the movie seems well on its way toward passing that milestone. After earning the best opening weekend of the franchise (significantly surpassing the previous high of $10.1 million earned by28 Days Later), the new installment seems set to continue rising after this superb global debut. If it maintains a consistent trajectory compared to the original installment,it could potentially make more than $240 million worldwideby the end of its run.
Our Take On The 28 Years Later Global Debut
The Franchise’s Future Looks Bright
Even though theending of28 Years Lateris already set to be followed up whenThe Bone Templepremieres in January, the fact that the new movie is well on its way toward becoming a financial successmakes the future of the franchise even more secure. IfThe Bone Templeis able to follow in its footsteps without too many diminishing returns, it seems like a third installment in theYearstrilogy would be more or less guaranteed, if it hasn’t been already.
