Warning: This article contains spoilers for 28 Years Later, as well as mentions of real-life Sєxual abuse.UK and US audiences have had very different reactions to the final moments of 28 Years Later. The new movie is the third installment in the franchise, which follows the Rage virus devastating the British Isles and turning them into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The ending of 28 Years Later takes a bizarre turn, introducing young survivor Spike (Alfie Williams) to a cult of survivors wearing colorful track suits who are all named Jimmy, use karate moves on the Infected, and are led by Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).

This ending has split audiences, both because of its major tonal shift, and because of a hidden reference to British pop culture. Generally, on social media, American audience members seem to be of the belief that the ending is a reference to Power Rangers, which is a belief that has a basis in the movie, as Alfie is seen owning a Power Rangers toy. However, other audience members who are either British or familiar with British culture found the meaning of the ending to be much more clear, and much more sinister. See select reactions below:

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Tony Johns posted a gif of Homelander from The Boys raptly watching a movie screen with the caption “Everybody watching 28 Years Later end with a Power Rangers scene.”

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Blank shared a gif of the Power Rangers with the caption “28 Years Later ending with no context.”

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Cameron Box shared a more general reaction to the ending, saying that “The ending of 28 YEARS LATER has one of the most jarring tonal shifts I’ve ever seen in a movie and honestly it’s kind of incredible.“

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Jay Thomas embraced the moment, saying that “I’m legit at a loss for words” and calling the ending “so hilariously f—ing weird.”

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Mauricio La Plante is one of several viewers who pushed back against the Power Rangers interpretation, sharing side-by-side bright and dark images of Mr. Incredible with the caption “Watching the end of 28 Years Later before knowing who Jimmy Savile was vs. watching 28 Years Later after knowing who Jimmy Savile was.”

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Robert Daniels shared a similar interpretation of the ending, saying that it “is gonna reveal who’s actually up on their British pop culture” and adding that “it might be the most chilling scene in the entire movie.“

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Alex MacKay shared a gif of Giancarlo Esposito laughing and then growing serious with the caption “Americans thinking the ending is a goofy Power Rangers homage, versus a British audience.“

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Wajahat Ali suggested that “the ending will make more sense” if viewers “pay close attention to the beginning and what the kids are watching,” referring to the introductory sequence where kids are watching Teletubbies while Infected attack their house.

What This Means For 28 Years Later

Who Is Jimmy Savile?

As these reactions prove, the divisive ending has a deeper meaning than merely being a setup for a group of peculiar characters who will most likely play a major part in the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Many who are familiar with British pop culture have found Sir Jimmy Crystal to be a reference to notorious television personality Jimmy Savile, who was alleged to have committed hundreds of counts of Sєxual abuse during his lifetime. The parallels between the character and the real-life figure include both his name and his overall look.

While director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland have been cagey about whether Sir Jimmy Crystal is specifically inspired by Savile, during a recent interview with Business Insider‘s Eamonn Jacobs, Boyle described the character’s actions as “kind of twisting in this partial remembrance, clinging onto things and then recreating them as an image for followers.” However, this collection of remembrances could have as much to do with Teletubbies, Power Rangers, war movies, and other forms of pop culture as it does with Jimmy Savile.

Our Take On The 28 Years Later Reactions

Sir Jimmy & His Cult Highlight The Movie’s Themes

Regardless of the specific intentions of the Sir Jimmy Crystal character, these differing reactions emphasize just how much 28 Years Later is a specifically British story. There are themes of British idenтιтy woven throughout, including the character of Isla (Jodie Comer), whose name evokes the British Isles and whose death seems to represent the crumbling of British culture and history that is also reflected by the half-remembered flashes of war footage and other pop culture moments that are present both in the editing of the movie and in the general aesthetic of Jimmy’s cult.

Source: Various (see above)