Releasing in June 2025, 28 Years Later presented a new story within the world set up by 2002’s 28 Days Later. It stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes. Danny Boyle, who directed 28 Days Later, returned to helm this film despite not returning for 28 Weeks Later in 2007.

Throughout its run, 28 Years Later grossed $150.4 million worldwide, with a breakdown of $70.4 million domestic and $80 million internationally. Compared with its budget of $60 million, this makes the film the most successful in the series so far.

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Recently, Netflix took to X to reveal that 28 Years Later would be debuting on the platform on September 20. The film was previously released on VOD on July 29.

What The 28 Years Later Streaming Release Update Means

Given that 28 Years Later was released on June 20, its Netflix premiere date of September 20 is exactly three months after its theatrical release. This is a fairly standard window for new releases to become available for free on at least one streaming platform.

Notably, this also places its Netflix debut about four months before its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, will release in January 2026. This presents a likely reason why the film’s distributor, Sony Pictures Releasing, would want it to become available as soon as possible. More fans would inevitably tune in for The Bone Temple if they had access to 28 Years Later.

Our Take On 28 Years Later Arriving On Netflix

28 Days Later is a cult classic that reinvigorated the zombie movie genre years before other projects such as Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Though its first sequel, 28 Weeks Later, was financially successful with mixed-to-positive reviews, it didn’t have the same cultural impact.

As such, it took nearly 20 years for the franchise to receive another entry, something that paid off both due to its box office success and critical reception. 28 Years Later boasts an 88% critic score and a lower 63% audience score.

The movie’s Netflix release will likely bolster the franchise’s return by providing an entry point for new audiences ahead of its fourth installment. 28 Years Later has limited connections to the previous films, being geared towards viewers unfamiliar with 28 Days Later.

However, The Bone Temple will bring back Cillian Murphy, lead of the first film. The move to put 28 Days Later on Netflix allows new fans to discover the franchise as well as for long term fans to catch up and get hyped for his return.