28 Years Later Reviews: Critics Are All Saying The Same Thing About The New Horror

Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes with newcomer Alfie Williams in 28 Years LaterIt’s been 23 years since Danny Boyle unveiled his iconic post-apocalyptic zombie thriller 28 Days Later starring Cillian Murphy, and now he’s reviving the franchise for a whole new era with 28 Years Later.As the title suggests, the third instalment (following the less acclaimed 28 Weeks Later) is set almost three decades after the initial rage virus outbreak depicted in the first movie.The new horror film stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and newcomer Alfie Williams as a group of survivors living on a small island who discover the dark horrors that lie on the mainland. It’s even set to kick off a new trilogy, with the next instalment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, having already been shot and is set for release in January 2026.So far, critics have been overwhelmingly in agreement that the new movie is both thrilling and surprisingly thoughtful-provoking, especially in a post-Covid 19 world.Here’s what the reviews are saying so far…BBC (4/5)“It has visual flair, terrifying adversaries and a scene-stealing performance from Ralph Fiennes.”The Telegraph (5/5)“A terrifying vision of Britain turning in on itself…This transfixingly nasty zombie horror sequel, starring Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes, is Danny Boyle’s best film in 15 years.”Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in 28 Years LaterEmpire (4/5)“This is brave, bold stuff – full-strength Boyle meets undiluted Garland…The sequel we needed is both the film you expect, and the one you don’t. There’s blood, but also real guts and brain and heart – visceral cinema soaked in viscera.”The Times (5/5)“The best in Danny Boyle’s zombie franchise…The sense of hallucinogenic sweatiness won’t be to everyone’s taste but [Garland] and Boyle should be applauded for taking such big swings and having the flair and confidence to pull them off. It’s an astonishing piece of work.The Standard (5/5)“Danny Boyle’s freakshow slaughter fest is a monstrous delight… It’s that time, halfway through the year, when enough movies have been seen to risk the phrase ‘best film of the year so far’. And right on cue, here we have it. Nothing in 2025 has been as good as this supercharged, shuddering blast.”IGN (9/10)“28 Years Later finds Danny Boyle and Alex Garland mining the last two decades of cultural strife to build a timely coming-of-age story full of beauty and brutality in equal measure… Its scope is much more narrow than 28 Days Later’s, but its message is just as powerful.”Variety“Typically, we look to adrenaline-fueled entertainment for catharsis. Boyle’s thrilling reboot offers enlightenment as well.”Danny Boyle returns to his zombie franchise for the new sequel 28 Years LaterIndieWire (B+)“A tender, thoughtful, and strangely moving sequel to one of the scariest zombie movies ever…Danny Boyle’s horror franchise is jolted back to life with this odd but extremely rewarding sequel.The Guardian (3/5)“Sprinting zombies take evolutionary leap forward in badass threequel…Now we have 28 Years Later, an interesting, tonally uncertain development which takes a generational, even evolutionary leap into the future from the initial catastrophe, creating something that mixes folk horror, little-England satire and even a grieving process for all that has happened.”The Independent (3/5)“Danny Boyle and Alex Garland return to the zombie-infested world of 28 Days Later with interesting, if mixed, results…the real test will be to see if these movies can shift the genre into a new direction once more.”28 Years Later is in cinemas from Friday 20 June.MORE FILM NEWS:Pirates Of The Caribbean Producer Teases Return Of Classic Characters In Much-Hyped RebootF1 Director Reveals Why Simone Ashley's Scenes Had To Be Cut From The Film'I Was Broke': Gary Oldman Gets Honest About Starring In 1 Of The Most Hated Films Ever

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