The highly anticipated horror sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, has stumbled out of the gate, leaving fans and industry insiders alike scratching their heads. Is this the beginning of the end for the franchise, or just a temporary setback? Directed by the talented Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels), the film expands the post-apocalyptic universe with two intertwining storylines. One follows Spike (Alfie Williams), a young survivor on the run from the sinister Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), whose Satanic cult rescued him in the previous installment. Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a groundbreaking discovery about the rage virus after repeated encounters with the alpha zombie, Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). But here’s where it gets controversial: could an opioid like morphine hold the key to curing the zombie plague? It’s a bold twist that’s sure to spark debate among fans. Despite its intriguing premise, the film’s domestic box office debut has been underwhelming. Sony Pictures Entertainment reported a Friday haul of $5.6 million across 3,506 North American theaters, with projections for a $15 million four-day Martin Luther King Jr. weekend—far below the $20-$22 million forecasts from Variety and Deadline. This pales in comparison to the original 28 Years Later, which opened to $30 million in 2025. With a production budget of $63 million (before marketing), The Bone Temple faces an uphill battle to break even. Meanwhile, Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its dominance, eyeing a fifth consecutive weekend at No. 1 with an estimated $17.6 million. Disney’s Zootopia 2, Lionsgate’s The Housemaid, and A24’s Marty Supreme round out the top five. But here’s the burning question: Did The Bone Temple fail to live up to the hype, or is the zombie genre losing its bite? Share your thoughts below—we want to hear from you!
