Long Range Forecast — June 27, 2025
The wait is nearly over as the beloved franchise returns with “28 Years Later,” a project spearheaded by the creative duo of Alex Garland and Danny Boyle, who previously collaborated on the groundbreaking horror film “28 Days Later.” The film is expected to open domestically with box office numbers ranging between $30 million and $40 million.
This new installment follows the trend established by its predecessors, including “28 Weeks Later” released in 2007. In the interim, Danny Boyle took a brief hiatus, with his last directorial effort being the 2019 romantic fantasy film “Yesterday,” which grossed $17 million on its opening weekend and achieved a total domestic box office of $73.2 million. Meanwhile, Garland has been active, directing two films in the last two years. “Civil War,” a 2024 release, became A24’s highest global earner with a total of $68.7 million, while “Warfare,” set to release in 2025, had a modest opening of $8.3 million.
The horror genre has seen a resurgence this summer, evidenced by strong performances from films like “Sinners,” which opened to $48 million and has made $267.7 million overall, and “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” opening at $51.6 million and quickly becoming the highest-grossing film in its franchise in under a week.
“28 Years Later” draws parallels with “Final Destination: Bloodlines” as both films mark a return to horror franchises that have been largely absent from theaters for over a decade. They each reflect a post-apocalyptic tone reminiscent of the “A Quiet Place” series. Notably, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” which opened with over $52 million last June, capitalized on a more recent fan base due to its more frequent releases in 2018 and 2020.
As “28 Years Later” prepares for its debut, positive reviews and word-of-mouth buzz could attract younger audiences who may not be familiar with the original films, thereby potentially bolstering its box office performance. The film promises to delve deeper into the collapse of humanity, maintaining its relevance in today’s cinematic landscape.
This encourages thought about the evolving nature of horror films and their audience appeal; successful nostalgia-driven releases could pave the way for even more reboots and sequels in similar genres in the future.