28 Days Later...

Name: 28 Days Later...
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Released: June 27, 2003
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 510 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 510 Ratings

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28 Days Later

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: June 27, 2003 | R

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris

Summary: When a group of animal rights activists frees primates from a research facility, a deadly virus which causes murderous behavior is unleashed.

Director: Danny Boyle

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

David Edelstein

This is finally the zombie flick as cautionary political tale, and as humanist parable. It's not the flesh-gouging zombie we have to worry about, the filmmakers suggest, but the soul-gouging zombie within. Read full review

Premiere Glenn Kenny

The genuine article, a hard-core horror picture from start to finish... Prepare to get seriously stresed. Read full review

Megan Lehmann

In place of elaborate sets, clever filmmaking gives the impression of a central London emptied of people and cars, to eerie effect - and this opening reel is nothing short of magnificent. Read full review

William Arnold

Boyle gives us some truly harrowing sequences and a succession of images that stick in the mind like a bad dream. Read full review

Rick Groen

Around about the third act, the picture does what no self-respecting virus ever would -- relents, turns confused, and lets our immune system fight back with thoughts of its own, with distracting cavils about the logic of the plot and the slightness of the themes. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

It's undoubtedly a canny and clever twist on the standard zombie-attack yarn, but anybody who's making grand claims for 28 Days Later simply hasn't seen enough horror movies. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Unrelentingly grim, unremittingly gross and unforgivably unattractive, 28 Days Later is an orgy of troubling images and bestial sound effects. Read full review

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User Reviews

ChaseG.

Mar 17, 2008

To me, what Days has always held over the head of Weeks is simply this...mood. 28 Days Later has an unparalleled mood and style in its execution, in almost everything it does. It doesn't just describe events to you, like some movies do, but it portrays it in such a way that it's To me, what Days has always held over the head of Weeks is simply this...mood. 28 Days Later has an unparalleled mood and style in its execution, in almost everything it does. It doesn't just describe events to you, like some movies do, but it portrays it in such a way that it's genuinely chilling and believable. In comparison to Weeks, Days doesn't hold what it has over you like a bludgeon, it doesn't attempt to beat you with the speed of the zombies, or the gore. But it places it in supreme positions in the film to have the utmost effect, at the climax, at the low-point, etc. And the best part about it, is that it manages to achieve a constant level of edginess, a constant thrill even when there's nothing on the screen, it manages all of this without a guitar-blasting soundtrack (however awesome the Weeks theme is) or cameras explicitly showing that zombies are just running at you, spewing blood as they go. In fact, you are often scared in this movie simply by the fact that you don't really see what's scaring you, which is a true sign of mastery in the genre. On the other end of the spectrum, all performances in this film are excellent, the chemistry between Seline and Jim is believable especially. All characters have an edge of sympathy, and portray to you that not everyone to survive the apocalypse will be beefy, bulky men with chain guns. It defies a lot of things that would be expected of it, and ditches all normal conventions, pulling it off with grace and poise. It's a must see for anyone who can stand the level of intensity. It's a must see for anyone who can stand the.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful

JohnnyStephens

Aug 31, 2013

A classic zombie movie. One of the best horror pictures ever made. I really liked it and if you haven't seen it yet, you don't know what horror film means. Bravo!!! Shocking!!!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Toasty87

Jul 10, 2020

Brilliant just that starting few scenes really gets the blood pumping and eyes moving.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FaisalH.

Sep 18, 2007

A new take on the zombie genre, and a very successful one. 28 Days Later is a great movie, from its unique storyline, beautiful camera-angles, and well-written characters, the film's greatest strength is the fact that the characters involved are so human, unlike the superhero A new take on the zombie genre, and a very successful one. 28 Days Later is a great movie, from its unique storyline, beautiful camera-angles, and well-written characters, the film's greatest strength is the fact that the characters involved are so human, unlike the superhero characters you might have seen in other movies like Resident Evil, these characters behave in ways we would have in situations like these, so it is easy to attach to them. The only flaw in the film is that it loses some of it's strengths in the second half for a while, but that can easily be overlooked considering what a quality product 28 Days Later is. Recommended for any horror movie fan who wants to see something different than the usual shoot-em-up.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JohnWitten

May 2, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 28 Days Later is something of a modern cult classic but even so, it’s hard to believe that it only came out fourteen-fifteen years ago. But then again, it’s also hard to believe that it DID come out fourteen-fifteen years ago. 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later and talk regarding a potential third and fourth series film notwithstanding, the film operates as most cult classics do so well- telling a story that is in many ways a circular journey and neatly wraps many details up while maintaining the intrigue and mystery by leaving some relatively unanswered as well. Although fans/victims of the lore and universe will know that many details and background interests have been added in the years since- comic books, graphic novels, a film sequel and more, the best part about any zombie apocalypse (besides it being horrid to be stuck in) is that anything can happen.

The sixties, seventies, eighties, and even nineties all had their famous horror zombie flicks and we’d seen many tall tales come and go- Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead to name a few. We’ve even seen some surprisingly good films since- I Am Legend, The Crazies, Shaun of the Dead, and Dawn of the Dead (2004). 28 Days Later kicked all of this off however, and not just in the film industry. Prior to the reinvention of the classic zombie thriller-horror romp many considered the genre to be dead and buried like westerns and eighties action flicks. Afterwards however we’ve been treated to a resurgence in films, literature, and even gaming. Left 4 Dead and Dead Rising are two of the bigger franchises out there and they both prominently feature the zombie apocalypse in entirely different ways.

Not only is 28 Days Later a good film and a good example of what to do in terms of filming the zombie uprising, but it deserves its status as a cult classic because it is both a harrowing experience against WWZ-like zombies and it is a cinematic experience that should be appreciated to the fullest. The camera work in Danny Boyle’s zombie thriller is spectacular- both in the long pans across the desolate London horizon and the tense emotions elicited throughout every chase sequence and encounter. Although it reestablishes the now commonplace trope that humans are their own worst enemy even in the dead uprising, 28 Days Later focuses both on the visceral feelings and emotions of mankind in reaction to the dead and undead as well.

Although we’ve been treated to two feature-length films that tell pretty decent stories within their own version of the zombie apocalypse, I’m really excited for what the future might hold for a series such as 28 ___ Later especially in the wake of the immense success of shows such as The Walking Dead (and the Kirkman comics). I would love nothing more than to see yet another quality zombie game released set in a similarly dark and gritty world to the films and perhaps even set within the same universe and utilizing some of the abundant lore as well. So far we’ve been given Zombi (originally for Wii U) which is probably the closest we’ve yet come to a fully realized and detailed experience in the vein of 28 Days Later, and that game was decent for what it offered in interesting gimmicks and mechanics.

I’m doing my best not to really spoil the great narrative even though it’s probably considered a bit cliche nowadays- not at the time, considering it is what so many movies now base themselves off of it seems. Not only is it a fully worthwhile and fundamental stroke of genius in terms of storytelling and cinematography, the acting itself is pretty spot on and the relatively unknown actors (besides Brendan Gleeson and Chris Eccleston) sell their roles perfectly. The 2004 version of Dawn of the Dead may be one of the most recognizable and pretty decent zombie films of the early 2000s, but let’s not forget the fact that 28 Days Later started things off right and paved the way not only for the shambling dead but the night-roaming mutants of I Am Legend as well. All things said and done, Boyle’s film would’ve also been fine without a sequel but expanding the 28 universe hasn’t been the worst idea either.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

MovieGuys

May 15, 2014

28 Days Later packs a solid punch for zombie-movie lovers, and even for the average moviegoer. Boyle's style of filmmaking is not something that I've ever liked, but I have to admit that the movie itself was pretty good. It is a razor sharp attack on the government, AND a terrifying zombie28 Days Later packs a solid punch for zombie-movie lovers, and even for the average moviegoer. Boyle's style of filmmaking is not something that I've ever liked, but I have to admit that the movie itself was pretty good. It is a razor sharp attack on the government, AND a terrifying zombie movie. But style aside, Boyle knows how to make movies work, and this one definitely does.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

RichS.

Jun 1, 2007

One of the worst movies I've ever seen. I'll always remember how bad it was because I was laughing the whole way through.

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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65	#65 Best Movie of 2003
8	#8 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
40	#40 Most Shared Movie of 2003