With 23 years between them and a host of A-list stars joining the cast, it’s no surprise that the 28 Years Later budget is nearly 10 times as high as 28 Days Later – but that doesn’t mean it won’t perform as well at the box office.
28 Days Later is undoubtedly one of the best horror movies of all time. Danny Boyle pushed the limit of what was possible on a smaller budget, avoiding any CGI and filming those desolate London scenes at the crack of dawn to avoid the crowds.
But it was the impeccable characters, storyline, and performances (led by Cillian Murphy) that sold it, not to mention the killer soundtrack. The result was an $84.6 million worldwide box office return and the critical acclaim to match.
Following on from the 28 Weeks Later sequel, 28 Years Later is set to bring the horror franchise back from the dead, so to speak. Boyle is helming the project, Alex Garland returns as writer, while Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have joined the cast.
28 Years Later budget explained
But the cast isn’t the only factor driving up the budget, which stands at a reported $75 million. Another significant (and surprising) cost guzzler has been the filming technique. You see, the main camera system for 28 Years Later consists of Apple phones.
Namely, the crew used modified iPhone 15 Pro Max cameras, adapting them with (expensive) cine lenses and hooking up as many as 20 of the Apple devices on one rig.
While this isn’t the first time iPhones have been used to shoot a movie – with Sean Baker’s Tangerine and Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane being notable pioneers – 28 Years Later marks the first major, big-budget Hollywood production to adopt the technology on this scale.
You’d think that this would drive down the cost, but in reality, rigging up dozens of smartphones with professional-grade accessories, software, and post-production tweaks isn’t cheap – especially when trying to match the cinematic quality of a big-screen horror epic.
That’s not the only area where the budget has been spent. With top-tier talent like Killing Eve’s Comer and Kraven the Hunter’s Taylor-Johnson on board – not to mention Murphy returning as executive producer – salaries alone will have accounted for a hefty slice of that $75 million price tag.
Add in larger-scale action sequences, modern VFX, and the pressure of reviving a beloved IP, and it’s easy to see how 28 Years Later ended up costing nearly ten times its predecessor.
Still, early signs show that the gamble might pay off – especially with ticket pre-sales already outpacing other horror heavyweights.
28 Years Later beats 2025 horror movie record
Fandango has announced that 28 Years Later has become the biggest horror ticket pre-seller of 2025, beating out the likes of Sinners and Final Destination: Bloodlines. The new movie achieved the feat a day after tickets went on sale on Tuesday, June 3.
As well as taking the top spot for this year’s horror releases, it’s also outpaced 2024 hits Nosferatu and Alien: Romulus, with Deadline reporting a projected $34 million box office haul in its opening weekend.
What’s more, the film’s 2024 trailer became the second-most watched horror movie trailer of all time, just behind It Chapter Two. So, should we be worried about the higher budget? In short, no.
Horror movies have a long-standing tradition of overperforming at the box office relative to budget – and 28 Years Later has several advantages, including Boyle and Garland’s prestige, a star-studded cast, and a loyal fanbase.
Jerramy Hainline, the executive vice president of Fandango, said about its pre-sale performance, “We are thrilled to see moviegoers racing to get their tickets for 28 Years Later, on its first day of ticket sales.
“This franchise has captivated horror fans for over 20 years, and with its return, we are sure audiences are in for a thrilling treat.”
If early buzz and pre-sale numbers are anything to go by, 28 Years Later could end up not only turning a profit, but setting a new benchmark for itself.
28 Years Later hits screens on June 20, 2025, and will be followed by sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple on January 16, 2026. You can also read about why Jodie Comer was scared on set and our list of the best zombie movies ever.
