28 Days Later (2002)
Kernel Score: 82% · 8,288 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction
Released: 2002-10-31
Runtime: 113 minutes
Is 28 Days Later worth watching?
Worth watching. Danny Boyle's low-budget rage-virus film gave zombie movies new speed and a bleak, human streak. The first third is eerie and brilliant, and the later part gets rougher, but it's still influential.
Watch it if you
- like fast, bleak zombie horror
- enjoy raw, handheld filmmaking
- want a survival story about people more than monsters
Skip it if you
- dislike gore and violence
- want a tidy, hopeful ending
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch 28 Days Later
- Stream: Apple TV
- Free with ads: Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Twenty-eight days after a killer virus was accidentally unleashed from a British research facility, a small group of London survivors are caught in a desperate struggle to protect themselves from the infected. Carried by animals and humans, the virus turns those it infects into homicidal maniacs -- and it's absolutely impossible to contain.
28 Days Later parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that 28 Days Later is a gory zombie-apocalypse horror film about a deadly outbreak in Britain.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Frequent brutal, gory violence from infected attackers pervades this survival-horror film.
- Language: Some — Strong language appears consistent with its R rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like 28 Days Later
If you liked 28 Days Later, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Train to Busan (2016) — 86%: Fast, emotional zombie thriller with human stakes.
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) — 85%: The classic zombie film that shaped the genre.
- Shaun of the Dead (2004) — 85%: Funny British zombie comedy that loves the genre.
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) — 82%: The latest film in the same series.
- I Am Legend (2007) — 82%: Empty-city survival story after a virus.
- Sunshine (2007) — 77%: Boyle's other tense sci-fi thriller.
Director
Cast
- Cillian Murphy as Jim
- Naomie Harris as Selena
- Brendan Gleeson as Frank
- Megan Burns as Hannah
- Christopher Eccleston as Major Henry West
- Noah Huntley as Mark
- Luke Mably as Private Clifton
- Stuart McQuarrie as Seargent Farrell
- Ricci Harnett as Corporal Mitchell
- Leo Bill as Private Jones
28 Days Later FAQ
Is 28 Days Later worth watching?
Worth watching. Danny Boyle's low-budget rage-virus film gave zombie movies new speed and a bleak, human streak. The first third is eerie and brilliant, and the later part gets rougher, but it's still influential.
Where can I watch 28 Days Later?
In the US you can stream 28 Days Later on Apple TV, watch it free with ads on Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is 28 Days Later OK for kids?
28 Days Later is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that 28 Days Later is a gory zombie-apocalypse horror film about a deadly outbreak in Britain.
What movies are like 28 Days Later?
If you liked 28 Days Later, try Train to Busan, Dawn of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.