28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is officially out in theaters, a mere 7 months after its predecessor, 28 Years Later, hit screens. That's because both movies were shot back-to-back. But, don't be fooled into thinking this means they're similar movies: The Bone Temple is a very different beast.
Picking up right where 28 Years Later's bonkers ending left off, The Bone Temple sees Spike unwillingly recruited by the Jimmys, led by Jack O'Connell's psychopath Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. In parallel, Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) and Alpha infected Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) strike up an unlikely friendship, with potentially game-changing ramifications for the future of their world.
Want to know more? We've rounded up everything there is to know about The Bone Temple, including whether or not Cillian Murphy's Jim finally makes his long-awaited return, what the critics think, and there's a round-up of all those tantalising trailers. As the sequel to one of the best movies of 2025, it's not to be missed. But be warned, full spoilers for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple follow. Ready? Let's dive in…
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple reviews
In our 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review, we praised the film as the "wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet" and awarded the movie 4*. "Come for the gore but stay for the surprisingly frequent jokes and a pair of astonishing performances from Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell," we wrote.
The wider critical community has been equally effusive, with the film currently sitting on a whopping 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. That could drop as more reviews are published, but that makes it the most acclaimed movie in the series, given that 28 Years Later is currently rated 89%, while 28 Days Later is on 87%.
"28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a phenomenal film," says Mashable. "As a sequel, it builds the saga of Spike without retreading its predecessor's steps. As a zombie movie, it delivers scenes of gut-churning violence and haunting loss."
But it wasn't wall-to-wall raves. "The Bone Temple both builds on the promise of the earlier movie and betrays it," noted TIME. "O’Connell is terrific, but both his character and his performance are badly served by the prolonged savagery of certain scenes. Instead of feeling beguiled, I kept wishing I could get away."
Only time will tell if it's considered the series' best offering in the long run.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple release date
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple released in US theaters on January 16, 2026, just over 28 weeks after the release of 28 Years Later (we're sure that wasn't a coincidence). The follow-up was filmed back-to-back with its predecessor, wrapping principal photography in October 2024, hence the relatively short wait.
However, despite being confirmed, there's little chance of 28 Years Later 3 releasing in similarly quick succession, as the film is currently in pre-production, and doesn't even have a director attached.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple trailer
In September 2025, the first trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hit the internet – and it was immediately apparent that the sequel would be bloodier, more action-packed, and more gonzo than its predecessor.
The clip, which you can watch above, opens with shots of the Bone Temple and Dr. Kelson's underground home, filled with pictures of his life pre-apocalypse. Above ground, Kelson is still attempting to tame infected Alpha Samson, who looks pretty angry in a later shot.
The real stars of the trailer, however, are Jack O'Connell's Jimmys, who don't seem like the nicest bunch as they mask up and torture a couple of strung-up hostages. Now part of the crew, a horrified Spike doesn't look to approve of the barbarity. Later in the promo, we see Sir Jimmy approaching Kelson, a prelude to the two coming face to face.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple cast
We now know exactly who features in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and there are some surprising omissions following 28 Years Later. Notably, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Jamie and the entire island population of Lindisfarne (apart from Spike, of course) don't feature in The Bone Temple. But there's every chance they'll return for Part 3.
Sadly, Edvin Ryding's Swedish soldier Erik Sundqvist, who had his head ripped off by an infected Alpha, doesn't return, for obvious reasons. This also goes for Jodie Comer's Isla, who was voluntarily euthanized by Ralph Fiennes' Dr. Kelson after she found out that her cancer would probably kill her "soon".
Here's the confirmed list of every major character in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple:
- Alfie Williams as Spike
- Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson
- Chi Lewis-Parry as Samson
- Jack O'Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal
- Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink
- Emma Laird as Jimmima
- Connor Newall as Jimmy Shite
- Maura Bird as Jimmy Jones
- Robert Rhodes as Jimmy Jimmy
- Sam Locke as Jimmy Fox
- Ghazi Al Ruffai as Jimmy Snake
- Mirren Mack as Cathy
- Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Tom
- Cillian Murphy as Jim
- Maiya Eastmond as Sam
Despite Cillian Murphy's return as Jim, Naomie Harris' Selena doesn't feature here, and neither does fellow 28 Days survivor Hannah (Megan Burns). Whether they're alive is a question that will likely be answered by the sequel. Jim's return isn't the biggest surprise, 28 Years Later director Danny Boyle confirmed that Murphy would feature in The Bone Temple's handover coda during a conversation with Indiewire last year.
"I think [we] probably [had some] regrets about threatening Europe with it, in terms of story development, that meant it could only go one way," he says, referencing 28 Weeks Later (2007). "So, the idea was to retrench, and that allowed us to make weirdly a much bigger film, more mythic. And it spread across three films, and two of which we've shot, all of which connect characters ultimately, which is how Cillian eventually appears.
"It doesn't take a genius to work out there's going to be a big role for Cillian Murphy in [the third film]," he added. "Yeah, a significant role. All I can say, because I know the idea of the story, which has been mapped out, it is clever. It is a very smart use of him."
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple plot
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opens with Spike facing a brutal initiation ritual after being 'rescued' by the Jimmys in 28 Years Later's closing moments. In order to become one of Jimmy Crystal's 'seven fingers', Spike must kill one of the Jimmys and take their place. Spike, of course, is no physical match for the seasoned killers, but lands a lucky blow, severing the femoral artery of his opponent and taking their place among the Jimmys.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson is finding himself increasingly drawn to Alpha infected Samson, who also seems strangely fascinated by Kelson. Tranquilising him with a cocktail of drugs, Kelson strikes up an unlikely friendship, dancing and bonding with Samson while the pair are both high as a kite. Kelson also uses this time to study Samson and develop a treatment for the psychosis induced by the rage virus, which he tests on Samson over the course of the film.
Jimmy Crystal, believing himself to be the son of satan, claims that his mission on earth is to "search for souls to deliver to my father", aka 'Old Nick'. This leads the Jimmys to a farmhouse, where they brutally flay (a "kindness" as Crystal calls it) most of the family. One member of the family eludes capture, however, and fights back, resulting in the deaths of two Jimmys and a raging fire. Spike is tasked with chasing down the escapee, but after pleading to take him with her, Spike is forcefully rejected and must admit his failure to Jimmy Crystal.
After numerous "chemically enhanced" nights together, Kelson makes a breakthrough in Samson's treatment, causing the hulking infected's memories and cognitive functions to slowly return. While back on the abandoned train carriage that featured prominently in 28 Years Later, Samson has a flashback to a time when he rode the train as a young man before the outbreak. The infected around him pick up on this kernel of humanity and attack Samson, but the brute manages to violently fend them off.
Stumbling across Kelson and his demonic-looking ossuary during a recce, Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman), who has lost faith in Jimmy Crystal, convinces the rest of the Jimmys that Kelson must be Old Nick, forcing a confrontation between Crystal and Kelson. Crystal, though initially fearful he could be Satan, quickly realises that Kelson isn't his father, but convinces Kelson to play along and trick the rest of the Jimmys so they'll never doubt him again.
To do this, Kelson performs a demonic dance, complete with pyrotechnics and backed by Iron Maiden's 'The Number of the Beast'. The Jimmys are left in awe, but Kelson twigs that one of the masked Jimmys is Spike. And after Crystal pushes his luck by attempting to expand the scope of his brutality, Kelson reveals the truth: he isn't Old Nick and Crystal is a fraud. In response, Crystal stabs Kelson in the gut – a fatal blow. But Crystal also gets his comeuppance when the remaining Jimmys turn on him, leaving him to be devoured by infected while tied to an inverted cross.
Spike and Jimmy Ink (who we learn is called Kelly) flee together, pursued by infected. Cut to: a tranquil farmhouse where a teenage girl called Sam is being taught history by none other than Cillian Murphy's Jim, her father. After hearing the commotion in the distance, Jim and Sam step outside. "Do we help them?" Asks Sam. "Of course we do," replies Jim.
Will there be a sequel to 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple?
Yes! Despite plans from the outset to make a 28 Years Later trilogy, studio Sony only greenlit two of the intended films initially, both of which have now been released. But following glowing early reactions to The Bone Temple, it was confirmed that 28 Years Later 3 is officially in the works, with Cillian Murphy set to have a more central role as Jim following The Bone Temple's coda handover.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple director Nia DaCosta seemed confident the third film would see the light of day when she spoke to GamesRadar+ about The Bone Temple in late November. "Come on, it's happening! It's got to happen," she said. As well as Jim, it's a safe bet that Spike and Jimmy Ink/Kelly will return, though given the stark differences between every 28 Days/Weeks/Years Later film so far, expect the unexpected from Part 3.
For more, check out our list of the best horror movies of all time, or our guide to some of the other upcoming horror movies heading our way.
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