28 Years Later has arrived in theaters. While it may not have Cillian Murphy, early reviews have certainly suggested a return to horrifying form for the zombie franchise. If you’re anything like me, you might be planning to rewatch the originals before heading to the theaters. It’s not entirely necessary for enjoying the new movie, but it gives good context and prepares you to eagerly point out any callbacks or references.
Whether you’re catching up before seeing 28 Years Later or just interested in some good ol’ zombie movies, I’m happy to report that 28 Days Later is streaming for free.
Stream 28 Days Later for Free
28 Days Later
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Jim (Cillian Murphy) learns that a deadly virus was released. Has it infected the whole planet?
28 Years Later has gone through several periods of being near impossible to find on streaming. Thankfully, the new sequel seemed to inspire several new licensing agreements, with 28 Days Later finding its new home on the free streaming service Pluto TV. Yes, you will have to deal with ads. If those are simply too much to bear, you can pick up the movie on digital marketplaces like Prime Video or in one of its many variations on DVD.
As for 28 Weeks Later, well, that’s also streaming for free. You can check out the second installment, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, over on Tubi.
28 Years Later, Over 20 Years in the Making
Twenty-three years after the original movie, screenwriter Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle have returned with a new sequel. IGN’s review goes so far as to say “28 Years Later is as potent and timely an exploration of cultural strife as the original, and Danny Boyle and Alex Garland tug at the heartstrings with bloody, deadly skill.” The film takes advantage of the past 20 years of tech advancements too, even using iPhone rigs to capture its jarring new types of infected.
Since the original movie, Garland has made a name for himself in the sci-fi genre, directing films like Ex Machina and Annihilation. Meanwhile, this is Boyle’s return from a five-year break from directing, but he had previously followed 28 Days Later with award-winning films like Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours. (Check out Boyle breaking down his favorite shots from his career.)
Looking ahead, yet another sequel, called 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple directed by Nia DaCosta, is already set to release on January 16, 2026. Where the franchise goes from there is unclear, but we do know that Garland has the upcoming Elden Ring movie – and probably an eighth playthrough of the game – on his plate.
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
