After 28 Years Later landed to strong acclaim last summer, expectations were sky-high for its follow-up. Now that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has arrived, the early critical response shows that the franchise hit a new peak.
As of this writing, The Bone Temple is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 93% critics score from 127 reviews. That score currently stands as the highest of the entire franchise, edging out every previous installment. For perspective, here’s how the series stacks up on Rotten Tomatoes:
28 Days Later – 87%
28 Weeks Later – 73%
28 Years Later – 89%
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – 91%
While an official critics consensus hasn’t been published yet, the early reviews paint a pretty clear picture. The film from writer Alex Garland and director Nia DaCosta, is being widely praised.
Many critics feel the film manages a tricky balancing act, deepening the mythology without losing sight of what made the series resonate in the first place. It expands the world, raises the stakes, and still works as a standalone story.
That approach has always separated this franchise from the zombie movie pack. These films aren’t just about infection and survival. They’re about people, trauma, and the way societies fracture and rebuild. The Bone Temple leans hard into that idea, delivering a story with real emotional weight.
The performances are another major reason the film is connecting. Ralph Fiennes is getting some of the loudest praise for his turn as Dr. Ian Kelson. Critics have singled out his complete commitment to the role, noting how he effortlessly weaves together tragedy and dark humor.
Several reviews even suggest this could rank among his very best performances. When you see the movie, you’ll understand why people are saying that. He’s awesome!
Jack O’Connell also leaves a mark, continuing his streak of unsettling roles after last year’s Sinners. As a sadistic death cult leader, O’Connell taps into something genuinely unnerving, cementing himself as a formidable presence in modern horror.
Not every reaction has been glowing. A small number of critics have taken issue with DaCosta’s storytelling choices, but those voices are heavily outweighed by the praise. Overall, The Bone Temple is being seen as exactly what a sequel should be. It builds on what came before, pushes the story forward, and leaves audiences excited to see where things go next.
Boyle’s long-planned third 28 Years Later film only officially received the green light last month. Sony’s confidence in the franchise clearly wasn’t misplaced. Now the challenge will be sticking the landing with a finale that lives up to the bar The Bone Temple has set.
It’s also worth keeping perspective on the Rotten Tomatoes score. More reviews are on the way. The first 28 Years Later currently sits at 395 reviews, so there are likely hundreds more for The Bone Temple still to come.
That means the score could shift slightly over the next several days. Still, early reactions tend to be a strong indicator of where the consensus will settle.
For now, horror fans can take this as a very good sign. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple isn’t just living up to expectations. It’s setting a new standard for the franchise.
