It’s not often that a horror sequel manages to live up to its acclaimed predecessor, let alone earn a devoted fanbase of its own – but 28 Weeks Later has done exactly that.
The 2007 follow-up to Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later is now available to stream on Amazon Prime, giving horror fans another chance to revisit what many now call an underrated gem in the zombie apocalypse genre.
Set six months after the original outbreak of the Rage Virus that devastated Britain, 28 Weeks Later shows a nation cautiously attempting to rebuild. With NATO forces led by the US military overseeing the repopulation of London’s “safe zones,” the film shifts focus from the chaos of survival to the tension of containment – and how easily it can all unravel.
Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, the sequel ramps up the production value with a larger scale, hauntingly bleak London setting, and a cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, Robert Carlyle and Idris Elba.
Yet despite these changes, the film retains the gritty, emotionally intense tone of the original – and, according to fans and critics alike, pushes its themes even further.
One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer praised its success where many sequels fail: “28 Weeks Later does what many horror sequels do in raising the budget, hiring more well-known actors, and increasing the scale significantly. Usually, this comes at the cost of losing what made the first movie so special. 28 Weeks Later does not have this issue, instead pushing the themes presented in Days even further.”
The film is perhaps best remembered for its relentlessly tense sequences – including a now-iconic opening scene set on a rural farm that explodes into panic and betrayal within minutes.
Another viewer remarked on the shift in tone and scope, writing: “Now we’re talking. The improvement in the production side is miles away from the first one, the cast amazing and the story so stressful.”
And despite the recent release of 28 Years Later, some fans are circling back to Weeks as the true standout. “I watched this movie twice right before watching 28 Years Later. I thought it was pretty good. After watching 28 Years Later, I am liking 28 Weeks Later a lot more. Skip 28 Years Later and watch 28 Weeks Later,” one fan recommended.
While 28 Days Later remains the genre-defining original – directed by Boyle and written by Alex Garland – 28 Weeks Later successfully expands the universe with its own distinct visual style, moral dilemmas and gut-punch moments.
28 Weeks Later is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.