The Greatest Zombie Sequel of the Century Just Became a PVOD Hit

Director Danny Boyle’s long-awaited zombie sequel, 28 Years Later, has smashed PVOD charts following its digital release. The 2025 horror movie is the critically-acclaimed follow-up to 2002’s groundbreaking blockbuster 28 Days Later and the 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later.

According to FlixPatrol, 28 Years Later is topping Apple’s Top 10 chart of digital movie purchases less than a week after its release on Jul. 29. Boyle’s zombie movie is currently #3 in the U.S. chart but is #1 in Canada, as of this writing. There’s every chance 28 Days Later could extend its dominance as more national charts begin reporting their sales data for the past week.

28 Years Later leads several other 2025 blockbusters, as of this writing, including Disney’s live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch (#2) and Marvel’s Thunderbolts* (#3). Rounding off the Top 5 on Apple’s PVOD chart are Pedro Pascal and Dakota Johnson’s Materialists (#4) as well as 1996’s Happy Gilmore (#5) — the latter of which has likely seen a sales boost following the Netflix debut of sequel Happy Gilmore 2 on July 25.

28 Years Later Hits #3 on U.S. PVOD Chart and Tops Canada’s Ranking

Fans looking for a physical release of 28 Years Later will still have to wait a few more months, as 4K, Blu-ray and DVD sets have been confirmed to drop on September 23. A Dolby Atmos Audio Track is probably the most exciting special feature on the home video version, along with five behind-the-scenes featurettes chronicling Boyle’s long journey to bring the zombie franchise back to the big screen. As the title suggests, 28 Years Later picks up nearly 30 years after the Rage Virus wiped out most of the world’s population, aside from isolated bands of survivors.

28 Years Later was both a critical and commercial success, having brought in $150 million at the box office so far and achieved an impressive 88% Fresh score via Rotten Tomatoes. CBR’s own review praised Boyle for creating “a raw thriller with relatable human emotion at its center,” while 28 Years Later was also praised by critics for being a “tightly constructed sequel” and a “wonderfully directed, mesmerizing return” for Boyle.

Boyle will hand over directing reigns on the sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple to The Marvels’ Nia DaCosta, while still remaining involved as an executive producer. Alex Garland has once again penned the script, with 28 Years Later star Alfie Williams set to return alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jack O’Connell. Cillian Murphy is also expected to reprise his role as Jim from the first two movies.

28 Years Later is available to rent digitally now via Apple and select other online retailers. A physical release on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD is set for September 23.

Source: FlixPatrol