It’s much more than just a zombie movie.
By Christina Buff on March 31, 2026
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Last year, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 Years Later, a fresh new addition to the zombie franchise 28 Days Later, set a high bar for legacy sequels. Mashable’s Shannon Connellan called it “one of the most unrelenting and scariest films of the year” in her review. So the fact that Candyman director Nia DaCosta was able to make this year’s direct sequel not only wow audiences, but critics as well, is pretty impressive. With 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, DeCosta expands upon the world Boyle and Garland created with depth and depravity.
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a zombie movie, but also much, much more,” Mashable’s entertainment editor writes in her review, calling it “sublime, gorgeous, rich in visual splendor, surging with feeling, and intoxicating in its unexpected twists.”
It stars a sensational Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Chi Lewis-Parry, and Erin Kellyman, and is now officially streaming.
Here’s everything you need to know to watch 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple at home — including how you can watch for less.
What is The Bone Temple about?
The Bone Temple picks up where 28 Years Later left off. After leaving the safety of his home on Holy Island, young survivor Spike (Alfie Williams) is forced to join the deranged cult of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a breakthrough discovery that could lead to a cure for the Rage Virus.
Is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple worth watching?
Simply put, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is “a phenomenal film,” says Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. “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. As a horror film, it is sublime, gorgeous, rich in visual splendor, surging with feeling, and intoxicating in its unexpected twists.”
It’s hard for a sequel to live up to its predecessor — let alone the sequel of a sequel — but The Bone Temple truly delivers. It currently holds a 92 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while 28 Years Later holds an 88 percent. That’s unheard of. If you’re a fan of the franchise, or zombie films in general, it’s a must-watch.
How to watch The Bone Temple at home
Buy or rent it on digital
The Bone Temple is available as of Feb. 17 to buy for $14.99 or rent for $9.99 at digital-on-demand retailers like Prime Video or Apple TV. Make note that if you choose to rent, you’ll get 30 days to watch the film, but only 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it’s yours to keep.
Stream it on Netflix
Given Sony Pictures’ and Netflix’s agreement that gives the streamer first dibs, it’s no surprise that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple made its streaming debut on Netflix on March 31, 2026. Based on other Sony Pictures’ timelines, that’s actually earlier than we expected.
Netflix doesn’t offer free trials, nor does it allow you to share an account (unless you pay for an extra user), so you’ll need your own Netflix subscription to stream 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Fortunately, Netflix has a few different tiers to choose from; all three options will grant you access.
Watching Netflix with ads is the most affordable option at $7.99 per month. If you want to watch ad-free, the price jumps up to $17.99 for a Standard subscription. Finally, there’s a third tier called Netflix Premium that costs a steep $24.99 per month and will let you watch on four household devices at once (as opposed to the other plans’ two devices) in 4K Ultra HD + HDR with no ads.
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