“28 Years Later: Box Office Disaster Puts Final Movie at Risk”

The horror sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has received amazing reviews from critics and fans, but sadly, the box office tells a very different story. Even with strong praise, the film failed to attract enough people to cinemas, creating serious problems for the future of the franchise.

The movie is the second part of the planned 28 Years Later trilogy, created by legendary director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland. While fans loved the story, performances, and atmosphere, ticket sales have been extremely disappointing.

Shocking Box Office Numbers

The Bone Temple suffered a massive 71% drop in earnings over just two weekends. Last week, it made only $635,000, which is extremely low for a major franchise film.

So far, the movie has earned:

• $20 million in the US

• $25 million internationally

• Total budget: around $63 million

This means the film has not even come close to recovering its production costs. Many fans hoped that positive reviews and word-of-mouth would help the movie grow over time, but instead, it collapsed quickly at the box office.

Is the Final Movie in Danger?

Because of these poor numbers, the third and final film, 28 Years Later 3, could now be in serious trouble.

Although:

• The movie has already been greenlit

• Alex Garland has started writing the script

• Danny Boyle is expected to return as director

A financial failure of this size could make Sony Pictures rethink their decision. Studios often cancel projects if they believe they will lose more money.

One Big Hope: Cillian Murphy’s Return

There is one powerful reason why the final movie might still survive — Cillian Murphy.

In the final moments of The Bone Temple, Murphy returns as Jim, the main character from 28 Days Later. Now an Oscar-winning actor, Murphy’s return has created massive excitement among fans.

His involvement could change everything.

Why Cillian Murphy Could Save the Franchise

The Bone Temple featured:

• Spike (Alfie Williams) – a young survivor

• Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) – a dangerous leader

• Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) – a man who discovers secrets about the infected

The story builds toward a powerful ending where Jim re-enters the storyline, setting up the final chapter.

The movie currently holds:

• 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes

• 88% audience score

This shows people love the film — they just didn’t show up in theaters.

Marketing issues and a January release date are believed to be major reasons for the low box office. But selling a final movie starring Cillian Murphy, especially after his success in Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders, could bring audiences back.

Director’s Confidence in the Final Film

Director Nia DaCosta has already described the third movie as:

“Really f*cking good.”

This statement alone has raised excitement among fans who are desperate to see how Jim’s story connects with Spike’s journey and how the trilogy finally ends.