28 Days Later Franchise Timeline
Four outbreaks. One country learning what survival costs.
The 28 Days Later franchise follows the Rage virus from an abandoned Britain into military containment, isolated communities, and a new generation raised after the outbreak.
The released films move forward in order. Watching by release date is also the chronological route, with The Bone Temple continuing directly from 28 Years Later.
The quick answer
First time watching? Release order is the safest default. Chronology is shown only when it materially changes the route.
The complete timeline
28 Days Later
A bicycle courier wakes to find Britain emptied by a fast-moving Rage outbreak.
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28 Weeks Later
A repopulation effort collapses when the Rage virus returns inside a protected zone.
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28 Years Later
A young survivor leaves an island refuge and discovers how Britain has changed.
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
The survivors move deeper into a transformed country and its human-made horrors.
Read entryOne forward-moving outbreak story
The four released films advance in the same order they reached theaters. The Bone Temple is the direct continuation of 28 Years Later, while the next planned chapter remains outside the list until its title and release date are confirmed.
28 Days Later Frequently Asked Questions
How many 28 Days Later movies are there?
There are four released films: 28 Days Later (2002), 28 Weeks Later (2007), 28 Years Later (2025), and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). Another film in the 28 Years Later story is in development but does not yet have an official title or release date.
What order should I watch the 28 Days Later movies in?
Watch them in release order: 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, 28 Years Later, then The Bone Temple. That order also follows the broad chronology of the outbreak and preserves each film’s reveals.
Are the infected in 28 Days Later zombies?
Not in the traditional undead sense. The infected are living people overwhelmed by the Rage virus, which makes them violently aggressive and gives the franchise its distinct speed and outbreak logic.
Do I need to watch 28 Years Later before The Bone Temple?
Yes. The Bone Temple is a direct continuation and was developed as the second chapter of the same larger story. Its characters and conflicts begin in 28 Years Later rather than resetting the franchise.
Is 28 Years Later connected to the original film?
Yes. It returns to the world created by 28 Days Later and moves the outbreak forward by decades. The newer films introduce another community while reconnecting the larger story to the original era.
Is another 28 Years Later movie coming?
Yes. A follow-up after The Bone Temple has been greenlit as the next chapter in the planned trilogy. Its title and theatrical release date have not been announced, so this guide will add it when those details are official.