28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Stumbles at Aussie Box Office
Despite rave reviews and being called the franchise’s best, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has struggled to draw crowds, falling short of previous instalments’ box office numbers. Find out what went wrong.
Despite being widely praised as the standout entry in the long-running series, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hasn’t managed to pull in the crowds at the box office. Over its first three days in cinemas, the film brought in $13 million, and by the end of day four, it had only nudged up to $15 million. That’s a fair bit less than what fans and the studio were hoping for, especially when you stack it up against the previous film’s performance.
28 Years Later, which hit screens in 2025, managed to rake in $30 million during its opening weekend and finished its four-day run with $32 million. The latest chapter, despite all the hype and positive feedback, just hasn’t matched that pace.
Strong Reviews, But Numbers Lag Behind
It’s not that the film has flopped, but it’s definitely lagging behind the earlier instalments. Some reckon the back-to-back release schedule—28 Years Later in June 2025, followed by The Bone Temple in January 2026—might have left punters a bit weary. There’s also been a bit of chatter about the change in director, with Nia DaCosta taking over from Danny Boyle. That shift could have played a part in how the film was received by locals and die-hard fans alike.
Still, the critical response has been top-notch. The Bone Temple currently boasts a 7.8 out of 10 on IMDb and a whopping 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. The cast, led by Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Alfie Williams, has been singled out for praise, and the film’s production values have been called some of the best in the series. Even so, the worldwide box office sits at $31 million, which is a bit underwhelming for a franchise of this size.
Key Details and What’s Next
Directed by Nia DaCosta and produced by Columbia Pictures, The Bone Temple hit cinemas on 16 January 2026. The story picks up with Dr. Kelson and the alpha-infected Samson, ending on a cliffhanger that’s got fans speculating about what’s next for the series. Spike, having survived the cult led by Sir Jimmy Crystal, is now heading towards a possible reunion with other survivors—there’s even talk of Jim (Cillian Murphy) making a return.
The next film, tentatively titled 28 Years Later: Part 3, is expected to focus on the deployment of a potential cure and will likely address the fate of the Jimmys and the infected Alphas. Cillian Murphy’s Jim, who made a brief but significant appearance in The Bone Temple, is tipped to play a bigger role in the next chapter.
Franchise Fatigue and Future Hopes
With such a quick turnaround between films, some reckon the franchise might be suffering from a bit of fatigue. The studio will need to tread carefully to avoid burning out the fanbase and to give the next instalment the best shot at box office success. There’s still plenty of excitement for what’s to come, but it’s clear that expectations will be high for the next outing.
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