’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ Targets Solid $20M Box Office Opening
It’s debatable how important or interesting box office news is, but I’d argue it’s essential. It doesn’t just reflect the health of the marketplace; it shapes studio decision-making, sets industry trends, and when a film succeeds, it opens the door to sequels and riskier projects.
28 Years Later was a major talking point last year, with real debate over whether the risk was worth taking. Even after it proved successful, the future of the franchise, including potential sequels, remained uncertain. Now, just weeks out from its January 16, 2026, release, buzz is building around 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and early box office tracking reflects that momentum.
“Sony’s sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hit tracking last week in what looks to be a $20M-plus 4-day opening weekend over the MLK holiday,” reports Deadline.
“That would make the Nia Costa-directed, Alex Garland-written, and Danny Boyle-produced British horror movie one of 32 movies to open north of $20M at the Friday through Monday MLK box office.
Adds the site: “MLK, which falls on Monday, Jan. 19 next year, is often seen as the cap off of holiday moviegoing. While colleges and K-12 schools are both 94% off on MLK per ComScore, 76% to 84% colleges remain on break during the first week of January, while 37% to 42% are off during the second weekend. Tickets for Bone Temple go on sale on Jan. 2; advance pre-sales always a factor in working a projection in addition to tracking.”
28 Years Later opened last June to $30M stateside and went onto to gross $70.4M domestic, and $151.3M worldwide.
“In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival – the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.”
Here’s the trailer. Looks like we’ll be getting the third and final entry come 2027!
Categorized: News
