Even though 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple had a bit of a rocky start, the movie was still able to generate $58.5 million. It cashed in $25.1 million in North America and $33.4 million internationally. It did make a loss, as the production budget was $63 million, but it’s believed that this was a marketing challenge, rather than a lack of interest in new zombie movies.
A Sequel Released Too Soon?
Famous US director Nia DaCosta, the director of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, said in a statement that she believed audiences were confused by the new release. Viewers assumed it was a re-release or a director’s cut instead of a sequel.
According to the data, there were only 6 months and 27 days between Bone Temple and 28 Years Later. Even though the box office turnout wasn’t as expected, the movie was well-received, showing zombie movies are anything but dead. The enduring popularity of various franchises has helped a lot here, with The Walking Dead being a prime example.
The show has generated numerous spinoffs and is now a global entertainment brand. There are conventions every year, live experiences, and merchandise available to buy. In iGaming, when users sign up to Sky Vegas online casino, they’ll see games like The Walking Dead: Cash Collect. The game features a horde of zombies, as well as popular characters such as Negan, with numerous references to the popular television show.
Outside entertainment, zombie walks are also very popular, where people dress up as the undead and march through city streets. Annual events like this bring zombie fans together and help to recreate the tense and unnerving scenes seen in zombie films.
With this in mind, it’s clear that Bone Temple’s poor performance was due to a release issue rather than audience fatigue. The zombie genre has been alive and kicking for decades because it’s continually able to reinvent itself.
When looking at films like The Evil Dead, Resident Evil, 28 Days Later, and even Night of the Living Dead, it’s evident that they are all incredibly different, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple helps to add another layer to the existing story.
Good Reception for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple follows Spike, who is trapped in a cult. Spike is forced to fight for his survival and is looking for ways to break out. Dr. Ian Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, also has a running storyline.
He lives in isolation at The Bone Temple, which is an ossuary built to remember the victims of the Rage Virus. He strikes up a relationship with Samson, an Alpha who is infected.
When Samson is shot with a morphine dart, Kelson finds that it’s possible to calm the rage. Soon enough, the monster regains his memories and even starts to exhibit human behaviour, showing that there may be an end in sight for those who are affected.
The story went down very well with fans, but due to a poorly timed release, it unfortunately made a loss at the box office. With that said, another movie is in the works. Although it doesn’t have a release date, established UK director Danny Boyle is directing it, and it is due to come out in 2027.
