Table of Contents
Last year, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Years Later, a fresh new addition to the zombie franchise 28 Days Later, set a high bar for legacy sequels. Mashable's Shannon Connellan called it "one of the most unrelenting and scariest films of the year" in her review. So the fact that Candyman director Nia DaCosta was able to make this year's direct sequel not only wow audiences, but critics as well, is pretty impressive. With 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, DeCosta expands upon the world Boyle and Garland created with depth and depravity.
"28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a zombie movie, but also much, much more," Mashable's entertainment editor writes in her review, calling it "sublime, gorgeous, rich in visual splendor, surging with feeling, and intoxicating in its unexpected twists."
It stars a sensational Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Chi Lewis-Parry, and Erin Kellyman and is now available to watch at home.
Here's everything you need to know to watch 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple — including how you can watch for less.
What is The Bone Temple about?
The Bone Temple picks up where 28 Years Later left off. After leaving the safety of his home on Holy Island, young survivor Spike (Alfie Williams) is forced to join the deranged cult of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell). Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a breakthrough discovery that could lead to a cure for the Rage Virus.
Check out the trailer below:
Is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple worth watching?
Simply put, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is "a phenomenal film," says Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. "As a sequel, it builds the saga of Spike without retreading its predecessor's steps. As a zombie movie, it delivers scenes of gut-churning violence and haunting loss. As a horror film, it is sublime, gorgeous, rich in visual splendor, surging with feeling, and intoxicating in its unexpected twists."
It's hard for a sequel to live up to its predecessor — let alone the sequel of a sequel — but The Bone Temple truly delivers. It currently holds a 92 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while 28 Years Later holds an 88 percent. That's unheard of. If you're a fan of the franchise, or zombie films in general, it's a must-watch.
Read our full review of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
How to watch The Bone Temple at home
As of Feb. 17, there are a couple of ways you can watch The Bone Temple at home: buy it or rent it at digital on-demand retailers. It will also be available to stream in the coming months. We've outlined the details below.
Buy or rent it on digital
The Bone Temple is available as of Feb. 17 to buy for $24.99 or rent for $19.99 at digital-on-demand retailers like Prime Video or Apple TV. Make note that if you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film, but only 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep.
Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:
Stream it on Netflix (at a later date)
Given Sony Pictures' and Netflix's agreement that gives the streamer first dibs, we expect 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple to make its streaming debut on Netflix. Though no specific streaming date has been announced yet, we are anticipating its release in April or May of 2026, based on other Sony Pictures' timelines. Of course, it could arrive sooner, so stay tuned for updates.
Netflix doesn't offer free trials, nor does it allow you to share an account (unless you pay for an extra user), so you'll need your own Netflix subscription to stream 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Fortunately, Netflix has a few different tiers to choose from; all three options will grant you access.
Watching Netflix with ads is the most affordable option at $7.99 per month. If you want to watch ad-free, the price jumps up to $17.99 for a Standard subscription. Finally, there's a third tier called Netflix Premium that costs a steep $24.99 per month and will let you watch on four household devices at once (as opposed to the other plans' two devices) in 4K Ultra HD + HDR with no ads.
The best Netflix deals
Before you sign up for Netflix, check the deals below to see if you're eligible to score a subscription at a discount — or maybe even for free.
Best Netflix deal for T-Mobile customers
T-Mobile customers on most Go5G plans, as well as Experience Beyond and Experience More plans, get ad-supported Netflix Standard for free (reg. $7.99 per month) as long as their account remains in good standing. You need to have two or more lines of any type of Go5G or Magenta plan or at least one line of Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, Magenta MAX, Experience More, or Experience Beyond plan.
If you're eligible, you'll have to manually activate your subscription by navigating to the T-Life app and selecting Manage > See plans > Manage add-ons. From there, scroll down to select the Netflix streaming benefit and click continue. Then follow the prompts to link an existing account or create a new one. For help, head to the Netflix support page.
Best Netflix deal for Verizon customers
As of December 2023, Verizon customers with myPlan can get a Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) for just $10 per month ($8.98 per month in savings). A $18.98 value, that basically gets you Netflix Standard with ads for free. Eligible Verizon customers include those on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans. After enrolling in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Verizon's support page has all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.
Best Netflix deal for Xfinity customers
Comcast offers new and current Xfinity Internet and TV customers a Xfinity StreamSaver package, which includes Netflix Standard with ads ($7.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and Apple TV+ ($12.99 per month). You can add the StreamSaver bundle to your existing services for only $18 per month. Usually, it costs $31.97 per month for all three subscriptions, so you'll save about $13.97 monthly with this package deal.
Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.
Christina received a B.S. in Business Communication (concentration in writing) from Stevenson University and began her professional journey writing and editing press releases. Since then, she’s written content for a marketing agency, blogged for celebrities, and covered local news, politics, women’s lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and just about everything in between for various publications.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably enjoying live music, studying human design, or embroidering and upcycling clothes. You can follow her on Instagram at @touchinfinity.
