Danny Boyle’s R-rated horror sequel outpaces major genre releases in Thursday previews, positioning for a $50M+ weekend debut.
Los Angeles | June 23, 2025:
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s latest horror outing, 28 Years Later, has exploded onto the North American box office scene with a strong $5.8 million in Thursday preview earnings—surpassing recent horror hits like Final Destination: Bloodlines and Scream 6, and only trailing Jordan Peele’s Nope.
Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, this long-awaited follow-up to 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later is already positioned to outperform both predecessors by a wide margin.
🔥 Thursday Preview Comparisons:
| Film Title | Preview Collection ($ Million) |
|---|---|
| Nope | $6.7M |
| 28 Years Later | $5.8M |
| Scream 6 | $5.7M |
| Final Destination: Bloodlines | $5.5M |
| Halloween Ends | $5.4M |
| Halloween Kills | $4.9M |
| A Quiet Place II | $4.8M |
| Sinners | $4.7M |
| Scream 5 | $3.5M |
The preview performance reflects growing momentum around horror films in 2025, and 28 Years Later appears poised to become the summer’s biggest genre success story.
🎬 Opening Weekend Forecast
Box office projections now suggest 28 Years Later could rake in $45 million to $50 million in its three-day opening weekend, a massive leap from earlier entries in the series:
- 28 Days Later (2002): $10.06 million
- 28 Weeks Later (2007): $9.8 million
With Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Alfie Williams headlining, the film benefits from strong early audience buzz, a solid “B” CinemaScore (considered decent for R-rated horror), and a growing appetite for intelligent post-apocalyptic thrillers.
👀 What’s Next?
If 28 Years Later maintains its momentum through the weekend, it could not only deliver a franchise-best opening, but also cement its place among the top-grossing horror films of the decade. The combination of prestige talent, nostalgia, and expertly crafted dread is clearly working in its favor.
🏷️ Tags:
28 Years Later, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Danny Boyle, Box Office 2025, Horror Movie Collection, Thursday Preview Collection, Final Destination 6, North America Box Office