28 Years Later's projected box office sees the long-awaited sequel having the biggest opening in the franchise. Written by Oscar-nominee Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle, the third installment in the horror franchise will arrive in theaters on June 20, 18 years after the sequel, 28 Weeks Later, and 23 years after the original 28 Days Later. The original star, Cillian Murphy, will return to star later in the threequel that features Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Aaron Tayloer-Johnson, and more.

According to Deadline, 28 Years Later is projected to have the biggest opening in the franchise. Within the first 24 hours of the pre-sale becoming available, the latest horror flick outperformed Sinners and Final Destination Bloodlines as the best horror ticket pre-seller in 2025, outpacing Nosferatu and Alien: Romulus' pre-sale records in 2024. The movie is expected to make more than $34 million at the opening weekend box office.

What This Means For 28 Years Later

28 Years Later's Opening Might Be Larger Than The Previous Two Movies Combined

28 Days Later grossed around $10 million at the opening box office and made more than $82 million worldwide during its theatrical run against an $8 million budget. The sequel, 28 Weeks Later, had a domestic opening of $9.8 million and ended its run with around $65 million worldwide against a $15 production budget. Based on the projected numbers from presale, 28 Years Later might end up having a bigger opening weekend than the two previous movies combined, with the projected earnings near half of the 2007 sequel's total score.

Robert Eggers' highly-rated Nosferatu remake ended its theatrical run at $181 million, while Final Destination Bloodlines has grossed over $236 million. Meanwhile, Sinners have recently ed $350 million globally, similar to Alien: Romulus. Judging by the presale, 28 Years Later has a huge chance of ending in that range, which means the movie could sur and even double what the previous two installments have earned in total (around $150 million).

Our Take on 28 Years Later's Box Office

28 Years Later Has The Potential To Be The Highest-Grossing Film In The Franchise

It's not a surprise that the new horror pic is a smash hit at presale, especially after 28 Years Later's trailer made a huge wave at debut last year. The movie has been among the top list of horror fans' most anticipated titles in 2025, with many having waited for more than two decades. However, it's also worth noting that the exact number of the movie's earnings at presale hasn't been disclosed.

28 Years Later reportedly has a $60 million production budget, which is significantly larger than the previous two films. To turn a profit, the movie would have to make more than $120, which, judging by moviegoers' enthusiasm, could be achieved sooner rather than later.

Source: Deadline