Guess who’s down with the sickness? It’sZack Snyder’s feature directorial debut,Dawn of the Dead, which was recently overtaken at the global box office by fellow zombie thriller28 Years Later. Released in 2004,Dawn of the Deadwas a remake ofGeorge A. Romero’s genre classic of the same name; it helped reinvigorate zombie movies for a new generation of audiences, incidentally, alongside the first28 Days Later. Directed byDanny Boyle, the original film was released in 2002, and ended up grossing around $85 million at the worldwide box office.
Thenew movie passed the coveted $100 million mark globallyonly a few days ago. Its cumulative worldwide box office haul currently stands at $106 million, whileDawn of the Deadconcluded its run with just under $104 million globally. Written byJames Gunn, who’s now a major filmmaker and studio executive,Dawn of the Deadwas produced on a reported budget of $26 million. Snyder directed a spiritual successor,Army of the Dead, for Netflix a few years ago. With a 77% score onRotten Tomatoes, hisDawn of the Deadremake was appreciated for its gore and social commentary, as well as its edgier presentation of the undead.
The movie continued in the tradition of28 Days Later, which is generally credited with introducing the world to fast-moving zombies. StarringCillian Murphy, the film holds an 87% score onRotten Tomatoes. Both28 Days LaterandDawn of the Deadhavebecome cult classics over the years, influencing a host of films and shows inthe zombie genre, which experienced a surge in popularityaround a decade ago.28 Days Laterwas produced on a reported budget of just $8 million;28 Years Later, on the other hand,cost a reported $60 million to produce.
A Sequel to ‘28 Years Later’ Has Already Been Filmed
It marks a reunion between Boyle and writerAlex Garland, who also worked on the first film. The movie debuted to positive reviews from critics — it holds an 89% score onRotten Tomatoes— although audiences seemed to be more divided. They’ve given it a so-so 64% score on the aggregator website. StarringAaron Taylor-Johnson,Jodie Comer,Ralph Fiennes, and newcomerAlfie Williams,28 Years Lateris expected to start a new trilogy of films. A second installment, titled28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, has already been filmed with directorNia DaCostaat the helm, and is ready for a January release. A third part, set to be directed by Boyle, will be green-lit if these movies do well enough. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
28 Years Later
