28 Days Later...

28 Days Later...

Year: 2003

Runtime: 113 min

Language: English

Director: Danny Boyle

Budget: $8M

ActionSci-FiThrillerHorror

Following a viral outbreak, London is overrun by infected individuals driven by extreme rage. Jim, a bike courier, awakens from a coma to find the city deserted and faces a terrifying new reality. He encounters Selena and Frank, and together they must journey through the dangerous, abandoned streets, evading the relentless and violent infected while desperately seeking refuge and a chance for humanity to endure.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – 28 Days Later... (2003)

Trace every key event in 28 Days Later... (2003) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Break-in at the Laboratory

Late one night, a group of British animal rights activists breaks into a laboratory to free infected chimpanzees used for medical research. Ignoring warnings from the lab staff, they release the Rage virus subjects, leading to a catastrophic event that transforms both the activists and the scientist into raging infected individuals.

Laboratory
2

Jim Awakens from Coma

Twenty-eight days later, Jim, a bicycle courier, awakens from a coma in a deserted hospital without any knowledge of the chaos that has unfolded. As he leaves the hospital, he realizes that he is alone in the city, facing a terrifying new reality with no signs of life around him.

Deserted Hospital, London
3

First Encounter with Infected

While wandering the desolate streets calling out for help, Jim encounters a church filled with crazed infected individuals. As they attack him, he narrowly escapes, only to be rescued by two survivors, Selena and Mark, who understand the dire situation he's found himself in.

Church, London
4

Escape to the Underground

Selena and Mark rush Jim to their hideout in the London Underground. They use explosive charges linked to gasoline pumps to cover their escape from the infected, emphasizing the urgency of their survival in a world overrun by uncontrollable monsters.

London Underground
5

Jim Learns About His Parents

Determined to find his family, Jim insists on visiting his parents' house. Unfortunately, they discover that his parents committed suicide to avoid becoming infected, a grim realization that deepens Jim's sense of loss and isolation in this new world.

Jim's Parents' House
6

Mark's Fatal Infection

That night, the group is attacked by a throng of infected, leading to a critical moment where Mark suffers a deep cut. Selena, understanding the danger of infection, acts decisively and kills him to prevent the virus from spreading, highlighting the harsh realities of their survival.

London
7

Journey through the City

As Jim, Selena, and Hannah travel through the abandoned city, they quickly learn that health and survival are all that matter. Selena's focus on survival complicates their emotional connection, while Jim struggles with his desire for companionship in a world gone mad.

Derelict City
8

Help from Frank and Hannah

They encounter Frank and his daughter Hannah, who have also survived the infection, leading to a temporary sanctuary. Despite the bond that forms among the survivors, Jim and Selena argue about the risks of letting others into their inner circle.

Frank's Flat
9

Supplies Run Low

Frank expresses concern over dwindling supplies, particularly water, and shares a recorded radio message from soldiers claiming to have a solution to the infection. This sparks a glimmer of hope among the group, motivating them to seek help and escape the city.

10

Trapped in a Tunnel

During their escape attempt, the cab they travel in becomes trapped in a tunnel filled with wrecked cars. As a horde of infected approaches, the group races against time to change a flat tire, showcasing their desperation and the constant threat of the infected.

Tunnel
11

The Blockade Encounter

Arriving at the blockade, disaster strikes when Frank is infected by contact with the blood of a corpse. The mood shifts drastically as Frank fights to protect Hannah before succumbing to the infection, forcing the remaining survivors to confront their own mortality.

Blockade
12

Captured by Soldiers

After Frank's tragic fate, Jim, Selena, and Hannah are taken captive by soldiers at a fortified mansion. Major Henry West reveals a disturbing plan for the infected and their method for dealing with the outbreak, forcing Jim to contemplate his next move.

Fortified Mansion
13

Escape from Captivity

In a moment of desperation, Jim escapes from the soldiers and mounts a plan to free Selena and Hannah. He unleashes an infected soldier on the guards, creating chaos that allows them to evade capture and reunite once again as a group.

Fortified Mansion
14

Life-Saving Procedures

Badly injured during their escape, Jim is rushed to a deserted hospital where Selena performs emergency life-saving procedures. Their bond deepens through the ordeal, igniting a romantic connection amid the bleak circumstances they face.

Deserted Hospital
15

A Glimmer of Hope

After another thirty days, a recovering Jim awakens to find a tranquil scene outside a cottage with Selena and Hannah. The survivors unveil a banner reading 'HELLO' for a passing jet, symbolizing their hope and newfound determination for survival in a changed world.

Meadow

Last Updated: May 21, 2025 at 07:30

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Rage Virus Survival Thrillers like 28 Days Later...

Fast-paced stories of civilization collapsing under a swift, mind-altering plague.If you enjoyed the relentless chaos of 28 Days Later..., explore movies featuring similar rage-fueled apocalypses. These films share a high-intensity, fast-paced narrative where a swift viral outbreak turns society into a landscape of immediate, violent danger and desperate survival.

desperatechaoticviolentoppressiveanxioushopelesssurvival

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern centers on a sudden, catastrophic event—often a virus that destroys higher brain function, leaving only primal aggression. Survivors are thrust into a fight for their lives from the very beginning, with the story unfolding as a series of harrowing escapes and tense encounters in a desolate world.

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Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared premise of a swift, aggression-based apocalypse, creating a uniquely chaotic and high-stakes survival experience defined by immediate physical danger and the collapse of social order.

Movies with Desperate Hope like 28 Days Later...

Grim survival journeys where a fragile glimmer of hope contrasts with overwhelming despair.For viewers who appreciated the grim but hopeful ending of 28 Days Later..., this collection features similar stories. These movies balance a heavy, tense atmosphere with a crucial undercurrent of hope, exploring how humanity endures even in the face of civilization's complete collapse.

hopefulbleakdesperatetenseemotionalsurvivalfound familyoppressive

Narrative Summary

The journey is defined by a linear struggle against an overwhelming hostile force, with characters facing profound moral and physical challenges. The emotional arc is heavy, focusing on loss and the cost of survival, but culminates in a conclusion that, while not purely happy, offers a meaningful and hard-won sense of possibility for the future.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films that masterfully balance a dark, tense, and emotionally heavy tone with a crucial, sustaining element of hope. They share a specific emotional mix where the joy of survival is tempered by the scars of the journey, creating a powerful and bittersweet resonance.

Unlock the Full Story of 28 Days Later...

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28 Days Later... Summary

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28 Days Later... Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in 28 Days Later...

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape 28 Days Later.... Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in 28 Days Later...

28 Days Later... Spoiler-Free Summary

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28 Days Later... Spoiler-Free Summary

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