109 min | R | January 16, 2026 | Sony Pictures
Watched most of this through the cracks in my fingers. Strong world-building for the “28 Years” universe, but a gaping plot hole sinks whatever story they were trying to tell. Bonus points for releasing close enough to the first film that I didn’t need a refresher.
Some standout performances here. Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell do good work with what they’re given. Nia DaCosta brings genuine dread to the infected sequences. The world-building continues to impress. Twenty-eight years into the outbreak, the series has built something that feels lived-in and coherent.
But there’s a plot hole at the center of this thing that I can’t get past. Won’t spoil it, but once you notice it, the whole structure falls apart. The movie asks you to accept something that makes no sense given everything else it’s established. That’s fatal for a story trying to maintain tension.
Similar problems plagued the first installment. These films look great, they’re well-acted, and they nail the visceral horror of the infected. But the scripts keep undermining themselves. The dread works moment to moment. The narrative doesn’t hold up to any scrutiny.
Credit where it’s due: shooting this back-to-back with 28 Years Later means character continuity actually works. I remembered who everyone was and why I should care. More franchises should do this instead of waiting five years between sequels and expecting audiences to remember the details.
Not much else here stands out or holds up. If you liked the first one, you’ll probably tolerate this. If you had reservations, this won’t change your mind.