Sony's zombie sequel "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is projected to earn $20 million to $22 million in its four-day domestic debut over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, challenging James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash" for the top spot. The film arrives six months after its predecessor and boasts strong reviews amid light competition. "Avatar: Fire and Ash" seeks $18 million to $19 million in its fifth weekend.
The fourth installment in the "28 Days Later" franchise, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," directed by Nia DaCosta and written by series creator Alex Garland, continues the story in a post-apocalyptic Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus. It brings back stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Alfie Williams as they navigate the ongoing threat.
This sequel follows "28 Years Later," which opened to $30 million over a three-day weekend last June and concluded with $70 million in North America and $150 million globally on a $60 million budget. "The Bone Temple" carries a slightly higher $63 million production cost and benefits from a lack of major competition during the typically slow January period.
Critics have praised the film, giving it a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge described it as “bold, mind-bending work which satisfies that so-often-frustrated craving for a zombie movie with brains.”
Meanwhile, "Avatar: Fire and Ash," the third entry in James Cameron's blockbuster series, has earned $1.23 billion globally but shows signs of slowing after four weeks at number one. It aims to extend its run with $18 million to $19 million over the holiday frame, though its predecessors held the top spot for seven weeks each. The 2009 original grossed $2.9 billion worldwide, while 2022's "The Way of Water" made $2.3 billion.
Elsewhere, Chloe Zhao’s "Hamnet," a Golden Globe winner for best motion picture drama starring Jessie Buckley, expands to 688 theaters after earning $13 million in limited release. Upcoming January releases include Amazon MGM’s "Mercy" with Chris Pratt, Sam Raimi’s "Send Help," and Jason Statham’s "Shelter."
Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian noted, “Patience will be a virtue as we await some of the bigger openers on the way.”
