28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Box Office Disappointment: A Closer Look at Sony's Latest Horror Film
Sony's latest horror film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, had a disappointing opening weekend at the box office. Despite initial high expectations, the movie only brought in $15 million domestically and $16.2 million internationally, totaling $31.2 million worldwide. The film, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, was projected to earn $20–22 million over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend but fell short of those estimates.
The movie's opening weekend numbers were significantly lower than its predecessor, 2025's 28 Years Later, which opened with $30,002,966 domestically and grossed $70.4 million in North America. Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland, The Bone Temple stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, and Alfie Williams. Despite its underwhelming box office performance, the film has received positive reviews, holding a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, the highest in the franchise.
The story of The Bone Temple continues the Rage Virus saga, with Spike joining Jimmy Crystal's gang and Dr. Kelson making a world-altering discovery. Cillian Murphy makes a brief appearance as Jim, setting the stage for the next sequel. Despite the disappointing box office numbers, Sony has confirmed a third installment in the franchise following this release.
In comparison, Avatar: Fire and Ash aimed to earn $12–14 million in its fifth weekend and reached a global total of $1.23 billion. Projections had expected The Bone Temple to surpass Avatar's earnings, but the film did not meet those expectations. Both The Bone Temple and Avatar: Fire and Ash are currently showing in theaters.
Despite its box office performance, The Bone Temple has garnered praise for Nia DaCosta's direction and the performances of Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell. Sony's confirmation of a third installment indicates that the franchise will continue to expand. Fans can catch both 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Avatar: Fire and Ash in theaters now.