“Fire and Ash Dominates Domestic Box Office”
Avatar: Fire and Ash, directed by James Cameron, has been a box office success, dominating ticket sales since its release on December 19, 2025. However, its 27-day reign at the top of the domestic box office has ended following the previews of a new horror film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
Big Box Office Changes
As the preview screenings of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple kicked off, the film earned $2.1 million domestically just before its full release. In comparison, Avatar: Fire and Ash secured $1.48 million, placing it in second position on the daily box office chart. With the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend approaching, it appears The Bone Temple is set to challenge Avatar’s influence in cinemas nationwide.
About 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Directed by Nia Da Costa, this latest installment revives the zombie narrative established by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland nearly three decades ago. Though there were concerns regarding the long gap since the previous film, 28 Weeks Later in 2007, the anticipation proved worthwhile.
Critical Reception
- Release Date: January 16, 2026
- Runtime: 109 minutes
- Director: Nia Da Costa
- Producers: Andrew Macdonald, Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, Peter Rice
Upon its release, The Bone Temple garnered significant critical acclaim, achieving a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This marks a substantial improvement from its predecessor, 28 Years Later, which received a 63% rating. The audience consensus has also shifted positively, with The Bone Temple reaching a 90% approval rating, surpassing the audience score of 85% for 2003’s 28 Days Later.
Audience Reactions and Future Prospects
Critics have described The Bone Temple as a “scary, savvy fright fest,” highlighting impressive performances from actors such as Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes. Audience members have expressed overwhelming praise, with one reviewing it as “amazing, no notes.”
Despite the rapid release of The Bone Temple, fans may face a longer wait for the trilogy’s concluding part, which will see Danny Boyle return to direct. The future of this franchise looks promising, especially given the current momentum generated by The Bone Temple.
