The streaming age creates the illusion of infinite availability. Where you previously had to purchase a VHS cassette or a DVD, you can now access the film you want with just a click. But anyone who has ever looked for a title outside of the usual suspects will quickly realize that availability is very relative.
Even a film that was omnipresent 20 years ago can now pass as a rarity. The best example: 28 Days Later. When the trailer for the sequel to the groundbreaking zombie shocker was unveiled several weeks ago, it turned out that the original neither as a stream nor as DVD and Blu-ray was available for purchase.
Now the film has finally made it back into the digital offering.
Just in time for the sequel: After more than two years, you can finally stream 28 Days Later again
Between end times and horror, 28 Days Later tells the story of a virus that is spreading at breakneck speed in Great Britain. After 28 days, young Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up in an abandoned hospital and finds that the rest of the streets of London are deserted.
You can watch the trailer for 28 Days Later here:
28 Days Later – Trailer (German subtitles) HD
In his search for answers, he meets other survivors. However, he quickly realizes that he can no longer trust anyone in this world. They were revolutionary for the zombie myth back then Frenzy of the Infected. From a cinematic perspective, the nightmare directed by Danny Boyle is a pioneer of digital cinema.
However, it has not been available on any streaming service for over two years. Initially you could stream 28 Days Later with a subscription on Amazon Prime and Netflix, among others. From January 2021 it was also available on Disney+ together with the sequel 28 Weeks Later. However, if you are currently looking for the film there, you will only find part 2.
Unexpected horror rarity: Why wasn’t 28 Days Later available to stream for over two years?
In November 2022, Disney+ removed the film from its streaming catalog. As is often the case in such cases, the reason for this was the legal situation. It wasn’t until February 2024 that producer Andrew Macdonald was able to Buy back rights to the film and make a deal with Sony, who are now handling the digital re-release.
Sony has a clear interest in the availability of 28 Days Later: The studio is releasing the third film in the series, namely 28 Years Later, into cinemas this year. On June 19, 2025 the time has come – and this is just the beginning. Two more films are planned, which together with 28 Years Later will form a new trilogy.
The new film brings back the two biggest names from the original behind the camera: director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland. Meanwhile, in front of the camera we can look forward to fresh faces in the post-apocalypse: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes plunge into the fight for survival.
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