28 Days Later is one of the most influential films of the 21st century. Not only because director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland reinvented the shuffling zombie film as a restless horror thriller with running infected. 28 Days Later has another far greater importance.
The end-time battle for survival was one of the first Hollywood productions to be shot digitally. To shoot scenes like the opening sequence in the deserted streets of London, Boyle and his team had to fast and flexible and decided on a small camcorder from Canon.
Boyle has not lost this rebellious spirit.
Hollywood revolution in franchise cinema: Danny Boyle shot 28 Years Later with an iPhone
According to a report by Wired, the sequel 28 Years Later was also released with unconventional methods Instead of using classic 35mm cameras or modern digital cameras, as is now standard in Hollywood, Boyle decided to shoot with an iPhone.
So far, there has only been one paparazzi photo that has led to speculation about the camera used in 28 Years Later. Several people connected to the production have now revealed to Wired that iPhone 15 Pro Max confirmed as the main camera. In addition, action cameras are said to have been used that were attached to farm animals.
Films shot with iPhones are nothing new. In 2015, the bright, noisy images of Sean Baker’s wild Los Angeles odyssey Tangerine stunned, while Steven Soderbergh used the Apple smartphone as a camera in two films, Unsane (2018) and High Flying Bird (2019).
75 million dollar budget: Danny Boyle turns 28 Years Later into the first iPhone blockbuster
iPhones and other mobile phone cameras have been used in experimental and short film cinema before. Park Chan-wook caused a stir with Night Fishing (2011). What makes 28 Years Later so special? Quite simply: The horror sequel marks the first blockbustershot with an iPhone.
Sony has a budget of 75 million US dollars at stake, not to mention the marketing costs that will be added later. With such sums, Hollywood rarely resort to an experimental approach However, Danny Boyle and cameraman Anthony Dod Mantle are a well-rehearsed team.
Not only did they make history with the original, 28 Days Later. In 2009, Dod Mantle won the Oscar for Best Cinematography for Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Boyle. Dod Mantle was also in one of the Pioneering films of digital cinema involved: Thomas Vinterberg’s The Celebration from 1998.
When does 28 Years Later come to theaters?
Filming for 28 Days Later has now been completed. June 19, 2025 The film will be released in German cinemas. In addition to Cillian Murphy, the cast includes Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes. 28 Years is the third film in the series after 28 Days and 28 Weeks and is intended to be the start of a new trilogy.