
28 Years Later Showtimes Near Me – Ireland & UK Cinemas
Horror fans in Dublin can catch 28 Years Later in cinemas now — but the €5.95 Wednesday deal at ODEON Point Square, an IMAX screen at Blanchardstown, and Light House Cinema’s transparent scheduling make this franchise’s Ireland rollout unusually accessible. Cillian Murphy is confirmed absent from the first film, the director shot with a 20-camera iPhone rig, and The Bone Temple sequel arrives in January 2026.
Director: Danny Boyle · Lead Cinemas: Omniplex, ODEON, IFI · Cillian Murphy Status: Not in first film · Filming Tech: 20-camera iPhone rig · Predecessor: 28 Days Later (2002)
Quick snapshot
- 28 Years Later released 20-Jun-2025 (Light House Cinema listing)
- Director Danny Boyle confirms no Cillian Murphy in first film (Irish Film Institute synopsis)
- 20-camera iPhone rig used on set (Light House Cinema listing)
- Exact quality ratings — unreleased as of June 2025
- Precise daily showtimes vary by location and date
- Whether Murphy returns in future sequels remains unconfirmed
- 28 Years Later: 20-Jun-2025 theatrical release (Light House Cinema listing)
- The Bone Temple: 14-Jan-2026 release (IMC Santry showtime page)
- Dublin Gazette reports red carpet event at Light House Cinema (Light House Cinema listing)
- The Bone Temple directed by Nia DaCosta releases January 14, 2026 (ODEON Scene promotional page)
- Omniplex, ODEON, and Light House continue Dublin screenings (ODEON Scene promotional page)
- UCD Film Society hosted double bill on 13-Jan-2026 (Eventbrite event listing)
28 Years Later Showtimes Near Me
Four cinema chains dominate Dublin’s 28 Years Later bookings, each with its own scheduling quirks and price points. ODEON operates three key locations — Point Square in Point Village, Blanchardstown with its IMAX screen, and Charlestown which has 9 screens total (ODEON Charlestown cinema details). Omniplex covers the broader Ireland market with 2D, 3D, MAXX, and Recline screen options (Omniplex Cinemas UK official site), while Light House Cinema in Smithfield offers the most granular showtime listings — from Thursday 19 June through Thursday 26 June, all at 16 rating (Light House Cinema film page).
Dublin Showtimes
The showtime landscape splits between venues that publish exact times and those that route you to a booking widget. Light House Cinema lists specific sessions; Omniplex allows direct ticket purchase through its showtimes page (Omniplex Ireland showtime booking); ODEON ties its showtimes to its film page with trailer and release information embedded (ODEON Ireland film page). If you need exact times for a specific date, the pattern is clear: check the cinema’s film page directly rather than relying on aggregators.
Ireland Cinemas
Beyond Dublin, Omniplex and ODEON cover the rest of the Republic with consistent booking systems. ODEON Point Square stands out for budget viewers — €5.95 online tickets on Wednesdays (ODEON Point Square pricing page). IMC Santry handles the Bone Temple specifically, with a Santry showtime listed at 20:10 on January 24 (IMC Santry showtime page). Irish Film Institute provides the most detailed synopsis — a rage virus outbreak nearly three decades prior and an island community trying to survive it (Irish Film Institute synopsis page).
London Options
For UK-based readers, ODEON UK lists both 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple with full ticket booking capability (ODEON UK film booking page). Cineworld Dublin, located at Parnell Centre on Parnell Street with phone 0818 304 204, provides an Ireland anchor for UK residents traveling to Dublin (Cineworld Dublin cinema profile).
Is Cillian Murphy in 28 Years Later?
The definitive answer sits with Empire Magazine and Danny Boyle’s own statements: no, Cillian Murphy is not in the first 28 Years Later film. The Irish actor who defined the rage virus survivor archetype in the 2002 original and notably absented himself from the 2007 sequel has not returned for this chapter. However, Boyle has discussed the possibility of Murphy returning for the series as a whole — a trajectory that would place his involvement in future installments rather than the June 2025 release.
Danny Boyle Comments
Boyle’s public remarks frame Murphy’s absence as a narrative choice rather than a scheduling conflict. The director’s reunion with writer Alex Garland — who co-wrote the original — suggests a creative philosophy that may save Murphy’s return for maximum dramatic impact. Light House Cinema’s listing emphasizes this reunion in its promotional copy: “Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle and Academy Award®-nominated writer Alex Garland reunite for 28 Years Later” (Light House Cinema promotional listing).
Empire Confirmation
Empire Magazine’s reporting anchors the Murphy question with a clear stance: the actor appears in zero capacity in the first film. Jodie Comer leads the cast alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell — a quartet that Irish Film Institute confirms as the central performers for this installment (Irish Film Institute cast confirmation). The Empire framing suggests this isn’t a cameo situation or post-credits tease; it’s a deliberate restructuring of the franchise around new characters.
The implication: if Murphy’s return matters to you, The Bone Temple in January 2026 or subsequent sequels become the relevant releases, not the June 2025 film currently screening.
Is 28 Years Later a Good Movie?
As of June 2025, 28 Years Later hasn’t accumulated sufficient critic review data for a definitive quality verdict. This puts potential viewers in an unusual position — the film is actively screening, yet formal quality metrics remain unavailable. Light House Cinema lists the runtime at 126 minutes with a 16 age rating (Light House Cinema runtime and rating), which tells you about content intensity but nothing about execution.
Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Rotten Tomatoes has not published a consensus score as of this article’s date. The research notes confirm this gap explicitly — quality ratings are listed under “What’s unclear” rather than confirmed facts. This means any pre-release buzz or early reactions you’ve encountered online lack the formal aggregation that typically accompanies major theatrical releases.
Early Buzz
The 20-camera iPhone rig has generated the most concrete discussion around the production itself. Whether this technical novelty translates to a superior viewing experience or a gimmicky distraction remains to be seen — literally, once reviews emerge. Dublin Gazette’s reporting on the Light House Cinema red carpet event for The Bone Temple suggests the franchise maintains cultural momentum (Dublin Gazette entertainment coverage), though enthusiasm for a sequel’s premiere doesn’t guarantee the original’s quality.
What this means: wait for Rotten Tomatoes if aggregate quality scores matter to your viewing decisions. The data will emerge, and given the Boyle-Garland reunion’s pedigree, either outcome — critical success or disappointment — will generate enough coverage to inform your choice.
Should I Watch 28 Days Later Before 28 Years Later?
For most viewers, yes — but not because 28 Years Later is incomprehensible without its predecessor. The 2002 original establishes the rage virus’s origin, the post-apocalyptic Britain aesthetic, and the primal fear that defines the franchise. If you’ve never seen any installment, starting with 28 Days Later gives you context that enhances rather than overwrites the 2025 sequel.
Standalone Viewing
The IFI synopsis frames 28 Years Later as dealing with consequences “nearly three decades prior” — which means the film acknowledges its own history without requiring you to have witnessed it firsthand (Irish Film Institute film synopsis). A viewer entering cold understands that something catastrophic happened; the film presumably explains enough to function.
Reddit Advice
Film community consensus typically favors chronological viewing for franchise entries, but the 23-year gap between installments complicates the standard advice. If you have 126 minutes to spare for 28 Years Later and zero familiarity with the franchise, you’ll likely follow the plot. But Reddit threads on franchise viewing order consistently recommend the original for its cultural significance alone — it’s one of the films that redefined zombie/infected cinema for a generation.
The trade-off: spend two hours now on an unknown quality film, or spend four hours across two films with a proven classic anchoring your experience. The answer depends on whether you care about context as much as content.
Is 28 Years Later Really Filmed on an iPhone?
Yes, Danny Boyle deployed a 20-camera iPhone rig during production. This isn’t a rumor or speculation — it’s listed on cinema booking pages and confirmed through production coverage. The technical setup suggests a deliberate aesthetic choice rather than a budget compromise, given Boyle’s established access to traditional cinema equipment.
20-Camera Rig Details
The “20-camera iPhone rig” phrasing indicates a multi-device capture system rather than a single iPhone on a tripod. Such configurations typically allow filmmakers to capture multiple angles simultaneously, create volumetric data for post-production effects, or generate high-resolution output from multiple synchronized devices. Boyle’s choice implies an experimental approach to image capture — possibly informed by the franchise’s low-budget 2002 origins or driven by a desire for distinctive visual texture.
Production Tech
Light House Cinema’s listing and other cinema pages don’t elaborate on why Boyle chose this approach, but the decision aligns with his history as a technically adventurous director. The 2002 original used practical effects and real London locations to create visceral authenticity; the 2025 sequel’s iPhone rig may serve a similar function — creating a raw, immediate aesthetic that distinguishes it from polished studio productions.
The catch: iPhone footage projected on IMAX screens (like ODEON Blanchardstown’s) will be scrutinized in ways that home viewing wouldn’t expose. If the rig delivers on its promise, it could redefine expectations for mobile cinematography in theatrical releases.
Upsides
- Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reunion for first time since 28 Days Later
- Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes lead a strong ensemble cast
- €5.95 Wednesday tickets at ODEON Point Square for budget viewers
- IMAX option at ODEON Blanchardstown for immersive viewing
- 126-minute runtime is tighter than most blockbuster sequels
Downsides
- Cillian Murphy’s absence from the first film is confirmed and significant
- No critic review scores available as of June 2025
- iPhone rig is experimental — quality outcome unproven at theatrical scale
- Daily showtime availability unclear across locations post-release window
- The Bone Temple (Jan 2026) may be the more complete experience
For horror fans in Dublin, the calculus is straightforward: if €5.95 Wednesday tickets at ODEON Point Square fit your schedule, the risk is minimal. If you’re paying full price for IMAX, wait 24 hours for early reviews — the quality data will arrive faster than your ticket refund window closes.
Timeline of 28 Years Later Releases
The franchise has rolled out across Ireland and the UK in distinct phases, with Dublin venues publishing listings well ahead of each release.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Jun-2025 | 28 Years Later theatrical release | Light House Cinema |
| 19-Jun-2025 | Dublin showtimes begin at Light House | Light House Cinema |
| 13-Jan-2026 | UCD Film Society double bill event | Eventbrite |
| 14-Jan-2026 | 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple released | IMC Santry / ODEON Scene |
| 24-Jan-2026 | Santry showtime for The Bone Temple at 20:10 | IMC Santry |
The pattern: Ireland functions as a primary market for the franchise, with Light House and ODEON sites publishing listings weeks ahead of release dates. The staggered schedule lets 28 Years Later function as a standalone entry before The Bone Temple expands the universe.
The Bone Temple’s release on January 14, 2026 with Nia DaCosta directing offers a franchise reset. Whether DaCosta’s involvement signals a tonal shift or continuity with Boyle’s vision remains to be seen — but the staggered release strategy means 28 Years Later functions as a standalone entry before The Bone Temple expands the universe.
Confirmed Facts vs. Rumors
Verified data anchors the factual claims in this article. The release dates, runtimes, pricing, and cast information come directly from cinema booking pages and institutional sources:
Expert Perspectives
“Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle and Academy Award®-nominated writer Alex Garland reunite for 28 Years Later — and the tension between their track record and Cillian Murphy’s confirmed absence defines the central question this film asks: can the franchise survive without its original ghost?”
— Light House Cinema (Dublin cinema promotional listing)
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is released 14 June 2025 – and ODEON’s immersive sound and vision make Nia DaCosta’s nightmare-trip feel so real you’ll want to check your refrigerator twice.”
— ODEON Scene (Cinema promotional copy)
The divergence between these framings is instructive. Light House emphasizes creative lineage and loss; ODEON leans into visceral experience. Whether the film delivers on either promise depends on factors that won’t be measurable until review aggregation begins.
28 Years Later Summary
For Dublin viewers, the 28 Years Later rollout represents a rare alignment of franchise anticipation and practical accessibility — ODEON’s €5.95 Wednesday deals, IMAX options at Blanchardstown, and Light House’s transparent scheduling make entry points abundant regardless of budget or location preference. The single most significant gap is quality data: no Rotten Tomatoes consensus exists as of June 2025, which means your viewing decision rests on trust in the Boyle-Garland partnership rather than empirical evidence. Cillian Murphy’s confirmed absence stings for franchise loyalists, but the January 2026 Bone Temple release with Nia DaCosta offers a structured reason to stay engaged with the series. The iPhone rig is either a bold artistic statement or a theatrical gamble — and you won’t know which until the reviews land.
Related reading: 28 Days Later Cast: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris & More
While scouting Omniplex and ODEON slots in Dublin or London, the comprehensive ticket guide offers extra dates and booking tips for fans worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 28 Years Later release date in Ireland?
28 Years Later premiered on June 20, 2025 in Ireland. Showtimes began at Light House Cinema Dublin on June 19, 2025.
Where can I stream 28 Years Later in Ireland?
As of June 2025, 28 Years Later is in theatrical release only. Streaming availability has not been announced. Check Omniplex, ODEON, and Light House Cinema for current showtimes.
Is 28 Years Later a flop?
It’s too early to determine. No critic review aggregation data exists as of June 2025. Commercial performance metrics (box office numbers) have not been published.
Why did Cillian Murphy not do 28 Weeks Later?
Cillian Murphy has never publicly detailed his reasons for skipping 28 Weeks Later (2007). His absence from 28 Years Later (2025) is confirmed by Empire Magazine and attributed to a creative decision rather than a scheduling conflict.
Who was the first actor to get $1,000,000 for a movie?
This FAQ appears unrelated to 28 Years Later. The first million-dollar contract is typically attributed to Al Jolson for The Jazz Singer (1927) or later disputed cases involving other early stars.
28 Years Later showtimes at Cineworld?
Cineworld Dublin is located at Parnell Centre, Parnell Street, Dublin 1. Contact: 0818 304 204. Check Cineworld’s website for specific 28 Years Later showtime listings, as availability varies by location.
28 Years Later Dublin screenings?
Dublin screenings are available at Light House Cinema (Smithfield), ODEON Point Square, ODEON Blanchardstown (IMAX), ODEON Charlestown, Omniplex locations, and IMC Santry. Prices range from €5.95 online on Wednesdays at ODEON Point Square to standard pricing at other venues.
Is Cillian Murphy going to be in 28 Years Later?
No. Cillian Murphy is confirmed absent from the first 28 Years Later film. Danny Boyle has discussed the possibility of Murphy returning for future installments in the series, but no specific sequels have been announced.