The “Rage Virus” has finally ended the long reign of the Na’vi. After 27 consecutive days at the top of the charts, Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: Part II: The Bone Temple has officially knocked James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash out of the number-one daily spot. The horror sequel earned enough momentum to secure the lead during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, marking a significant win for Sony and the genre.
Mixed Signals: A “Dreadful” Opening?
Despite claiming the daily throne, the film’s financial performance is a bit of a mixed bag. The Bone Temple earned $5.6 million on its opening Friday and is currently pacing toward a $13.2 million 3-day and $15 million 4-day domestic debut.
While impressive for an R-rated horror film in the mid-winter “dump month” of January, it represents a steep 53% drop from the $30 million opening of Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, which hit theaters just seven months ago. Analysts are debating whether the quick turnaround between films caused “franchise fatigue” or if the film’s “deranged” and eccentric tone—which includes a bizarre ossuary run by Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes)—was a harder sell for general audiences.
Box Office Comparison: The Rage vs. The Reef
| Metric | 28 Years Later (2025) | The Bone Temple (2026) | Avatar: Fire and Ash (Week 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Weekend | $30 Million | $15 Million (Est.) | $17.6 Million (MLK Frame) |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 89% | 94% | 82% |
| CinemaScore | B | A- | A |
| Production Budget | $60 Million | $63 Million | $250M+ |
High Critical Praise vs. Commercial Reality
What makes these numbers fascinating is the disconnect between critics and the casual moviegoer. The Bone Temple currently holds a franchise-high 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and a rare “A-” CinemaScore.
Audiences who showed up are praising Jack O’Connell’s performance as the villainous, peroxide-blonde cult leader Sir Jimmy Crystal. Unlike the “elevated horror” of the previous installment, DaCosta’s sequel is being described as a “punky, anarchic” gore-fest that leans into the madness of the post-apocalyptic British countryside.
The Cillian Murphy Factor
While the $63 million production budget means the film has a long road to profitability, Sony is playing the long game. The film’s final moments featured the most talked-about cameo of the year: the return of Cillian Murphy as Jim.
By reintroducing Jim in a grounded, domestic setting—teaching history to his daughter before springing into action—the film acts as a massive “teaser” for the third installment. Sony is banking on Murphy’s full-time return to revitalize the box office and bring this ambitious trilogy to a lucrative, star-powered conclusion.
