The director of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has addressed the film's disappointing box office performance, even as fans remain in limbo regarding the future of the planned trilogy.

Despite receiving critical acclaim—including an impressive 8/10 from IGN—the film struggled to find a massive audience. While its predecessor, 28 Years Later, enjoyed significant commercial success with a $151 million global haul, The Bone Temple earned just $58 million worldwide upon its January 2026 release.

Nia DaCosta Reflects on The Bone Temple Box Office

In a recent interview with Empire, director Nia DaCosta expressed her surprise at the disconnect between critical reception and ticket sales. She noted that while the film hit nearly every metric for quality, the financial results didn't follow suit.

“It’s so funny, because literally every barometer we use in the industry to determine whether or not a movie is good, and people like it and want to see it, was through the roof, and yet our box office wasn’t there,” DaCosta stated. “I made a great film, and I’m really proud of it, and people liked it.”

DaCosta also touched upon the possibility that timing played a role in the lower returns. She suggested that the rapid release schedule following the first installment might have caused some audience confusion.

  • The Release Gap: The Bone Temple arrived only six months after 28 Years Later.
  • Audience Confusion: DaCosta noted fans often mistook it for a re-release of the previous film.
  • Financial Disparity: The sequel earned roughly one-third of its predecessor's total.

The Uncertain Future of the 28 Years Later Trilogy

With the release of The Bone Temple behind us, the biggest question remains: will a third installment ever arrive? While there has been significant radio silence regarding a concrete production schedule, several key players have expressed interest in completing the saga.

In March, Cillian Murphy indicated his desire to finish the trilogy following his cameo appearance in The Bone Temple. Furthermore, Sony confirmed back in December that they were moving forward with a third entry—a decision made over a month before The Bone Temple even hit theaters.

The creative DNA of the franchise remains intact, as Alex Garland, the writer for all entries in the series, is reportedly working on the untitled third film. Additionally, original director Danny Boyle has been vocal about his interest in returning to the director's chair to helm the conclusion. Whether these plans materialize depends heavily on the momentum generated by the franchise's recent performance.