What's happened
This weekend, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' debuted at number one, earning $13 million, overtaking 'Avatar: Fire and Ash.' The box office shows a strong start to 2026, with major franchises and new releases performing well globally and domestically.
What's behind the headline?
The box office landscape in early 2026 indicates a promising start for Hollywood after a challenging 2025. The debut of '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' at number one, with $13 million, underscores a renewed audience appetite for horror and franchise films. The film's success, driven by Ralph Fiennes' performance and strong reviews, suggests that well-executed sequels can still dominate the box office. Meanwhile, major franchises like 'Zootopia 2' and 'Avatar' continue to perform strongly, with 'Zootopia 2' surpassing $1.7 billion globally, cementing its status as a top-grossing animated film. The overall increase in revenues—up 23% from last year—reflects a recovering industry, optimistic about upcoming blockbuster releases such as new Marvel, Spider-Man, and 'Dune' films. The sustained performance of these titles indicates that audiences are eager for high-profile entertainment, and studios are likely to invest heavily in franchise and franchise-related content to capitalize on this momentum.
What the papers say
The articles from NY Post, The Independent, and AP News collectively highlight the shifting box office dynamics in early 2026. The NY Post reports that '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' overtook 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' at number one, with a debut of $13 million, emphasizing the film's immediate success. The Independent notes that the film has grossed $342.6 million in North America after four weeks, confirming its strong performance. AP News echoes this, stating the film earned $13 million over the weekend and is part of a broader trend of industry recovery, with 'Zootopia 2' and other titles maintaining high global grosses. While some sources praise the film's boldness and franchise potential, others point to the overall positive outlook for Hollywood's box office prospects in 2026, driven by high-profile releases and increased audience engagement.
How we got here
The film '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' is the fourth installment in the franchise, directed by Nia DaCosta and based on a script by Alex Garland. It follows the success of previous entries and is part of a broader trend of revitalized interest in horror and franchise films in early 2026.
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