28 Weeks Later Ending Explained & Plot (series Summary 2007)

28 Weeks Later, 2007 is a British zombie thriller that inherits the worldview of its predecessor ‘28 Days Later’—known as a legend in the “running zombie series”—and delivers even more intense horror and social commentary. The film starts 28 weeks after the United Kingdom has been devastated by the “rage virus,” as NATO forces led by the US military begin to rebuild London and refugees start to return.

However, the virus has not completely disappeared and lurks like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment. The movie goes beyond being a simple zombie flick, sharply portraying the reunion and separation of a family, human selfishness and responsibility, and the violence of the military and authority, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Titled “The Rebuilding and Destruction of London,” this work expands the scale from the isolated horror of the previous film to a large-scale disaster where the fates of the military, the nation, and a family are intertwined.

‘28 Weeks Later’ is a post-apocalyptic work depicting the world after a pandemic has seemingly ended, only for infection to explode again. The setting is the UK, specifically London 28 weeks after the events of ‘28 Days Later…’ While the rage virus appeared to have “ended” on the surface as the infected starved to death, the world descends into chaos again when a family is reunited.

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who has drawn attention in the Spanish film industry, once again displays a fast pace, intense visual effects, and a raw depiction of the dark side of human nature in this film. In particular, the husband’s choice to abandon his wife, who is being chased by zombies, at the beginning of the movie deeply shocks and sparks controversy among viewers. The theme of “loss of family” is repeated throughout the film, ultimately showing how human choices can cause enormous repercussions.

‘28 Weeks Later’ contains multiple layers of messages: the terror of running zombies, the coercive control of the military, asymptomatic carriers, and the sacrifice and solidarity of a family. The film realistically depicts a disaster situation, using the backdrop of Wembley Stadium, the River Thames, and the ruins of downtown London. Compared to its predecessor, which is considered a “textbook of zombie movies,” this film expands the scale and adds realistic political messages.

28 Weeks Later 2007

Korean: 28주 후 | English: 28 Weeks Later | Japanese: 28週後 |
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo | Screenplay: Rowan Joffe, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Enrique López Lavigne, Jesús Olmo | Adaptation: –
Producers: Andrew Macdonald, Alan Nixon, Enrique López Lavigne
Cast: Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, Catherine McCormack, Idris Elba
Cinematography: Enrique Chediak | Music: John Murphy | Martial Arts: –
Filming Period: –
Production Companies: DNA Films, Figment Films, Sociedad de Producción Audiovisual | Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release Date: May 11, 2007
Running Time: 99 minutes
Production Budget: About $15 million | Break-even Point: –
Box Office: About $65 million worldwide (no Korean audience count)
Where to Watch: Netflix, Wavve, Apple TV, Coupang, Disney+, etc.

28 weeks later ending explained & plot Summary 2007

28 Days Later (2002)

Director: Danny Boyle | Screenplay: Alex Garland | Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomi Harris, etc.

The film begins at the Cambridge University Medical Research Institute, where animal rights activists release experimental chimpanzees, causing the rage virus to leak and spread throughout the UK. The rage virus is transmitted through blood and saliva, and those infected become completely violent within 20 seconds.

The protagonist Jim (Cillian Murphy) falls into a coma after a car accident and wakes up in a hospital 28 days later, only to find London deserted. Jim struggles to survive with other survivors and eventually reaches a military refuge, but another danger awaits him there.

The film deeply explores humanity, survival, and the cycle of violence, opening a new horizon for modern zombie movies.

At the end, Jim, Selena, and Hannah send a rescue signal, leaving a sense of hope.

28 Weeks Later (2007)

Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo | Starring: Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, etc.

Set 28 weeks (about 7 months) after the previous film, NATO and US forces enter a UK devastated by the rage virus, establish a quarantine zone, and citizens who fled abroad begin to return.

The story centers on the family of Donald, Alice, Tammy, and Andy, who try to survive as the virus leaks again within the quarantine zone, infected attack, and the military responds with force. The film emphasizes asymptomatic carriers (those with antibodies), the violent control of the military, the separation and reunion of the family, and the darkness of human nature.

28 Years Later (2025)

Director: Danny Boyle again, screenplay by Alex Garland, released in Korea on June 19, 2025.

‘28 Years Later’ ignores the ending of ‘28 Weeks Later’ and is produced as a direct sequel to ‘28 Days Later.’

This film is set in the UK 28 years after the virus outbreak. While the European continent has repelled the virus, the UK mainland remains isolated. The protagonist is Spike (Alfie Williams), a 12-year-old boy born on Holy Island, who goes on an adventure with his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) to the virus-ravaged mainland.

This film introduces new horrors: massive zombies that eat insects, zombies that hunt in packs, and evolved infected led by a leader called “Alpha.” The movie goes beyond a simple survival thriller, posing questions about humanity, family, and death, and deeply examines the lives of both the infected and survivors.

28 Weeks Later Ratings

Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Naver Viewer Rating: 7.0

IMDb: 6.9…

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Director Filmography

A director who has drawn attention in the Spanish film industry, he has directed works in various genres such as ‘Intacto’ (2005) and ‘Eva’ (2011). In this film, he once again displays a style that features a fast pace, intense visual effects, and a raw portrayal of the dark side of human nature. The final Paris scene was added after guerilla filming on location by the director and crew, without prior planning.

28 Weeks Later Cast

Don (Robert Carlyle @robertcarlyle_): The father of Andy and Tammy, tormented by guilt after abandoning his wife, who was being chased by zombies.

Alice (Catherine McCormack): A “carrier” who is infected with the virus but does not develop symptoms.

Scarlet (Rose Byrne @rosebyrne): The chief medical officer of the military, who protects the siblings and tries to uncover the truth about the virus.

Doyle (Jeremy Renner @jeremylehnerofficial): A military sniper who helps the siblings and Scarlet escape.

Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton): The son of Don and Alice, a boy with immunity to the virus.

Tammy (Imogen Poots): Andy’s older sister, who sacrifices herself to protect her brother.

Idris Elba, Harold Perrineau, Catherine McCormack, and other supporting actors also appear.

28 Days Later Series Virus Features

The rage virus is a fictional virus that plays a central role in the ‘28 Days Later’ series. Originally, two scientists at Cambridge University tried to develop a drug by isolating anger regulation factors from nerve cells to reduce the violence of criminals. Initially, they experimented with injections and pills, but the effects were minimal. They concluded that an aerosol form would amplify the effect, so they modified Ebola to create the virus. However, when tested on chimpanzees, the virus mutated and the rage virus was born.

During this process, one scientist, after reporting the experiment to animal rights activists, committed suicide with a pistol. The other tried to resolve the situation, but animal rights activists stormed the lab and released the chimpanzees, causing the virus to leak and spread throughout the UK.

The rage virus infects people within 20–30 seconds if blood or bodily fluids enter the body. The infected vomit blood, their eyes turn red, and they shed blood tears. They lose reason and intelligence, and their violence is maximized. When they spot a target, they immediately scream, run towards them, bite, scratch, stab, and beat—seeking only destruction. Even a single drop of bodily fluid from the infected can cause infection, and the speed and power of infection are extremely fast and strong.

Unlike traditional zombies, rage virus victims do not crave human flesh but only seek destruction and violence. Their physical abilities are similar to or slightly stronger than humans, and they can run at full speed without tiring. In fact, during filming, short-distance runners were cast as infected for their speed. However, their durability is the same as ordinary humans, and they can be easily killed by bullets. The infected cannot consume nutrients and eventually starve to death. In the initial setting, almost all infected died within a month, but in ‘28 Weeks Later,’ asymptomatic carriers (those with antibodies) appear, becoming the trigger for the virus to spread again. These carriers are infected but do not show symptoms and are isolated, but they are like ticking time bombs who can spread the virus to others through bodily contact.

Unlike traditional zombies, the rage virus infected are alive, so their durability is low and their body composition is the same as humans. In the movie, the infected constantly vomit blood and drool, and their dehydration is so severe that it would be difficult for them to survive long in reality. However, the film depicts them surviving for about a month. In ‘28 Weeks Later,’ it was thought that the infected had died, but in ‘28 Years Later,’ the virus is shown to have evolved, and the infected are still surviving. Thus, the rage virus is distinguished from traditional zombies by its infectiousness, speed of onset, and violence.

28 Weeks Later Plot Summary

Don and Alice are hiding with other survivors at an elderly couple’s house on the outskirts of London. Meanwhile, their children, Tammy and Andy, are on a school trip to Spain. One day, a boy knocks on the door and asks to be let in, so Don cautiously lets him in. However, because of this boy, infected soon burst into the house, and Don abandons his wife and the group, escaping alone. Don barely makes it to a US military camp and, thanks to his cooperation, becomes the manager of the quarantine zone.

Twenty-eight weeks after the rage virus incident, the virus outbreak depicted in the previous film ‘28 Days Later’ appears to be over. The infected have starved to death over time, and NATO forces led by the US military have secured London and established a quarantine zone to protect citizens. British people who fled abroad are returning one after another, and it seems that the UK is being reborn. During this process, Don (Robert Carlyle) works as a “reconstruction manager” at a military facility and prepares to reunite with his family.

Meanwhile, Don’s children, Tammy and Andy, who went on a school trip to Spain and avoided the disaster, return to the safe zone. While relieved to be reunited with their father after a long time, they are left with questions about their mother’s death. Heartbroken after hearing from their father that their mother is dead, Tammy and Andy sneak out of London to return to their original house to bring back at least one photo so they won’t forget their mother’s face. However, at the house, they find their mother Alice, who they thought was dead, still alive. Alice, despite being bitten by an infected, is unusually calm and shows no signs of infection. In fact, she is a “carrier” who is infected with the virus but does not develop symptoms.

NATO soldiers who followed Tammy and Andy safely secure Alice. The military doctor, Major Scarlet, takes note of this unique constitution and values Alice as research material. When Don learns that his children have sneaked out, he hears from the military that his wife and children have returned and rushes to see Alice. Finally reunited, Don and Alice shed tears and share a kiss of joy. In this moment, Don, without thinking, kisses Alice out of emotional reunion.

However, the virus is transmitted to Don through Alice’s saliva, and within seconds, Don loses his reason, brutally kills Alice, and attacks people in the facility one after another, plunging London into the flames of infection again. The NATO forces, belatedly grasping the situation, try to evacuate civilians and set up a containment line, but they cannot distinguish between the infected and the uninfected, causing confusion. When the situation becomes uncontrollable, NATO declares Code Red, ordering the killing of everyone except allies.

This excessive violence does not lead to the containment of the infected but rather amplifies the chaos. The safe zone is completely destroyed, and London becomes hell again. After that, an Apache helicopter attacks the vehicle the protagonists are in, an F-15E fighter jet drops napalm in a large-scale bombing, and chemical weapons are used. Throughout the film, civilians are attacked even when it is clearly confirmed that they are not infected, which seems to be due to the possibility of other carriers. It seems that, like Don’s wife, even if someone is infected, it was thought that the virus would manifest after an incubation period.

The medical officer, Major Scarlet, and sniper Sergeant Doyle protect Tammy and Andy to the end. Major Scarlet believes that the children have antibodies and could be the key to solving the rage virus, so she tries to escape with them. Doyle refuses the order to kill civilians and leaves the scene. While fleeing, the zombies attacking the car the group is in are killed one after another by NATO’s biochemical gas, and Doyle, who goes outside alone to push the car, is burned alive by a flamethrower from the NATO forces.

Scarlet, who barely manages to drive the car and escape, takes the siblings and tries to flee into the subway, but Tammy and Andy trip over a corpse and fall. Just as they are regaining consciousness, they are attacked by Don, who is filled with rage. Scarlet is beaten to a pulp with the butt of Doyle’s rifle by Don and exits the scene.

28 Weeks Later Ending

Andy is attacked by his father Don, and Tammy, with tears in her eyes, shoots her father Don with Doyle’s rifle. At this point, Andy tries to run away because he is infected, but Tammy never abandons her brother. The siblings promise never to be separated again. They hide this fact and head to Wembley Stadium, where a helicopter is waiting, with their infected brother.

The NATO pilot Flynn, who was waiting after receiving contact from Doyle, is confused by the presence of the siblings instead of his colleague Doyle and the news of Doyle’s death, but he honors his colleague’s request and does not doubt Tammy’s actions. Eventually, he takes the siblings on board the helicopter and escapes from the UK.

In the final scene, the abandoned helicopter’s communication is shown, followed by an image of infected people running in front of the Eiffel Tower, implying that the virus has crossed the sea and spread to the continent. The film ends on a dark note: although the situation in the UK appears to have calmed down six months after the infection outbreak, London becomes hell again due to the family’s reunion, emotional conflict, and the military’s failure to control the situation, and the virus spreads to the European continent.

28 Weeks Later Ending Explained

The film contains a very ironic and heavy theme: “the reunion of just one family” leads to the collapse of the world. The fact that the trigger for the re-spread of infection was the “kiss,” an intimate act, further emphasizes the film’s message. The ending of ‘28 Weeks Later’ is also a direct setup for the sequel ‘28 Years Later…,’ released in June 2025, and hints at the further expansion of the series’ worldview.

The key to the story is the unique constitution of Don’s wife, Alice. She is the first “carrier” in the series—infected with the rage virus but not developing symptoms. In this state, she carries the virus but appears healthy, so there is a risk of infecting others through contact. The military isolates her and treats her as a research subject, but the management is too lax, and she is not considered a top-priority target, which later becomes the foundation of tragedy. Don, who had been tormented by guilt after abandoning his wife, explodes with emotion upon learning that Alice is alive, breaks into the quarantine zone, kisses her, and becomes infected with the rage virus. The rage virus manifests within 10–20 seconds, so he immediately becomes violent, kills Alice, and attacks the surrounding residents and soldiers, rapidly spreading the virus.

After infection, Don becomes “the worst infected.”

After infection, Don is not just an ordinary infected person but becomes a strange being obsessed with his son, chasing him to the end. He shows abnormal obsession with his son Andy and is eventually killed by his daughter Tammy. Don suggests that “infected people retain fragments of memory or emotion,” and his regret, love, and obsession are expressed in distorted actions.

The film suggests that in a pandemic situation, not only scientific threats but also human emotions can be the greatest threat. Ultimately, only Tammy and Andy survive. Andy, bitten by Don, is infected but, like his mother Alice, does not develop symptoms and is a “carrier.”

The two board the helicopter piloted by Flynn and escape the UK mainland. In the ending, images of infected people running in Paris are shown, implying that Andy may have become a source of virus spread and that the pandemic has spread to the European continent.

28 Weeks Later Box Office

Production budget: about $15 million. Worldwide box office: $65 million, making it a hit. Highly praised by fans of the zombie genre. Unlike the previous film, ‘28 Days Later’ (production budget $8 million, box office $84.66 million), this film expands the scale to a large-scale disaster where the fates of the military, the nation, and the family are intertwined, drawing the audience in.

28 Weeks Later Review

One-line review of ‘28 Weeks Later’: The humanity of children searching for their mother and the irony of the pandemic

In ‘28 Weeks Later,’ the story of the survivors is not simply about “people who survived.” In particular, Andy is a being who carries the virus out into the world, and his existence hints that he will be the key to the story of the sequel ‘28 Years Later…’ Tammy and Andy escape the UK by helicopter with the help of the US military, but the ending shows infected people running through the Paris subway and in front of the Eiffel Tower, hinting at the disaster of the pandemic.

On the surface, it is a film about being saved from zombies infected with the virus, but in reality, it is a film that foreshadows another disaster. It is a ridiculous pandemic movie where the world is destroyed because of just one family. Note that although they are part of the same ‘28 Days Later’ series, ‘28 Weeks Later’ and ‘28 Years Later’ are completely different stories.

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