The 2025 box office has been packed with memorable horror movies. From fresh new stories such as Ryan Coogler‘s box office smash Sinners and Zach Cregger‘s Weapons to hit franchise entries such as The Conjuring: Last Rites and Final Destination Bloodlines, horror fans have been treated to one of the finest years in the genre’s modern history. Among these was the long-awaited release of 28 Years Later, which didn’t disappoint as it sprinted like an Alpha to an 88%, “certified fresh” Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics.

Just as the latest installment in the franchise makes its Netflix debut, the film that began it all is also a hit on a different streaming site. Directed by Danny Boyle and penned by Alex Garland, the groundbreaking horror movie 28 Days Later, which stars a young Cillian Murphy alongside Naomie Harris and Brendan Gleeson, is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Pluto in the U.S., at the time of writing. Many years before he won his first Academy Award for a stunning central performance in Christopher Nolan’s biographical thriller Oppenheimer, Murphy portrayed Jim in 28 Days Later, helping redefine the zombie horror sub-genre without the film technically containing any zombies. For those yet to see it, a synopsis for 28 Days Later reads:

“A group of misguided animal rights activists free a caged chimp infected with the “Rage” virus from a medical research lab. When London bike courier Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma a month after, he finds his city all but deserted. On the run from the zombie-like victims of the Rage, Jim stumbles upon a group of survivors, including Selena (Naomie Harris) and cab driver Frank (Brendan Gleeson), and joins them on a perilous journey to what he hopes will be safety.”

’28 Days Later’ Is a Genre-Defining Masterpiece

As impressive as the recent installment was, the first of a new trilogy set to continue early next year with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, nothing can quite top the masterpiece that is 28 Days Later. Sporting impressive ratings from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, the site’s critics’ consensus reads, “Kinetically directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Days Later is both a terrifying zombie movie and a sharp political allegory.” Said political allegory is as affecting as any bloody violence, with the final showdown leaving 2002 audiences with jaws that remain on the floor to this day.

28 Days Later is streaming now on Pluto TV. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.