Zombie Showdown: 28 Years Later Sequel Takes on Avatar

The horror sequel "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is making waves at the box office. It raked in $2.1 million during previews, setting the stage for a big holiday weekend. Experts predict it will bring in $20 million to $22 million over the extended Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

A History of Success

This is not the first time a zombie movie has made a splash. The original "28 Years Later" did well too. It made $5.8 million in previews and ended up with $70 million in North America and $150 million worldwide. The budget for that one was $60 million. The sequel, "The Bone Temple," has a slightly bigger budget of $63 million.

New Director, Familiar Faces

Nia DaCosta is directing this sequel. She's taking over from Danny Boyle, who directed the first "28 Years Later" and the original "28 Days Later" in 2003. The story picks up after the events of the first sequel and follows Ralph Fiennes' character, Ian Kelson, and Jack O'Connell's character, Jimmy Crystal. Alfie Williams is back too, and the movie introduces new faces like Erin Kellyman, Emma Laird, and original star Cillian Murphy.

Competition from "Avatar: Fire and Ash"

But "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" isn't the only big movie out there. It's competing with "Avatar: Fire and Ash," the third installment in James Cameron's epic series. The new "Avatar" movie is expected to bring in $18 million to $19 million in its fifth weekend. The previous "Avatar" movies held the top spot for seven weeks and made over $2 billion each.

The Battle for the Top Spot

So, who will come out on top? The zombie-filled "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" or the action-packed "Avatar: Fire and Ash"? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: movie lovers have a lot to look forward to this holiday weekend.