Why Was ’28 Years Later’ Shot on an iPhone? Contained in the Thriller’s Filming Methodology

The virus has returned.

After practically 20 years, the third installment from the 28 Days Later franchise, 28 Years Later, is lastly coming to theaters. The film, which premiered on June 20, picks up 28 years after the rage-inducing virus escaped a organic weapons laboratory and practically destroyed the whole lot.

The sequel follows a bunch of people that survived the virus and moved to a quarantined island off the coast of Britain. Nonetheless, the island’s peace will get uprooted after somebody leaves the protected space and “discovers secrets and techniques, wonders and horrors which have mutated not solely the contaminated however different survivors as effectively,” in response to the movie’s synopsis.

Within the first film, director Danny Boyle purposely used a camcorder that mirrored that point interval to make the footage really feel extra sensible and like a documentary. When it got here to the third movie, Boyle wished to stay constant, so he and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle filmed with a number of iPhones moderately than conventional high-tech cameras.

“It’s very mild, it’s low-cost, and it allowed us to go to locations that had been very distant and bore little or no proof of human presence for a lot of, many, a few years,” Boyle advised IndieWire in June 2025.

Along with utilizing as much as 20 iPhones on the similar time, he additionally utilized drones and Panasonic cameras, as effectively.

Here is the whole lot to learn about why and the way 28 Years Later was filmed on an iPhone.

Why was 28 Years Later filmed on an iPhone?

One of many causes 28 Days Later turned such a success when it premiered in 2002 was as a result of Boyle purposely used a digicam that was of the occasions. When he filmed the primary film, Boyle used eight Canon XL-1 digital cameras and have become one of many first administrators to shoot a film within the documentary type, in response to Wired.

“I used to be shocked how violent it was, and I used to be very pleased with how visceral it was, and I believed, ‘Yeah, we did the proper factor,’ ” Boyle advised IndieWire of the primary movie. “Utilizing these cameras that we did, I felt very liberated through the use of them for that type of story as a result of it wasn’t making an attempt to imitate huge, American motion motion pictures, and but it turned out to enchantment to huge American motion film followers.”

When it got here to creating the third installment, Boyle knew that he wished to keep up that very same sensible sense, however the digital cameras he beforehand used had been too outdated so he went with right this moment’s model of an on a regular basis digital digicam — an iPhone.

“I used to be very pleased with that, and I wished a few of this to have a component of that once more, however it could be obtuse to make use of that low grade of know-how now when 4K is obtainable on all our telephones,” he defined to the outlet. “You solely have to change it on in your settings, and you’ll have cinema-quality recordings. So, we wished to make use of that know-how.”

Along with the creative factor of utilizing iPhones, Boyle defined that it was additionally a extra sensible selection. They filmed in extraordinarily rural components of England and Scotland, so it was essential for them to journey mild.

“It’s a big benefit as a result of it allowed us to do these rigs that they’ve now launched footage of. It was pretty to have the ability to use that, and it’s versatile; it’s a poor man’s bullet time,” he defined. “It’s principally The Matrix rig however versatile and transportable, and you’ll park it in other places. It’s a straightforward know-how to change on. It’s a little bit of a nightmare for syncing and all that type of stuff in submit, but it surely’s an attractive factor to make use of.”

What number of iPhones did they use to movie 28 Years Later?

Whereas a majority of the movie was shot with iPhones, the movie’s crew purposely used a number of at a time at varied angles to seize many pictures concurrently. Boyle advised IGN that he and Mantle assembled customized rigs to carry a number of iPhones without delay.

“Because it’s a horror film, we use it for the violent scenes to emphasise their impression,” Boyle defined.

One of many rigs held eight iPhones at a time, whereas a second held 10 and a 3rd 20.

“One for eight cameras, which could be carried very simply by one individual, one for 10 cameras, and one for 20,” Boyle defined of the rigs. “I by no means say this, however there may be an unimaginable shot within the second half [of the film] the place we use the 20-rig digicam, and also you’ll comprehend it while you see it … It’s fairly graphic but it surely’s a beautiful shot that makes use of that approach, and in a startling method that type of kicks you into a brand new world moderately than pondering you’ve seen it earlier than.”

Which iPhones did filmmakers use to shoot 28 Years Later?

The 28 Years Later movie crew used varied iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Maxes, in response to Wired. The units can “shoot Apple ProRes video in log colour profile at 4K decision,” per the outlet.

The iPhone’s superior digicam let filmmakers seize high-resolution images and pictures with excessive distinction and shadows. Though the machine’s cameras have developed through the years, the filmmakers almost certainly nonetheless used video software program to reinforce the pictures.

Did filmmakers use every other cameras to shoot 28 Years Later?

Whereas Boyle purposely used iPhone cameras to provide off a extra genuine look, he and the crew used different cameras, as effectively. The director clarified to IndieWire that along with using a number of iPhones, additionally they used “plenty of totally different cameras.”

“Sony are determined for us to say, ‘Don’t let all people say it’s simply shot on the iPhone,’ ” Boyle advised the outlet. “It isn’t simply shot on the iPhone, however it’s a big benefit.”

Have every other motion pictures been shot on iPhones?

Whereas 28 Days Later was one of many first movies to make use of a commercialized digital digicam that was in style at the moment, 28 Years Later isn’t the primary movie to primarily use iPhones.

Different motion pictures which have primarily been shot on iPhones embody Tangerine (2015), Unsane (2018), Sleep Has Her Home (2017) and Excessive Flying Chook (2019), amongst others.

When did 28 Years Later premiere?

28 Years Later premiered in theaters on June 20, 2025. It’s also accessible for preorder on Apple TV+.