Is 28 Years Later suitable for a teenager?

By Alex Wiggan

Heading into cinemas this June is the post-apocalyptic horror sequel, 28 Years Later. The movie – the third entry in the ‘28’ film series – stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes, and follows the story of a father and son who discover the horrors of the world around them.

Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, 28 Years Later picks up 28 years after the Rage virus escaped from a medical facility and ravaged the world. Within this time, survivors have found a way to exist amidst the infected, but humanity is far from safe.

As a sequel to 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007), 28 Years Later is a highly anticipated picture. It is predicted to be one of the top titles of 2025, with many looking to add it to their ‘must see’ list when it hits the big screen over the summer.

But while audiences worldwide will be keen to catch the film as soon as it is available, is 28 Years Later suitable for all ages? And with this being a horror movie, which tends to attract teen audiences (especially those who like post-apocalyptic stories like The Last of Us, etc), is 28 Years Later suitable for a teenager?

In the US, 28 Years Later has been awarded an ‘R’ rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA). The film has received this rating for strong bloody violence, grisly images, graphic nudity, language and brief sexuality.

When a film is granted an ‘R’ rating in the US, it means the picture contains some adult material. As per the MPAA guidance, “parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them” to the cinema.

Despite the adult content, you might be surprised to find that ‘R’ rated movies can be viewed by anyone in the US. The only stipulation is that those under the age of 17 must be accompanied to the cinema by an adult or a guardian.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, if you’re watching 28 Years Later in the UK, you might like to know the film has been awarded a ‘15’ certificate by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). 28 Years Later has received this rating due to “strong bloody violence, gore, horror, (and) very strong language.”

In the UK, only audience members aged 15 or over are permitted to view a ‘15’ certificate film at the cinema. It doesn’t matter if a parent or guardian is willing to be in attendance, no one aged below 15 can watch the film on the big screen.

So, what does this all mean? Well, if you live in the US, your age is not necessarily a barrier to watching 28 Years Later at the cinema.

The US rating system is quite relaxed. Put simply: Those living in the US can watch the movie at the cinema, the only rule is if you fall below the age of 17 you need accompaniment.

As for those in the UK, the BBFC believe the film isn’t suitable for anyone under ‘15’. It’s clear and simple, with no exceptions.

As for whether the movie is ultimately suitable for your teen, this of course comes down to your own judgment. You know them better than anyone else, and you can use the above information as a guide (especially the UK’s age rating system which is always quite handy).

It’s also worth noting that as this is the third movie in the series, two previous entries exist which you could check out prior to the release of this new film. If you’re a little hesitant for your teen to watch 28 Years Later, it might be an idea to cast your eye over the earlier films to understand the general tone and themes of this new one.