2025’s Most Divisive Horror Is Blocked on Netflix for Millions of Users

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If you’re thinking about saving a few bucks by switching to Netflix’s ad-supported tier in 2026, there’s a pretty big catch you’ll want to know about first. As of January 2026, 145 titles are completely unavailable on Netflix’s advertising tier in the U.S. — and 28 Years Later is one of the most high-profile casualties. That might not sound catastrophic at first glance, but it still represents 1.85% of the entire Netflix library, meaning millions of subscribers are quietly locked out of certain movies and shows simply because of their plan. One of those blocked titles is Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, which has already cemented itself as one of the most talked-about — and divisive — horror releases of 2025.

This isn’t some forgotten catalog title quietly disappearing into the licensing void. It’s a recent, buzzy release tied to a beloved franchise, directed by Boyle and written by Alex Garland — exactly the kind of movie casual viewers expect to find when they sit down to stream.

Is '28 Years Later' Worth Watching?

Collider’s review of the movie stated that 28 Years Later was a rare horror sequel that fully committed to both sides of the genre, delivering genuine terror alongside real emotional and thematic depth. Danny Boyle returned to his most ferocious, kinetic style, crafting relentless chase sequences, heightened violence, and some of the franchise’s most frightening zombies, while Alex Garland grounded the spectacle with a poignant coming-of-age story centered on mortality, morality, and acceptance. Strong performances from Alfie Williams and a quietly powerful turn by Ralph Fiennes anchored the film’s philosophical weight. More intimate than 28 Weeks Later yet more ambitious in scope, the sequel stood out as one of the strongest zombie films in years, even if its final tonal shift leaned into the surreal.

"Boyle and Garland do it again, and in many ways, even better than what they created together 23 years ago. (However, the last three minutes were such a loud tonal change-up that I couldn't help but burst out laughing. The sequel, The Bone Temple, is going to be wild.) An exciting and terrifying horror movie, a fresh and nuanced entry into the zombie catalog, a mesmerizing philosophical tale, all packed into a coming-of-age structure, 28 Years Later is one of the best zombie horror movies we’ve been given in years."

28 Years Later is streaming now on Netflix.