There is something about a good zombie horror film that never fails to draw in viewers with its intensity and bold exploration of the truth of humanity in the face of great calamity. The movie 28 Years Later is no exception–delivering thrills and tension that give a bold look at how society has fared in the years of a zombie apocalypse. It is not just the zombie aspect that captivates audiences, but also the raw depiction of humanity’s various moral dilemmas in the act of survival.
Series like The Walking Dead, which portrays humanity’s journey as they continue to wage war against zombies and fellow survivors alike, and In the Flesh, which delivers a haunting exploration of life after a terrifying epidemic, both echo themes found in 28 Years Later. The series on this list share many qualities of the epic zombie film that would entice any fan of the 28 franchise.
10
‘The Last Ship’ (2014–2018)
Created by Hank Steinberg and Steven Kane
The Last Ship encompasses humanity’s drive and determination when hope is involved. The series centers around a U.S. Navy destroyer’s crew as survivors of a global viral pandemic that has taken out 80% of the world’s population. Isolated at sea, they desperately search for a cure for the “Red Flu”, while facing threats from equally desperate survivors.
The Last Ship, like 28 Years Later, deals with a quickly spreading, deadly outbreak and the wreckage of its aftermath. Anyone who watched the earlier, 28 Days Later film will recognize a similar vibe in The Last Ship, with the cities eerily empty and the dramatic collapse of civilization. The series echoes themes of hope, similar to 28 Years Later, as the characters wish for a future beyond the virus. The Last Ship‘s setting on their mobile quarantine also nicely parallels with 28 Years Later‘s haven in Britain. Both the series and film capture the survivors desperately clinging to duty and order, as they hope for a better future.
9
‘From’ (2022–)
Created by John Griffin
This intense series keeps its viewers continuously guessing with its mystery. From centers around individuals trapped in a town they can’t seem to escape from. At night, the town’s residents are forced to hide as horrifying monsters escape the surrounding forest and hunt them with a ferocity that would haunt any viewer.
From matches 28 Years Later‘s daunting survival atmosphere in waves. The town’s occupants are completely cut off from the world, much like how the citizens of Britain are forcibly isolated from the outside world within the 28 Years Later film. From leans into its supernatural creature aspects, while 28 Years Later focuses on a virus mutation. Yet, both portray the breakdown of social order and the lengths people will go to in order to survive a nightmare rife with horrific monsters – an aspect that is sure to captivate any fan of the 28 films.
8
‘Sweet Home’ (2020–2024)
Created by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan
Sweet Home is a South Korean apocalyptic series that uniquely displays zombies as a reflection of who they once were. The series centers around individuals held up in a Seoul apartment complex, fighting to stay alive and hold on to their humanity.
For any fan of the 28 films who loves the thrill of fast and ferocious zombies, Sweet Home‘s infected are sure to entertain–in fact, the series takes it up a notch quite a bit. Like with 28 Years Later, the Korean horror evokes the question of just how far someone is willing to go in order to survive. The series and film also share the new and unpredictable dangers of the outside world, beyond the bubble of survivors. Both are similar in how they blend an intense amount of horror and incredible emotional character moments-something that lovers of the 28 franchises are sure to appreciate.
Sweet Home
- Release Date
-
2020 – 2023
- Directors
-
Lee Eung-bok, Jang Young-woo, Park So-hyun
7
‘In the Flesh’ (2013–2014)
Created by Dominic Mitchell
This show offers its viewers a more unique take on the zombie genre. In the Flesh is set in a world after the zombie apocalypse, where zombies are treated and rehabilitated into society. The story follows the formerly rabid zombie Kierren Walker (Luke Newberry), who has been treated and must now navigate a world that sees him as nothing more than a monster.
In the Flesh introduces fans to the aftermath of an outbreak, and similarly to the 28 Years Later film, which skips a few years, portrays society’s change beyond the initial crisis. The series explores how the survivors and cured have been faring with the mounted trauma of the zombie epidemic. Fans of 28 Years Later will appreciate In The Flesh‘s societal themes, finding just as much to unpack as with the epic zombie film.
6
‘Jericho’ (2006–2008)
Created by Stephen Chbosky, Josh Schaer, and Jonathan E. Steinberg
Jericho is a series that asks the question, “What would you do in a time of disaster?” The post-apocalyptic drama follows the residents of a small town that is cut off from the world after a nuclear attack ravaged 23 major American cities.
While Jericho isn’t a series where zombies have overrun the world, it does portray the bleak sense of isolation and the gradual societal crash very well. Within 28 Years Later, Britain is still forcibly quarantined from the outside world. Jericho presents the same but on a smaller scale. Both the film and the series showcase citizens facing martial laws and rogue militias. 28 Years Later and Jericho portrays how control and fear can take over in times of disaster. They both examine the worst and the best of humanity when the world goes dark – offering the kind of survival tactics used, as well as heaping amounts of tension and moral dilemmas that fans of 28 Years Later will absolutely adore.
Jericho
- Release Date
-
2006 – 2007
- Network
-
CBS
5
‘The Stand’ (2020)
Created by Josh Boone and Benjamin Cavell
This series tells the story of a plague and prophecy, based on the iconic Stephan King’s novel. The Stand portrays a world completely destroyed by a weaponized superflu known as “Captain Trips”, which kills 99% of humanity. The story delivers a battle between the surviving factions–one made up of good forces and the other of dark and malevolent forces.
The Stand is sure to resonate really well with 28 Years Later fans as it provides a grander-scale view of a pandemic apocalypse and the harsh moralities of living in such a world. So much like the 28 films, the show uses a plague to explore deeper themes such as holding on vs. moving on and fear vs. faith. In 28 Years Later, a baby is born immune amid the disaster, and within The Stand, an immune survivor has a child as well. Both the movie and series include the hope of new life, proving that humanity has a chance of rebuilding, making The Stand a fantastic must-watch for fans of 28 Days Later.
The Stand
- Release Date
-
2020 – 2021-00-00
- Network
-
ABC
4
’12 Monkeys’ (2015–2018)
Created by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett
12 Monkeys is an entertaining combination of a deadly virus and time travel. The series, inspired by the 1995 film, is set in the year 2043, when a virus has wiped out the majority of the Earth’s population. The story follows James Cole (Aaron Stanford) as he is sent back in time, determined to stop the plague from happening, thus saving the future.
With the shared concept of a world-ending pandemic between the film 28 Years Later and the series 12 Monkeys, the latter adds a creatively thrilling twist of time travel. The series emphasizes sacrifice for the greater good, much like the characters within the 28 franchise, who risk everything for those they love, and for humanity. While 12 Monkey does have a protagonist who actively tries to fix a bleak zombie-ravaged future by rewriting history, 28 Years Later focuses on characters simply just hoping for a better one. Both suggest that even in the grimmest of situations, humanity’s determination can lead to great change — making 12 Monkeys something fans of 28 Years Later can appreciate.
3
‘Kingdom’ (2019–2021)
Created by Kim Eun-hee
With a stunningly unique approach to the zombie genre, Kingdom takes the genre and plants it into medieval Korea. The series centers around Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), as he takes over for his ill father, investigating a mysterious plague–one that turns out to be a zombie outbreak sweeping across the land.
Like 28 Years Later, Kingdom offers the adrenaline of a zombie apocalypse but creatively fits it into a historical setting. Fans of the 28 films are sure to recognize the sheer terror of a racing zombie, as Kingdom is rife with the same kind-relentless, quick, and absolutely deadly. Both Kingdom and 28 Years Later also highlight how humanity’s greed knows no bounds, and the need for power doesn’t disappear in times of calamities. Anyone who enjoys the 28 franchise is sure to love Kingdom for its inventive action and deadly twists, cementing its place on this list of shows perfect for those who love the apocalyptic movie.
Kingdom
- Release Date
-
2019 – 2019
- Directors
-
Kim Seong-hun, Park In-je
2
‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)
Created by Frank Darabont
This apocalyptic landmark is as much about survival amidst a zombie-infested world as it is about the survivors’ ever-evolving society amidst the ruins. The Walking Dead follows Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as he awakens from a coma to find the world filled with flesh-eating undead. The series shows his journey as a leader of a band of survivors, navigating not only man-eating threats but also ruthless survivors.
The Walking Dead is quite similar to the 28 Years Later film – in fact, it seems the series pays homage to the 28 Days Later movie, as similarly, Rick, much like Jim (Cillian Murphy), wakes up confused and unaware of the world’s tragedy. Fans of the 28 franchise would definitely adore the TWD series as it shares the same daunting tension, eerie sense of desolation, and the frightening realization that the greatest threat isn’t the dead flesh-eating creatures, but the living themselves. Even with TWD‘s classically slow zombies, and 28 Years Later‘s much quicker ones, the series still holds lots of tension and action, securing its high rank on this list.
1
‘The Last of Us’ (2023–)
Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann
The Last of Us captures the spirit of the 28 Days/Weeks/Years Later films more than any other on this list, as the series pays close attention to world-building and the realism of a post-apocalyptic world. The drama is based on the acclaimed video game and is set 20 years after a fungal outbreak creates zombie-like creatures, completely demolishing society. The story centers around the rugged survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal), and his new travel companion Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who happen to be immune to the infection.
The infected in The Last of Us may not be supernatural zombies, but the series does feature mutated fungus – a concept grounded in real science, much like 28 Years Later’s pandemic science. The Last of Us infected also evolves over time, keeping the threat dynamic quite similar to that of 28 Years Later, which introduces an intelligent variant known as the alpha zombie. With similar tensions and threats, both the film and series carry the themes of finding hope in a hopeless world. The Last of Us is a perfect addition to anyone’s watchlist.