Movies like
Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.
Audiences latched onto 28 Days Later (2002) as a horror theatrical experience: big enough for a group watch, specific enough to reward a second viewing once you know where it's headed. The horror and thriller blend is the engine: it lets the film shift registers without feeling like two different movies stitched together.
Runtime 1h 53m · ★ 7.2
Mood
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Showing 10 of 10 picks
★ 6.8 · Action · Horror · Science Fiction · 1h 56m
Why you'll love it
World War Z (2013) is the kind of film 28 Days Later fans discover and immediately send to their group chat. The horror overlap is real, but it's the dark emotional pull that seals the recommendation.
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★ 6.6 · Horror · Thriller · Science Fiction · 1h 39m
Why you'll love it
28 Weeks Later shares 28 Days Later's gift for horror — the 2007 film delivers thriller without overstaying its welcome. Consider it required viewing once you've finished rewatching your first pick.
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★ 6.6 · Horror · Thriller · Science Fiction · 1h 55m
Why you'll love it
Much of what makes 28 Days Later compelling — the horror, the thriller — shows up in 28 Years Later (2025) in a slightly different form. Both films understand that dark storytelling works best when it trusts the audience.
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★ 6.9 · Science Fiction · Thriller · Horror · 1h 48m
Why you'll love it
The horror energy of 28 Days Later is alive in The Long Walk (2025), filtered through a different story but the same emotional register. It earns its place on this list with a dark payoff that rivals the original pick.
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★ 6.7 · Science Fiction · Action · Thriller · 2h 11m
Why you'll love it
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) operates in the same thriller as 28 Days Later, but with its own distinct voice and pacing. The tense payoff will feel satisfyingly familiar without retreading the same ground.
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★ 7.6 · Science Fiction · Thriller · Mystery · 2h 9m
Why you'll love it
Twelve Monkeys (1995) belongs to the same conversation as 28 Days Later — both anchor their thriller in science-fiction emotion that doesn't let go. The tense undercurrent connects them more than any plot summary would suggest.
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★ 7.1 · Science Fiction · Action · Adventure · 2h 23m
Why you'll love it
If 28 Days Later's thriller stayed with you, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) delivers the same sensation through an entirely different story. The science-fiction through-line is the real common thread between them.
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★ 7.5 · Horror · Science Fiction · 2h 7m
Why you'll love it
Where 28 Days Later excels in horror, Dawn of the Dead (1978) doubles down on science-fiction to comparable effect. The tonal similarities run deep enough that watching both back-to-back feels intentional.
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★ 6.6 · Thriller · Horror · 1h 24m
Why you'll love it
[REC]² (2009) is the natural next step after 28 Days Later: same horror DNA, different perspective. The dark streak and thriller elevate it well above a simple genre exercise.
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★ 6.6 · Action · Horror · Science Fiction · 1h 51m
Why you'll love it
Fans of 28 Days Later who respond to its horror will find The Girl with All the Gifts (2016) immediately familiar. Both films share a science-fiction sensibility without ever feeling like carbon copies of each other.
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