06/11/2002 - 28 Days Later, a DV medium-budget horror film by the director of Trainspotting climbs to the top of the British box office despite fierce US competition

British low-budget DV horror tale of zombies performs well despite 18 rating, half-term and competition from 2 US blockbusters.
Danny Boyle’s horror film 28 Days Later released by 20th Century Fox on Friday 1 November, has taken the UK box office by storm and secured the UK number one slot in its opening weekend. The zombie movie took an impressive £1.5m gross (Euros 2.25 million) - including previews on Halloween day October 31 - from 314 screens, with a screen average of £4,702 (Euros7,332).
Although Boyle’s film shot was on DV and had an 18 certificate, it ousted from the top of the UK chart action film XXX and animated film Lilo & Stitch, two Hollywood blockbusters that could have attracted a bigger crowd of kids and teenagers during the last holiday weekend of their half-term break.
The film with Christopher Eccleston and Naomi Harris, was scripted by Alex Garland (The Beach) and lenced by DOP Anthony Dod Mantle (Festen, Dogville).
Shot quickly on digital video with a Pounds 6 million (Euros 9 million) budget, the film marks Boyle’s come back to the familiar ground of Trainspotting, which launched him internationally 7 years ago.
Produced by Andrew Macdonald 28 Days Later was backed by Fox Searchlight Pictures and DNA Films.
20th Century Fox will release the film in other territories (including the US) in 2003.