Overview
- The film opened in theaters worldwide on January 16 as the middle entry of the new trilogy directed by Nia DaCosta.
- DaCosta said she asserted creative control to deliver a distinct vision that foregrounds ideological human violence over the infected.
- Early reception is strong, with Rotten Tomatoes critic and audience scores reported in the 90s across coverage.
- Sony reported $2.1 million in Thursday previews in North America, with trade forecasts pointing to a $20–22 million MLK weekend.
- The MPA rated the film R for strong bloody violence, gore, graphic nudity, language and brief drug use after ratings-board discussions of a particularly graphic sequence, and a closing tease signals a greenlit third film with Alex Garland writing and Danny Boyle indicating interest in directing.