Rotten Tomatoes has just “crunched the data” on the screen’s biggest horror movie franchises to deliver a Top 10 list showcasing the scream of the crop.
After tallying statistics for series with at least four films, at least five reviews each, and theatrical or major streaming/subscription releases, the outlet ranked Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s legendary 28 Days Later saga No. 1 among the 47 horror franchises in its study.
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“Nothing about this series is stock or lazy, and that’s why it’s the best horror franchise,” RT wrote.
The Numbers Behind the No. 1 Horror Franchise
The series, which currently includes four films, faced stiff competition, with rivals such as Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead, Scream, and Alien all in the Top 10. Still, “While the Deadites often chase down their victims, they couldn’t catch the franchise started by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland.”
According to the aggregator, it evaluated franchises across seven measurements, including overall and sequel Tomatometer and Popcornmeter averages, franchise Freshness, and the best- and worst-rated movies.
The key takeaway: 28 Days Later didn’t win because of a single monster score. It claimed the No. 1 spot because it performed consistently well across the measurements. And its numbers are impressive. With four films, all Fresh, and an 84.75% average Tomatometer score, 28 Days Later had the highest franchise average in the ranking.
Its sequels also earned an impressive 84.3% Tomatometer average, a rare feat in a genre where franchises often struggle to maintain critical approval as they add sequels. And 28 Weeks Later, starring Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, and Harold Perrineau, proved to be a solid follow-up to Cillian Murphy’s original.
The Rage-Infected DNA That Started It All
What sets the numerical franchise apart from its peers is the inherent chaos in its DNA, right from the start. In 2002, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland introduced the world to a new kind of infected—one full of rage that doesn’t stagger but sprints full-out at its prey.
In 2025, Boyle unexpectedly revived the series with 28 Years Later, a direct sequel that jumps nearly three decades into the future and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Alfie Williams. The bleak, rage-infected story then continued with Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the fourth installment and second film in the new trilogy, starring Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry.
The latest installment boasts an impressive 91% critics score, having expanded beyond the original without losing what made the first film distinctive.
A Franchise Packed With Horror Heavy Hitters
That consistency ultimately beat Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise, which has a perfect 100% Freshness score. RT said it also helped that the series’ directors could work with an “embarrassment of riches” when it comes to acting talent.
From Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris to Brendan Gleeson and Robert Carlyle, and from Idris Elba and Jodie Comer to Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell, these four films are stacked.
“Whether it’s the house escape in 28 Weeks Later, the causeway chase in 28 Years Later, or the Iron Maiden fire dance in The Bone Temple, the four films have crafted some all-time scenes that critics and audiences respect,” RT said.
So, to recap: 28 Days Later. Four movies. All Fresh. Nearly 85% average with critics. And now, No. 1 in Rotten Tomatoes’ data-driven ranking. That’s an infection worth catching.
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