Here's a look at why parts of a $75 million movie were shot on the same device as the one in your pocket.

Parts of the $75 million film '28 Years Later', directed by Danny Boyle, were shot using the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This approach echoes the original 2002 film '28 Days Later', which was notable for its use of consumer-grade digital camcorders to create a raw, gritty look.

While the majority of the new film uses traditional cinema cameras, key scenes—including high-intensity sequences—were captured on smartphones mounted in professional rigs. The decision was driven by a desire to achieve a distinctive visual texture and flexibility, rather than cost savings. This method allows for dynamic camera movement and access to tight spaces, continuing the franchise's legacy of challenging conventional filmmaking techniques.

How '28 Years Later' was shot on an iPhone

You're looking at a 75 million dollar zombie movie shot, in part, on iPhones. Yeah, actual scenes from Danny Boyle's upcoming film 28 years later were recorded on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. So what happens when a big-budget Hollywood movie ditches traditional cinema cameras and shoots on a smartphone? And how does this tie back to a franchise that has a history of pushing visual boundaries? Let's talk about how it hits. Now, if you're not familiar, 28 Years Later is a sequel to 28 Days Later, a 2002 cult classic that pretty much redefined the zombie genre. And it wasn't just the sprinting, rage-fueled Infected that made it stand out. It was also director Danny Boyle's raw, gritty approach to how it looked. So what was his approach? Well, 28 Days Later was shot on a Canon XL1, a consumer-grade digital camcorder that recorded in standard definition on mini DV tapes. That might not sound like a big deal now, but in 2002, it was pretty much unheard of. Big Hollywood movies were still shooting almost exclusively on 35 millimeter film, and digital video was mostly reserved for home movies or low-budget indie films. The only other film dabbling in digital that year was... Yeah, Attack of the Clones. And even that production used, like, custom-built prototype HD cameras built by Sony and Panavision. So not a $4,000 consumer-grade camcorder. At the time, Hollywood was still big on glossy, pristine imagery. But Boyle and his longtime cinematographer, Anthony Dodd Mantle, wanted grit. And maybe a bit of chaos. The low-res grainy footage gave the movie this raw, almost documentary-style feel, like it could have been found footage. And it worked. It made the zombie apocalypse feel real. And now, two decades later, they're doing it again, but with newer tools. This time, instead of a grainy camcorder, it's the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Filming took place over the summer of 2024, and while most people assumed the movie was being shot on the usual cinema gear, ARRI cameras, REDs, whatever, it turns out a lot of that was just camouflage. Here, zoom into some paparazzi set photos, and you might see the giveaway. A professional lens mounted to what looks like a traditional rig. But what's inside the cage? That's not a camera. It's a phone. To be clear, not the whole movie was shot on an iPhone. There's still a mix of traditional cinema cameras and drones. But key scenes, including some high-intensity sequences, used smartphones and custom-built rigs. One setup even mounted 20 iPhones at once to capture a sort of Matrix-style bullet time effect. But why go through all this effort? Well, partly for cost. iPhones are cheaper and more portable than high-end cinema gear, but that's not really the point here. This is about texture. About style. About pushing how the apocalypse looks and feels. The iPhone 15 Pro Max can shoot in ProRes LOG format, which is basically like a super-flat professional-level video profile that's great for color grading in post. And when you mount it in a metal cage with a DSLR lens using an adapter, suddenly you've got this weird hybrid. A phone capturing cinema-quality footage with the freedom of something like a GoPro. Small cameras means you can squeeze into tight spaces, move through more chaotic scenes, or strap the thing onto weird angles without needing a giant crew. It opens up visual possibilities. So it's not just a gimmick. It's a tool. And a pretty practical one. But what makes this extra cool is that it completes a kind of tech circle. 28 days later helped redefine horror using a janky low-res camcorder. Now, 28 years later, is trying something equally bold using cutting-edge phones and creative unorthodox ways. They used early digital cameras in the 2000s, and now, they're using the world's most popular camera. The one in your pocket. To shoot a zombie epic. 28 years later is the first in a brand new trilogy, all written by Alex Garland, who also wrote the original. So this is a full-circle moment for the entire team. They're not just telling the story of the apocalypse, they're rethinking how we see it. Whether that's with iPhones, or with camcorder throwbacks, with whatever tools help them break the rules of what a zombie movie is supposed to look like. What do you think? Does shooting a big-budget movie on a smartphone make it feel more real? Or does it break the illusion? Let us know in the comments. And for more breakdowns like this one, head on over to Mashable.com.

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