So here it is at last: the sequel, the fourth entry, the cinematic cousin twice removed — 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE (2026). Whereas its predecessor strutted into theaters and made off with a tidy profit, The Bone Temple stumbled in, tripped over its own shoelaces, and spilled popcorn everywhere. Whether it was secretly brilliant or just misunderstood, the numbers don’t lie: $58.5M earned on a $63M budget. In Hollywood terms, that’s the equivalent of showing up to a potluck with an empty casserole dish and hoping no one notices. A flop it was.

IMDB offers a plot description so brief it feels like it was written on a Post‑it: “As Spike is inducted into Jimmy Crystal’s gang on the mainland, Dr. Kelson makes a discovery that could alter the world.” Short, sweet, and suspiciously vague — like the cinematic equivalent of someone whispering, “Trust me, it’ll make sense later,” while backing slowly into the shadows. But hey, sometimes mystery is part of the charm, or at least part of the marketing.

And was it actually a great film, despite audiences collectively deciding to stay home and alphabetize their spice racks instead? Well, it was directed by Nia DaCosta, working from a script by the ever‑brilliant Alex Garland, which is already a promising cocktail. Jack O’Connell throws himself into a gloriously unhinged role, only to be effortlessly overshadowed by Ralph Fiennes, who returns as the enigmatic doctor and proceeds to act like he’s in a much better movie — which, according to critics, he might have been. Your cohosts dive into this critically adored, commercially ignored entry in the franchise and share their thoughts, with all the enthusiasm of people who definitely did not skip it in theaters.