The eagerly awaited horror film 28 Years Later has been filmed entirely on the iPhone 15, as reported by Wired on Thursday. With a budget of $75 million, this marks a significant milestone as the largest budget film to use a smartphone for its production.
The main shooting for Danny Boyle’s movie wrapped up last month, with the movie slated for a theatrical release in June 2025. Crew members were allegedly asked to sign non-disclosure agreements to prevent any leaks regarding the shooting method. It’s likely that Apple, in collaboration with the filmmakers, was planning a grand showcase to demonstrate the iPhone’s impressive filmmaking capabilities, but the news from Wired could alter those plans.
Initial speculation that Boyle was employing a smartphone for some scenes emerged in July when a paparazzi photo of the movie set revealed what appeared to be a specialized protective cage housing something that clearly wasn’t a typical film camera—likely a premium smartphone.
Wired conducted further inquiries and confirmed with multiple sources connected to the film that Boyle indeed utilized several iPhone 15 Pro Max devices, which were rigged with sophisticated equipment, to capture pivotal scenes for 28 Years Later.
The involvement of a prestigious filmmaker like Danny Boyle in a major production using an iPhone is a tremendous boost for Apple, enhancing the company’s reputation for producing smartphones known for outstanding image quality.
Apple had previously showcased the iPhone 15’s filmmaking prowess during its Scary Fast event last October, where it introduced the new MacBook Pro and iMac with M3 chips. Remarkably, all visuals, including presenters, locations, and drone shots displayed during the event, were filmed using the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, as noted in earlier discussions—and applicable to 28 Years Later as well—the phone was complemented by a suite of advanced filmmaking gear including lighting, dollies, and cranes, alongside a skilled post-production team that helped craft the footage into an engaging narrative. The results from such a compact device are remarkable, and anticipation is high to see what Boyle has accomplished with this technology.