Jim (28 Days Later)

Jim (born James) is a character in the 28 Days Later film series created by Alex Garland and portrayed by Cillian Murphy, and serves as the main protagonist of 28 Days Later (2002) and as a supporting character in the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). Jim is a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma after twenty-eight days after being struck by a car, finding himself in a post-apocalyptic Britain decimated by the Rage Virus and becomes a determined survivor.^[1]

Jim, named James, was born in Great Britain, later becoming a bicycle courier in his mid 20's. After a freak incident, Jim awakens at St Thomas' Hospital, London, inside a coma, in which he has been in for twenty-eight days.^[2]

In 28 Days Later, Jim awakens at St Thomas' Hospital, London, inside a coma he's been in for twenty-eight days after a traffic accident. He discovers that the hospital is deserted and walks out, roaming the streets of London where it's polluted, empty, and eerie. He walks into a church, where a group of infected people chase after Jim, but he is rescued by Selena and Mark, two survivors who take him as a refugee, walking him inside a streetside shop. Mark is later killed by Selena after being wounded by an infected human.^[3][4] Soon after this, Jim and Selena meet Frank, a taxi driver, and Hannah, Frank's daughter. After another twenty-eight days, Jim, Selena, and Hannah are some of the only survivors that endured the apocalyptic outbreak in Britain.^[5][1]

Murphy will reprise his role as an older version of Jim in a cameo appearance in the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, releasing in January 2026.^[6]

Jim is slated appear in theupcoming untitled fifth installment, with Murphy in talks to again reprise the role.^[7][8]

Many critics noted how Cillian Murphy's performance as Jim launched his career and established him as a versatile actor. ComingSoon reviewed Murphy a "superb find" and highlighted his performance as a "man torn apart by the new world". Variety ranked his role as one of his best performances, noting that Jim acts as the perfect audience surrogate. Murphy's shocked but level-headed demeanor invites the audience to experience the collapsed world through his eyes. Critics specifically lauded his character's journey from a bewildered bicycle courier to a fierce and resourceful survivor, and how Murphy conveyed this progression with raw emotion.^{[9] [10][11]}