Director Danny Boyle has praised the iPhone 15 Pro Max for its role in shooting the horror sequel 28 Years Later. The film, a follow-up to the cult classic 28 Days Later, was filmed entirely using Apple’s flagship smartphone. Boyle, along with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, chose the iPhone to create a more flexible and lightweight production environment.
Apple released a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube where Boyle explains how modern smartphone technology now meets cinema-quality standards. He emphasized that the iPhone allowed the crew to shoot quickly and with minimal disruption to the environment.
Creative Advantages of iPhone Technology
Boyle noted that traditional filming setups often leave a heavy footprint, but using iPhones made the process almost invisible. “We could capture the raw look of abandoned landscapes,” he explained. The smaller equipment also allowed the team to set up multiple rigs simultaneously.
Up to 20 iPhones were mounted on lightweight rigs, which could be moved easily or built off-site and transported to shooting locations. This setup provided the flexibility to capture unique angles and create dynamic shots without complex gear.
Cinema-Grade Innovation
The filmmakers also used specialized rigs that combined iPhones with cinema lenses, enabling more refined control over focus and depth. This hybrid approach gave the film the visual depth of traditional cameras while retaining the agility of a smartphone.
Boyle is not the first to use an iPhone for professional filmmaking. Steven Soderbergh’s 2018 movie Unsane was shot entirely on an iPhone, and Apple has previously used iPhones for its own event videos.
A Growing Trend in Filmmaking
The success of 28 Years Later may encourage other filmmakers to embrace smartphone technology. Apple has positioned the iPhone 15 Pro Max as a versatile tool for creative professionals, proving that powerful stories can be told without bulky cameras.
With this film, Boyle demonstrates how modern filmmaking can merge innovation with artistry, making iPhone-shot movies an exciting new frontier for the industry.
