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
28 Days Later character
Cillian Murphy as Jim in 28 Days Later
First appearance	28 Days Later (2002)
Last appearance	28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)
Created by	Alex Garland
Portrayed by	Cillian Murphy
Status	Alive[a]
In-universe information
Alias	Jimmy James[b]
Gender	Male
Occupation	Bicycle courier
Significant other	Selena (girlfriend)

Character biography

Background

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]

28 Days Later

Further information: 28 Days Later

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. Frank learns through a radio broadcast that there is a military blockade near Manchester, and believes it would be worth the risk to make the perilous journey to the location. Jim, Frank, Selena and Hannah all go by car to make the journey to the blockade. During a stop for gas, Jim enters an empty restaurant, and attracts the attention of an infected boy. After pinning the boy down, Jim proceeds to beat the infected to death with a bat. Once at the blockade, Frank accidentally gets infected after a drop of infected blood enters his eye. Just as Jim is about to kill the infected Frank, he is gunned down by soldiers. The soldiers then take Jim, Selena and Hannah to their mansion, where all appears to be safe. Jim meets Major Henry West, the leader of the soldiers in the mansion. After an incident between one of the soldiers, Mitchell, and Selena, West tells Jim that the radio broadcast was sent out to lure women and force them into sexual slavery. Jim, disgusted by what he learns, tries to escape with Selena and Hannah but is knocked out. Jim is taken prisoner along with one of the other soldiers, Farrell, for going against Henry West’s plan. West orders them to be executed in the forest. However, Jim manages to escape and crosses over the wall separating the mansion from the outside. The soldiers don’t bother looking for him, believing he’s as good as dead. Jim sees a jet flying in the sky, giving him hope that there is still a world worth fighting for. He sneaks back into the mansion and releases Mailer, an infected soldier who West ordered to be chained up to see how long the infected would take to starve to death. Jim rampantly searches through the mansion trying to find Hannah and Selena, all while trying to avoid Mailer and the newly infected Clifton. As Mitchell takes Selena hostage, Jim finds him and a brawl ensues between both men. Jim gets the upper hand, and proceeds to gouge out Mitchell’s eyes, killing him. Selena, believing that Jim is infected, grabs the machete and nearly slashes at Jim. After she realizes he is not infected, they embrace each other. Jim, Hannah and Selena all make their way to their vehicle to escape, only to find Henry West inside. West, angered that Jim was responsible for the deaths of his men, shoots Jim in the stomach. Hannah puts the car in reverse, and just as she stops, Mailer bursts through the cars rear window, grabs West, and drags him into the mansion. Mailer then proceeds to violently maul West to death. Jim, Selena and Hannah make their escape by ramming the car through the mansion gates. After another twenty-eight days, Jim, Selena, and Hannah are some of the only survivors that endured the apocalyptic outbreak in Britain.^[5][1]

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Further information: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

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]

Untiled fifth film

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

Reception

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]}

Notes

1. In the film's DVD alternative release, endings show that Jim had been killed after arranging his euthanasia, getting infected, or by fatal injuries.
2. Jim's full first name is James, but is mostly referred to as Jim.