Danny Boyle on 3D Films: A Passing Fad or Here to Stay?

For well over a century, the ritual of heading to the pictures has barely shifted. You hand over your cash, settle into a seat among strangers, and watch a story unfold on a vast screen. The formula’s simple, and for many, it’s just right. Yet, that hasn’t stopped the industry from tinkering, as Danny Boyle, director of 28 Years Later, is all too aware. From the price of snacks that could fund a small holiday to seats with mysterious electronic controls, cinemas have tried every trick to squeeze a bit more from punters. There’s surround sound, mist sprayed in your face to mimic rain, and even the odd attempt at pumping in peculiar scents. Some innovations, like IMAX, genuinely enhance the experience. Others—well, not so much. Personally, the idea of being jostled about in my seat, pretending to be lunch for a dinosaur, doesn’t quite appeal.

3D: A Spectacle for Spectacle Wearers?

3D technology isn’t exactly new. It first appeared in 1922 with The Power of Love, using red and green lenses and a dual projector. It didn’t really catch on until the 1950s, though. Boyle’s latest, 28 Years Later, does dabble in tech—some scenes were even shot on an iPhone 15 Pro. The film’s release included a 4DX option, which means those infamous moving seats, presumably making a zombie chase feel a touch more urgent. But Boyle himself isn’t sold on 3D. He once told The Telegraph,

“I don’t use 3D. I’m a spectacle wearer, so I hate going to 3D movies because you have to wear two pairs of spectacles, which makes you feel like even more of a prat.”

He added,

“You know how everybody feels a bit of a prat wearing the 3D spectacles – you, as a spectacle wearer, feel a double prat. So, I don’t know if 3D will survive, to be honest, personally. I think it may be a phase.”

The Rise and Fall of 3D at the Multiplex

There’s no denying the decline in 3D screenings since their heyday in the late 2000s, when superhero blockbusters and endless animated features seemed to dominate every screen. These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find many 3D showings at your local. The bins once overflowing with discarded specs have all but disappeared. At home, the technology fizzled out even faster—TV manufacturers poured billions into 3D sets, only for viewers to quickly tire of donning sunglasses to watch the evening news. The novelty wore off, and the kit gathered dust.

Still, the allure of things flying at your face hasn’t vanished entirely. James Cameron’s recent Avatar instalment, Fire and Ash, was still offered in 3D, and the next big superhero sequel, Avengers: Doomsday, will almost certainly follow suit. Just don’t expect to spot Danny Boyle queuing up for a pair of plastic glasses any time soon.