Remarkable Movies Captured on an iPhone: "28 Years Later" and NetFlix Sensation Highlighted
Ditching the pricey, high-end equipment and taking a different path, contemporary filmmakers are discovering the potential of an unlikely tool: the iPhone. Gone are the days when only big budget films could flaunt top-tier camera tech; low-budget projects, too, are now reaping the benefits of this cutting-edge device.
Delving into the realm of horror, the much-hyped 2025 sequel to 28 Days Later titled "28 Years Later," starring Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, is an astounding example of iPhone filmmaking. In a surprising twist, the production crew employed an ingeniously modified iPhone 15 for filming, making it the most expensive film to date to rely primarily on a phone. This is no novelty, as in 2002, the original 28 Days Later used a Canon XL-1 for its low-fi aesthetic. Flashing forward to 2025, the 28 Years Later team drew inspiration from this, prioritizing the intimate and raw feel offered by iPhones[1].
Director Danny Boyle shed some light on the choice during the London premiere, explaining the decision to empower the flexible and lightweight iPhone, perfect for outdoor and hostile environments, to capture the violence and chaos prevalent in horror films. Boyle also emphasized the abundance of special rigs available for iPhones allow for creative exposure to both filming the action and letting actors capture their own expressions[2].
Another groundbreaking example is stormzy's Big Man, boasting an iPhone 16 Pro for shooting. Slow-motion scenes were captured in 4K 120 fps, while the cinematic mode was utilized to blur backgrounds. British director Aneil Karia voiced his enthusiasm for the iPhone, citing its compact size and the unparalleled intimacy it provides in interacting with characters[3].
Psychological thriller Unsane, starring Claire Foy and Joshua Leonard, was also filmed entirely using an iPhone 7 Plus. Unsane, a 2018 film, garnered widespread attention for its iPhone-centric filming, with director Steven Soderbergh championing the technique[3].
High Flying Bird, a 2018 NBA drama starring Andre Holland, showcased another iPhone movie-making venture. While the iPhone 8 wasn't traditionally thought to be capable of delivering the complex details inherent in tense, dramatic sports films, Soderbergh reveled in the ease of shooting, attributing the film's success to the device's exceptional resolution and flexible shooting capabilities[3].
Sean Baker's Tangerine, an independently-produced 2015 film that swept the Oscars this year, relied on an iPhone to minimize production expenses. Filmed using an iPhone 5s with the FiLMIC Pro App, Baker's noteworthy film exhibits the affordability and accessibility offered by smartphone filmmaking[4].
Malik Bendjelloul's 2012 Oscar-winning film Searching for Sugar Man ultimately utilized an iPhone as well, albeit out of necessity, as the low-budget filmmaker had exhausted his funding. He discovered a camera app on his iPhone and was astonished at the similarity between the iPhone and 8mm camera footage[4].
The trend of iPhone filmmaking is rapidly gaining traction, with films like F1 adopting the device, contributing to the evolving dynamics of the industry[5]. The portability, cost-effectiveness, innovative multi-camera possibilities, and advanced imaging technology all serve to revolutionize the way videos are captured and shared, making cinematic pursuits more accessible than ever before.
In the realm of distinctive filmmaking, contemporary productions like "28 Years Later" and "High Flying Bird" are utilizing iPhones as their primary camera equipment, demonstrating how technology has democratized film production. Other notable examples include "Tangerine" and "Searching for Sugar Man," which showcase the potential of smartphones in the industry, revolutionizing the way videos are captured and shared.
