Boyle was an altar boy for eight years and his mother had the priesthood in mind for him, but at the age of 14 he was persuaded by a priest not to transfer to a seminary.

[6][7]Boyle attended Thornleigh Salesian College, a Catholic boys' direct grant grammar school in Bolton,[8] and studied English and drama at the University College of North Wales (now Bangor University), where he directed several productions for the student drama society.

[10] In between The Beach and 28 Days Later Boyle directed two TV films for the BBC in 2001–Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise and Strumpet.

[16] In September 2022, it was announced that Boyle would direct a dance adaptation of The Matrix, titled "Free Your Mind", which debuted in October 2023 in Manchester.

[17] On 14 November 2010, he directed a one-night play at the Old Vic Theatre in London titled The Children's Monologues starring Sir Ben Kingsley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Gemma Arterton, and Eddie Redmayne, in aid of his charity Dramatic Need, which operates in Rwanda and South Africa, helping young people to come to terms with trauma and conflict.

Entitled Isles of Wonder, it charted aspects of British culture including the Industrial Revolution and contributions to literature, music, film, and technology.

[30] Working with writer John Hodge and producer Andrew Macdonald, Shallow Grave earned Boyle the Best Newcomer Award from the 1996 London Film Critics Circle.

[31] Boyle declined an offer to direct the fourth film of the Alien franchise to make A Life Less Ordinary.

[36] His next collaboration with Alex Garland[6] was the 2007 science-fiction film Sunshine, featuring 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy.

[40] Despite the commercial success of Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle also faced great criticism for his portrayal of India through a Western, idealized lens.

Some critics saw the film as "poverty porn," though Boyle argued he showed India's "lust for life" and "resilience.

"[41] In 2010, Boyle directed the film 127 Hours, starring James Franco and featuring Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara.

The film was released on 5 November 2010 to critical acclaim and got six nominations at the 83rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Boyle and Best Actor for Franco.

[44][45] Boyle has stated previously that in theory the third instalment of the series would be titled 28 Months Later, but alluded to a film taking place somewhere else in the world he created in 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later.

[48] Boyle's eponymous biopic of Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs closed the 59th BFI London Film Festival.

[53][54] He and writer Richard Curtis collaborated on Yesterday, starring Himesh Patel, Kate McKinnon, Lily James, and Ed Sheeran, released on 28 June 2019.

[60] Boyle was a founding trustee[61] in 2007,[62] of Dramatic Need, a charity which operated in Rwanda and South Africa, helping young people to come to terms with trauma and conflict.

[63] As of 2008[update], Boyle was the patron of North West England-based young people's substance misuse charity, Early Break, which was founded and based in his home town of Radcliffe.

"[69] In 2012, Boyle was among the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of The Beatles' Sgt.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, to celebrate the British cultural figures of his lifetime.