When The Maze Runner arrived in theaters in 2014, it introduced audiences to a mysterious world where a group of teenage boys lived inside a massive maze with no memory of how they got there. Dylan O’Brien stars as Thomas, a newcomer whose arrival begins to unravel the secrets of the Glade and the powerful organization controlling the experiment.Based on James Dashner’s bestselling young adult novels, the Maze Runner film series grew into a trilogy spanning deadly trials, a devastated world and a desperate fight against WCKD. Each installment builds directly on the previous one, following Thomas and his friends as they struggle to survive and uncover the truth.If you’re planning a marathon or returning to the series after a few years, the viewing order is straightforward. Here’s how to watch every Maze Runner movie in order, from Thomas’s first steps into the maze to the conclusion of his story.WARNING: Potential spoilers ahead!Related: We Ranked the 104 Best Science Fiction Movies of All Time
How many Maze Runner movies are there?
“The Maze Runner”20th Century Fox
There are three released Maze Runner movies, all directed by Wes Ball and starring Dylan O’Brien as Thomas. The trilogy began with The Maze Runner in 2014, continued with Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials in 2015 and concluded with Maze Runner: The Death Cure in 2018.
The films follow one continuous storyline, so there’s no need to rearrange them into a different chronological order. Watching them by release date also preserves the mysteries and revelations as they were originally presented.Related: How To Watch the Marvel Movies in Order of Story
How To Watch the Maze Runner Movies in Order
Kaya Scodelario and Dylan O’Brien in “The Maze Runner”20th Century Fox
1. The Maze Runner (2014)
Dylan O’Brien stars as Thomas, a teenager who wakes up in a grassy clearing called the Glade with no memory of his past. He finds himself among a group of boys trapped by towering walls that surround a vast, ever-changing maze filled with deadly creatures. As Thomas learns the rules of this strange community, he begins to question whether playing it safe is the only way to survive.
Wes Ball’s adaptation of James Dashner’s novel builds an effective mystery around its eerie setting, with tense maze sequences and a likable young cast helping the film stand out from other dystopian YA adaptations. Some of its world-building is frustratingly vague, but the central premise gives the adventure a strong hook.Related: How To Watch All the X-Men Movies in Chronological Order (And by Release Date)
Alexander Flores, Dylan O’Brien and Jacob Lofland in “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials”20th Century Fox
2. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
After escaping the maze, Thomas and his fellow Gladers find themselves in a devastated world known as the Scorch, where they must navigate dangerous terrain while trying to understand the motives of WCKD, the organization behind their ordeal. With new allies and threats around every corner, Thomas struggles to work out whom he can trust as the group searches for a way forward.
The sequel expands the franchise’s post-apocalyptic world and delivers more chases, action and unsettling imagery. However, its relentless pace leaves less room for the mystery and character development that made the first film compelling, making this an entertaining but less focused middle chapter.
Patricia Clarkson and Kaya Scodelario in “Maze Runner: The Death Cure”20th Century Fox
3. Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)
In the trilogy’s final installment, Thomas embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue captured friends from the Last City, a heavily fortified stronghold controlled by WCKD. As the organization continues its search for a cure to the deadly virus ravaging the population, Thomas faces difficult choices about loyalty, sacrifice and how far he is willing to go to protect the people he loves.
The Death Cure delivers large-scale action, elaborate set pieces and a more emotional focus on the friendships at the heart of the series. Its lengthy runtime and familiar action-movie conventions occasionally weigh it down, but it provides a satisfying sense of scale for the trilogy’s conclusion.Related: How To Watch the Alien Movies in Order, Including the Alien vs. Predator Crossovers
Should you watch the Maze Runner movies in release order?
Watch the films in release order: The Maze Runner (2014), Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018). The movies follow one continuous story, with each sequel picking up after the previous installment. There are no released prequel movies to place before the original, so the release order is also the correct order for following Thomas’s story.
Do you need to read the Maze Runner books first?
No. The movies tell a complete story without requiring viewers to read James Dashner’s novels beforehand. The films adapt the central trilogy—The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure—while making changes to characters, events and plot details along the way. Reading the books can provide more background on Thomas and WCKD, but it isn’t necessary to follow the movies.
Dashner also wrote two prequel novels, The Kill Order and The Fever Code, which explore events before the original story. They have not been adapted into released films, so they don’t change the viewing order for the movie trilogy.Related: How To Watch All the James Bond Movies in Order
Which movie is Maze Runner 3?
The third movie in the Maze Runner franchise is Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the final installment in the original trilogy. The film follows Thomas as he leads a mission to rescue his friends from WCKD, the organization behind the deadly experiments that began in the first movie. Based on James Dashner’s third novel, The Death Cure brings Thomas’s story to a close with a large-scale confrontation over WCKD’s search for a cure to the virus devastating the world.
What comes after The Death Cure?
Maze Runner: The Death Cure concludes the three-film story centered on Thomas. Although the novels’ universe continues beyond the original trilogy, there is no fourth Maze Runner movie to watch after it. For anyone following Thomas’s cinematic journey, The Death Cure is the final installment.Related: How To Watch All of the Mission: Impossible Movies in Order
Will there be a Maze Runner reboot?
TheWrap reported in 2024 that a Maze Runner reboot was in development at 20th Century Studios. Screenwriter Jack Paglen is in talks to write the film, with original trilogy director Wes Ball attached as a producer. Despite being described as a reboot, the project is reportedly envisioned as a continuation of the franchise rather than a remake or direct sequel, potentially following new characters in the world of the Glade.
Why didn’t they make Maze Runner 4?
The original Maze Runner film series ended with Maze Runner: The Death Cure, which adapted the third and final book in James Dashner’s main trilogy. Rather than split the finale into multiple movies or continue Thomas’ story indefinitely, the filmmakers brought the central storyline to a close. The franchise also faced creative and commercial challenges as the sequels received less favorable reviews than the first film.
That said, the franchise was not abandoned entirely. In 2024, TheWrap reported that 20th Century Studios was developing a new film with screenwriter Jack Paglen and original director Wes Ball attached as a producer. The project is described as a continuation set in the same world rather than a direct sequel or remake.
Are The Maze Runner movies based on books?
Yes. All three Maze Runner movies are based on the young adult science fiction novels by James Dashner. The original film, The Maze Runner, adapts the first book, published in 2009, while Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and Maze Runner: The Death Cure adapt the second and third novels, respectively.
Dashner’s five-book series also includes the prequels The Kill Order and The Fever Code, which explore the world’s history beyond the main trilogy. There is also a sequel book series called The Maze Cutter, along with companion books.
The movies follow the central storyline of the first three books but make changes in adapting the story for the screen.
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