Maze Runner (film series)
Three films based on James Dashner's young-adult dystopian novels.
The Maze Runner film series is a set of American science-fiction dystopian action adventure movies adapted from James Dashner's novels. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein produced the films, which were released by 20th Century Fox. The cast includes Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Dexter Darden, and Patricia Clarkson. T. S. Nowlin wrote the scripts, and Wes Ball directed all three movies. The first film, *The Maze Runner*, came out on September 19, 2014, earning over $348 million worldwide. The sequel, *Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials*, followed on September 18, 2015, with a box office gross of more than $312 million. The third installment, *Maze Runner: The Death Cure*, released on January 26, 2018, and grossed $288 million globally, less than the earlier films. The series is set to continue, with new movies in development under the Walt Disney Company.
In the first film, Thomas wakes up trapped in a maze with other boys, remembering nothing of the outside world except dreams about an organization called WCKD (World Catastrophe Killzone Department). He must piece together his past with clues from the maze to find his purpose and a way out. Fox bought the film rights to Dashner's novel in January 2011. Principal photography took place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from May to July 2013, leading to the September 19, 2014 release.
The second film follows Thomas and the other Gladers as they search for answers about WCKD. Their journey leads them to the Scorch, a barren landscape full of obstacles. They team up with resistance fighters to take on WCKD's superior forces and uncover the organization's plans. Filming began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in October 2014 and wrapped in January 2015, with the movie released on September 18, 2015.
In the third movie, Thomas leads the escaped Gladers on their final, most dangerous mission. To save their friends, they must break into the Last City, a WCKD-controlled safe zone that keeps people out. They aim to enter and rescue their friends, seeking answers to questions that have haunted them since the maze. T. S. Nowlin, who co-wrote the first film and wrote the second, was hired to write the third in March 2015. Wes Ball was brought on to direct in September 2015, and he confirmed the film would not be split into two parts.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Wes Ball
- Based On
- The Maze Runner · James Dashner
- Starring
- Dylan O'Brien / Kaya Scodelario / Thomas Brodie-Sangster / Ki Hong Lee / Dexter Darden / Patricia Clarkson
- Studio
- Gotham Group / Temple Hill Entertainment / Oddball Entertainment (3)
- Distributor
- 20th Century Fox
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Budget
- Total (3 films): / $157million
- Gross
- Total (3 films): / $949million
- Released
- 19 September 2014 · Maze Runner · 2015 · 09 · 18 · Scorch Trials · 2018 · 01 · 26 · Death Cure
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series began with The Maze Runner (2014), in which Thomas wakes up trapped in a maze with other boys, with no memory of the outside world except dreams about an organization called WCKD. Development started in January 2011 when Fox purchased the film rights. Principal photography took place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from May to July 2013. The film grossed over $348 million worldwide.
The second installment, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), follows Thomas and his fellow Gladers as they search for clues about WCKD in a desolate landscape called the Scorch. Principal photography occurred in Albuquerque, New Mexico from October 2014 to January 2015. It grossed over $312 million at the box office.
The third film, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), features Thomas leading his group on a mission to break into the Last City, a WCKD-controlled safe zone. T. S. Nowlin was hired to write the film in March 2015, and Wes Ball was hired to direct in September 2015. Principal photography took place in Cape Town, South Africa between March and June 2017. It grossed $288 million worldwide, less than its predecessors.
Reader's Guide
The Maze Runner film series holds significance as a major young-adult book-to-film adaptation franchise. All three films opened at number one at the North American box office during their opening weekend. In North America, the series is the fifth-highest-grossing film series based on young adult books, after Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, The Twilight Saga, and The Divergent Series, earning $242 million. Worldwide, it is the fourth-highest-grossing, after Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, and The Hunger Games, earning $949 million from a $157 million total production budget. The trilogy received mixed critical response, with criticism directed at plot and character development, though performances and action sequences were praised. Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in March 2019, new Maze Runner films were confirmed in development. In May 2024, a reboot was announced with Wes Ball returning as producer and Jack Paglen as writer, described as a continuation that returns to elements that made the first movie connect with its audience.
Did You Know?
- All three films were directed by Wes Ball and written by T. S. Nowlin.
- The series grossed a total of $949 million worldwide against a $157 million production budget.
- A reboot was announced in May 2024, with Wes Ball returning as producer and Jack Paglen hired as writer.
- The third film, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, was not split into two films, as confirmed by director Wes Ball.
Elsewhere in The Maze Runner
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