The Maze Runner
Teenage survivors with erased memories must decode a deadly shifting maze before their enclosed refuge collapses into factional conflict.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- ominous
- propulsive
- teen movie night
- science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an energetic and competently made young adult dystopian thriller, though its familiar genre formula and unresolved franchise-oriented ending limited its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thomas and the Gladers repeatedly study and enter the Maze, whose changing layout is central to their escape attempt.
The Glade functions as a self-sufficient settlement with agriculture, supplies, rules, and assigned social roles.
Thomas, Teresa, and the other teenagers awaken without autobiographical memories, while their forgotten pasts connect to the forces controlling the Maze.
Teenage survivors divide between preserving the Glade’s rules and risking their lives to escape an apparently controlled experiment.
Films like The Maze Runner, and why
The Hunger Games
shared young adult dystopian survival, factional conflict, and escape-driven suspense
Divergent
shared memory loss, adolescent protagonists, dystopian science fiction, and institutional control
The Giver
shared young adult dystopia, enclosed survival environment, and mystery surrounding a controlling experiment
The 5th Wave
shared trapped adolescents, post-apocalyptic danger, and escalating survival adventure
Movie Details
- Director
- Wes Ball
- Release Date
- 2014-09-10
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (18504)
Cast
- Dylan O'Brien
- Kaya Scodelario
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster
- Ki Hong Lee
- Will Poulter
- Aml Ameen
- Patricia Clarkson
- Blake Cooper
- Dexter Darden
- Jacob Latimore
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Maze Runner about?
- Teenage survivors with erased memories must decode a deadly shifting maze before their enclosed refuge collapses into factional conflict.
- What is The Maze Runner like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Maze Runner as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Maze Runner violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Maze Runner as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Maze Runner?
- Critics generally found the film an energetic and competently made young adult dystopian thriller, though its familiar genre formula and unresolved franchise-oriented ending limited its impact.
- Which films are like The Maze Runner?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Giver, and The 5th Wave.
- How long is The Maze Runner?
- The Maze Runner runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Maze Runner?
- In United States, The Maze Runner is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
