Maze Runner (film series)
{{Short description|Films based on the books by James Dashner}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Maze Runner
| image = Maze Runner film series logo.png
| caption = Official film series logo
| based_on = The Maze Runner series by James Dashner
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| studio = {{plainlist|
- Gotham Group
- Temple Hill Entertainment
- TSG Entertainment (1–2)
- Oddball Entertainment (3)
}}
| distributor = 20th Century Fox
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = Total (3 films):
$157{{nbsp}}million
| gross = Total (3 films):
$949{{nbsp}}million
| released = 2014–2018
}}
The Maze Runner film series consists of American science-fiction dystopian action adventure films based on The Maze Runner novels by the American author James Dashner. Produced by Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the films star Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Dexter Darden, and Patricia Clarkson. T. S. Nowlin wrote and Wes Ball directed all three installments.
The first film, titled The Maze Runner, was released on September 19, 2014, and grossed over $348{{nbsp}}million worldwide. The second installment, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, was released on September 18, 2015, and grossed over $312{{nbsp}}million at the box office. The third movie, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, was released on January 26, 2018, and grossed less than its predecessors, with a worldwide gross of $288{{nbsp}}million.
The series will continue, with additional films in development under the Walt Disney Company's direction.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/fox-plans-more-sequels-to-popular-movie-franchises-post-disney-merger/ |title=Fox Plans More Sequels to Popular Movie Franchises Post-Disney Merger |date=April 3, 2019 |website=CBR}}
Films
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Film
! U.S. release date ! Director ! Screenwriter(s) ! style="width: 25%" | Producers |
|---|
| style="text-align:left" | The Maze Runner
| style="text-align:left" | {{start date|2014|09|19}} | rowspan="3"| {{nowrap|Wes Ball}} | Noah Oppenheim & Grant Pierce Myers and T. S. Nowlin | Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Lee Stollman |
| style="text-align:left" | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
| style="text-align:left" | {{start date|2015|09|18}} | rowspan="2"| T. S. Nowlin | Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Lee Stollman and Joe Hartwick Jr. |
| style="text-align:left" | Maze Runner: The Death Cure
| style="text-align:left" | {{start date|2018|01|26}} | Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Lee Stollman, Joe Hartwick Jr. and Wes Ball |
=''The Maze Runner'' (2014)=
{{Main|The Maze Runner (film){{!}}The Maze Runner (film)}}
The film features Thomas, who wakes up trapped in a maze with a group of other boys. He has no memory of the outside world other than dreams about an organization known as WCKD (World Catastrophe Killzone Department). Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his purpose and a way to escape.
Development for the film began in January 2011 when Fox purchased the film rights to Dashner's novel The Maze Runner.{{cite web |first=Steven |last=Zeitchik |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/01/the-maze-runner-james-dashner-noah-oppenheim-catherine-hardwicke-movie.html |title=Young-adult sensation The Maze Runner gets ready to run the movie gantlet (Updated) |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=February 5, 2012}} Principal photography began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in May 2013 and ended in July.{{cite web |title=Maze Runner Movie Set |url=http://jamesdashner.com/maze-runner-movie-set/ |publisher=jamesdashner.com |access-date=September 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924132426/http://jamesdashner.com/maze-runner-movie-set/ |archive-date=September 24, 2014}}{{cite web |title=The Maze Runner Movie Release Date, News, and Updates: 2 New Clips Released in Anticipation of The Premiere |url=http://www.hallels.com/articles/3972/20140820/maze-runner-movie-release-date-news-updates-2-new-clips.htm |publisher=hallels.com |access-date=September 12, 2014}} It was released on September 19, 2014.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/maze-runner-box-office-walk-among-the-tombstones-this-is-where-i-leave-you-837209/ |title=Box Office Sunday: Maze Runner Finds $32.5M; Liam's Walk Limps In; Where I Leave You No. 3 |first=Anita |last=Busch |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=September 21, 2014 |access-date=September 21, 2014}}
=''Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials'' (2015)=
{{Main|Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials{{!}}Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials}}
The film features Thomas and his fellow Gladers as they search for clues about the organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD's "vastly superior" forces and uncover its plans for them all.
Principal photography commenced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in October 2014 and ended in January 2015.{{cite tweet |user=MazeRunnerWW |author=Maze Runner News |number=526686330479050752 |title=The Scorch Trials starts filming TODAY! |date=October 27, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hypable.com/the-maze-runner-sequel-the-scorch-trials-wraps-filming/ |title=The Maze Runner sequel The Scorch Trials officially wraps filming |publisher=Hypable |first=Brook |last=Wentz |date=January 29, 2015 |access-date=January 29, 2015}} It was released on September 18, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/jamesdashner/status/513732008456224768 |title=And like that's not cool enough, it's official: THE SCORCH TRIALS movie is coming September 18, 2015. Doesn't this look sweet: #ScorchTrials |publisher=Twitter |first=James |last=Dashner |date=September 21, 2014 |access-date=September 25, 2014}}
=''Maze Runner: The Death Cure'' (2018)=
{{Main|Maze Runner: The Death Cure{{!}}Maze Runner: The Death Cure}}
In the third Maze Runner, Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled safe zone designed to keep people out. They attempt to enter to rescue their friends, seeking answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze.
In March 2015, T. S. Nowlin, who co-wrote the first and wrote the second film, was hired to write Maze Runner: The Death Cure based on the novel The Death Cure.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/the-maze-runner-the-death-cure-movie-ts-nowlin-fox-1201385970/ |title=Maze Runner: The Death Cure Sets T.S. Nowlin To Pen |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anita |last=Busch |date=March 4, 2015 |access-date=March 10, 2015}} In September 2015, Ball was hired to direct the film.{{cite web |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |last2=Chi |first2=Paul |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/wes-ball-directing-maze-runner-3-1201595243/ |title=Wes Ball Returning to Direct Third Maze Runner |publisher=Variety |date=September 16, 2015 |access-date=September 17, 2015}} Ball said that the film would not be split into two films.{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/the-death-cure-movie/ |title=The Maze Runner Finale The Death Cure Won't Be Split Into Two Movies |publisher=/Film |first=Peter |last=Sciretta |date=October 9, 2014 |access-date=October 24, 2014}} Principal photography took place in Cape Town, South Africa between March and June 2017 for a January 26, 2018, release.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/maze-runner-the-death-cure-will-start-production-in-feb-1201810382/ |title=The Maze Runner: The Death Cure Will Restart Production In February |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anita |last=Busch |date=August 29, 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/maze-runner-film-production-leaving-bc-for-south-africa/article31707023/ |title=Maze Runner film production leaving B.C. for South Africa |publisher=The Globe and Mail |first=Ian |last=Bailey |date=September 4, 2016 |access-date=September 5, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/deadpool-2-new-mutants-dark-phoenix-bohemian-rhapsody-steven-spielberg-pentagon-papers-1202075186/ |title=Deadpool 2, New Mutants & Dark Phoenix Find 2018 Dates Among Fox's Slew Of Release Changes & Additions |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=April 22, 2017 |access-date=April 23, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/awards/steven-spielberg-pentagon-papers-movie-the-post-1202539636/ |title=Steven Spielberg's Pentagon Papers Movie Re-Titled The Post |date=August 25, 2017 |last=McNary |first=Dave |publisher=Variety |access-date=August 26, 2017}}
=Reboot=
Following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in March 2019, Disney confirmed in April 2019 at their CinemaCon presentation that new Maze Runner films were in development.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/fox-plans-more-sequels-to-popular-movie-franchises-post-disney-merger/|title=Fox Plans More Sequels to Popular Movie Franchises Post-Disney Merger|date=April 3, 2019|website=CBR|access-date=September 1, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404134359/https://www.cbr.com/fox-plans-more-sequels-to-popular-movie-franchises-post-disney-merger/|url-status=live}}
In May 2024, it was announced that a reboot was in development, with Wes Ball returning as a producer and Jack Paglen hired as writer. The new installment was described as "not a redo of the story nor{{Nbsp}}... a direct sequel to the original trilogy" but "a sort of continuation{{Nbsp}}... yet also return to the elements that made the first movie connect with its audience".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-maze-runner-reboot-in-the-works-1235889793/|title='The Maze Runner' Reboot in the Works with 'Transcendence' Scribe Jack Paglen in Talks to Write (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=May 3, 2024|access-date=May 3, 2024}}
Recurring cast and characters
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:90%;" |
| rowspan="2" | Character
! colspan="3" | Films |
|---|
| The Maze Runner |
| Thomas
| colspan="3" | Dylan O'Brien |
| Teresa
| colspan="3" | Kaya Scodelario |
| Newt
| colspan="3" | Thomas Brodie-Sangster |
| Minho
| colspan="3" | Ki Hong Lee |
| Frypan
| colspan="3" | Dexter Darden |
| Ava Paige
| colspan="3" | Patricia Clarkson |
| Winston
| colspan="2" | Alexander Flores | style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | |
| Gally
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | Will Poulter |
| Janson
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | colspan="2" | Aidan Gillen |
| Aris
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | colspan="2" |Jacob Lofland |
| Brenda
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | colspan="2" |Rosa Salazar |
| Jorge
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | colspan="2" |Giancarlo Esposito |
| Vince
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | colspan="2" |Barry Pepper |
| Sonya
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | colspan="2" | Katherine McNamara |
| Harriet
| style="background-color:#D3D3D3;" | | colspan="2" | Nathalie Emmanuel |
Crew and details
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; width:99%;" |
| rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="7" | Crew and details |
|---|
| Composer
! Cinematographer ! Editor(s) ! Production companies ! Distributing companies ! Running time |
| style="text-align:left" | The Maze Runner
| rowspan="3"| John Paesano | rowspan="2"| Dan Zimmerman | rowspan="2"| Gotham Group, | rowspan="3"| 20th Century Fox | 1 hr 53 mins |
| style="text-align:left" | The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
| rowspan="2"| Gyula Pados | 2 hrs 11 mins |
| style="text-align:left" | The Maze Runner: The Death Cure
| Dan Zimmerman & Paul Harb | Gotham Group, | 2 hrs 23 mins |
Music
Reception
{{hatnote|For more details on the reception of each film, see the "Reception" section on each film's article.}}
=Box office performance=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! rowspan="2" | Film ! rowspan="2" | Release date ! colspan="3" | Box office gross ! colspan="2" | Box office ranking ! rowspan="2" | Production budget ! rowspan="2" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| North America
! Other territories ! Worldwide ! All time North America ! All time worldwide |
|---|
| style="text-align:left;" | The Maze Runner
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Start date|2014|9|19}} | $102,427,862 | $245,891,999 | $348,319,861 | 580 | 285 | $34{{nbsp}}million | {{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mazerunner.htm |title=The Maze Runner (2014) |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 20, 2015}} |
| style="text-align:left;" | Maze Runner: {{nowrap|The Scorch Trials}}
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Start date|2015|9|18}} | $81,697,192 | $230,627,911 | $312,325,103 | 810 | 337 | $61{{nbsp}}million |
| style="text-align:left;" | Maze Runner: {{nowrap|The Death Cure}}
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Start date|2018|1|26}} | $58,032,443 | $230,385,747 | $288,418,190 | 1,377 | 467 | $62{{nbsp}}million |
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" |
! colspan="6" | Total |
| ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:102427862+81697192+58032443}}}}
! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:245891999+230627911+230385747}}}} ! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:348319861+312325103+288418190}}}} ! colspan="2" | ! $157{{nbsp}}million |
All Maze Runner films opened at number one at the North American box office during their opening weekend.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3910&p=.htm |title=Weekend Report: Maze Runner Franchise Off to Strong Start |work=Box Office Mojo |last=Subers |first=Ray |date=September 21, 2014 |access-date=September 22, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4107&p=.htm |title=Maze and Mass Top Box Office, but Everest and Sicario are the Story |last=Brevet |first=Brad |work=Box Office Mojo |date=September 20, 2015 |access-date=September 22, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4364&p=.htm |title=Maze Runner #1, Jumanji & Showman Hold Strong & Padmaavat Takes Spot in Top Ten |last=Brevet |first=Brad |date=January 28, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2018}} In North America, the Maze Runner film series is the fifth-highest-grossing film series based on young adult books, after the film series of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, The Twilight Saga, and The Divergent Series, respectively, earning $242{{nbsp}}million.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=yaadaptations.htm |title=Young-Adult Book Adaptations Movies at the Box Office |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=February 9, 2018}} Worldwide, it is the fourth-highest-grossing film series based on young-adult books, after the film series of Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, and The Hunger Games, respectively, earning $949{{nbsp}}million from a $157{{nbsp}}million total production budget.
=Critical and public response=
The Maze Runner trilogy has received a mixed critical response, with the primary source of criticism being the plot and character development, although its performances and action sequences have been praised.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Maze Runner}}
{{Disney franchises}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maze Runner (film series), The}}
Category:20th Century Studios franchises