Some stories never lose their edge — they just find new audiences. The Maze Runner, the first film in the hit YA sci-fi trilogy based on James Dashner’s novels, has returned to Netflix, igniting nostalgia and adrenaline all over again. Directed by Wes Ball and starring Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Will Poulter, the film recharges the dystopian genre with feral energy and emotional punch.
In a world where walls shift and memory fades, survival isn’t about strength – it’s about trust. This is one of those films that hits harder on rewatch: a claustrophobic parable about control, freedom, and what happens when humanity becomes an experiment. Here is everything you need to know about The Maze Runner – from the plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
All the key details about The Maze Runner
- Title: The Maze Runner
- Format: Film
- Length: 113 minutes
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller
- Country of production: United States
- Year of release: 2014
- Director: Wes Ball
- Main cast: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter
- Produced by: 20th Century Fox, Gotham Group, Temple Hill Entertainment
What happens in The Maze Runner?
Thomas wakes up in a steel cage that rises into daylight and a world he doesn’t know. He’s delivered into the Glade, a vast enclosure surrounded by towering stone walls. Dozens of teenage boys live there, their memories erased, surviving through routines they barely understand. Every day, the maze beyond opens and closes, filled with lethal bio-mechanical creatures known as Grievers.
When a girl named Teresa arrives with a mysterious note – “She’s the last one ever” – everything changes. The maze begins to shift, the rules collapse, and the Gladers must decide whether to stay in their fragile order or risk everything for freedom.
Also read ► A world without walls, a race without mercy: Netflix’s The Scorch Trials turns survival into rebellion
Who’s in the cast of The Maze Runner?
Dylan O’Brien anchors the film as Thomas, delivering a mix of fear, defiance, and curiosity that drives the story. Kaya Scodelario plays Teresa, the lone female Glader whose connection to Thomas sparks more questions than answers.
Supporting them are Thomas Brodie-Sangster as the loyal Newt, Will Poulter as the hot-headed Gally, and Aml Ameen as the leader Alby. The chemistry among the young cast – shot through with rivalry, loyalty, and flashes of tenderness – gives the dystopian setup real emotional weight.
Is The Maze Runner based on a true story?
No, the film is based on the best-selling novel by James Dashner, published in 2009. The book launched a global phenomenon, followed by two sequels (The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure). Director Wes Ball brings a grittier, more tactile edge to the adaptation, using handheld intensity and natural light to ground the fantasy in realism.
What are the reviews on The Maze Runner?
Critics and audiences praised the film’s lean pacing, tactile production design, and mood of creeping mystery – often noting it as a stronger entry in the wave of YA dystopian adaptations. Viewers highlight the ensemble’s chemistry and the way the story balances puzzle-box suspense with themes of solidarity, sacrifice, and rebellion.
Where was The Maze Runner filmed?
The movie was filmed primarily in and around Baton Rouge and Jackson, Louisiana, with large-scale Glade and maze builds enhanced by digital extensions. The choice to combine practical sets with VFX gives the film a palpable, lived-in texture that intensifies the sense of danger.
The Maze Runner: Behind the scenes and fun facts
- Dylan O’Brien performed many of his own runs through the maze’s practical corridors, boosting the film’s visceral feel.
- Shot for roughly $30–34 million, the film grossed over $340 million worldwide and launched two sequels.
- The title nods not only to the literal labyrinth but to the instinct to outrun extinction – a theme the sequels push further.
What’s The Maze Runner like?
If you enjoyed The Hunger Games or Divergent, this is the right film for you – blending survivalist tension with psychological mystery and a cast that grows on you scene by scene.
When is The Maze Runner coming out on streaming?
Available now. The Maze Runner is already streaming on Netflix. Watch on Netflix.
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, here’s the trailer.
