The Maze Runner (2014) is a dystopian sci-fi action-thriller film directed by Wes Ball, based on the 2009 novel by James Dashner. It is the first installment in The Maze Runner trilogy, followed by The Scorch Trials (2015) and The Death Cure (2018). The movie stars Dylan OโBrien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, and Patricia Clarkson. Known for its gripping mystery, intense action, and a dark, post-apocalyptic setting, The Maze Runner quickly became a standout in the young adult (YA) dystopian film wave of the 2010s.
The story begins with Thomas (Dylan OโBrien), a teenager, waking up in a moving elevator called “The Box” with no memory of who he is or how he got there. The elevator takes him to the Glade, a massive expanse enclosed by towering walls, where he meets a group of boys who have been similarly stranded. The Glade is surrounded by a giant maze filled with deadly mechanical creatures called Grievers, and the walls of the maze shift every night.
The boys in the Glade, led by Alby (Aml Ameen) and Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), have formed a makeshift society. Their goal is to survive while trying to find an escape route through the maze, which is explored daily by designated “Runners.” Thomas is immediately curious about the maze and begins questioning the rules and the purpose of their imprisonment.
Tensions rise when Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), the first girl, arrives in the Glade, carrying a cryptic note that changes everything. She and Thomas share a mysterious connection, and both begin to unlock fragments of their memories. Together with the Gladers, Thomas challenges the status quo and leads a dangerous attempt to escape the maze.
The climactic battle reveals that the Gladers are part of an experiment conducted by a shadowy organization called WCKD (World Catastrophe Killzone Department) in the aftermath of a devastating pandemic and environmental collapse. The movie ends on a cliffhanger, setting up the sequels.