The Maze RunnerComplete Watch Order Guide
The Maze Runner series consists of three science-fiction dystopian action adventure films based on the novel series by American author James Dashner. When Thomas 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 W.C.K.D. 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.
The Maze Runner Release Timeline
What order should you watch The Maze Runner movies?
Release order — click any era to expand or collapse. All 3 released films shown below.
All 3 films in release order — the recommended way to experience the full series.
Watch The Maze Runner in Order
Watch The Maze Runner movies in release order, starting with The Maze Runner (2014) and continuing through Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018). The series spans 3 films, released between 2014 and 2018. Audiences rate the franchise 7/10 on average.
What order should you watch The Maze Runner?
For most viewers, release order is the recommended way to watch The Maze Runner. This is how the story was crafted and revealed to audiences — earlier films seed details, callbacks, and twists that pay off in later entries. Watching in release order preserves those reveals and matches the pacing the filmmakers intended.
The Maze Runner largely tracks its own in-universe chronology, so release order and chronological order overlap closely. You can use either without losing much, though release order is still the safest first watch.
About The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner series consists of three science-fiction dystopian action adventure films based on the novel series by American author James Dashner. When Thomas 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 W.C.K.D. 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.
Each film builds on the previous one, rewarding viewers who watch in sequence.
The Maze Runner by the Numbers
Every figure below is calculated from the full film list on this page.
- 3
- Films released
- 4
- Years running
- 7.0/10
- Average audience rating
- 7.2/10
- Highest rated
- 6.7/10
- Lowest rated
- 2 years
- Longest gap between films
The Maze Runner has 3 released films, the first in 2014 and the most recent in 2018.
The series has been running for 4 years, from 2014 to 2018.
Across its 3 rated films, The Maze Runner averages 7.0/10 on TMDB, from 38,238 audience ratings.
The highest-rated entry is The Maze Runner (2014) at 7.2/10 on TMDB.
The lowest-rated entry is Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) at 6.7/10 on TMDB.
The longest gap between consecutive films is 2 years, between Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018).
Computed by Movies in Order from The Movie Database (TMDB) collection data for The Maze Runner, covering all 3 released films. Last recalculated September 2026.
The Maze Runner Fun Facts & Trivia
The Maze Runner franchise spans 4 years, from 2014 to 2018.
The highest-rated entry is The Maze Runner with a 7.2/10 audience score.
Across all films, the franchise averages a 7.0/10 rating from audiences.
The Maze Runner films have collected over 38k audience ratings combined.
The most recent entry, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), continues a franchise that began 4 years earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best order to watch The Maze Runner?
What is the first The Maze Runner movie?
What is the most recent The Maze Runner movie?
How many The Maze Runner movies are there in total?
How long does it take to watch all The Maze Runner movies?
What is the highest-rated The Maze Runner movie?
Can I watch The Maze Runner movies without watching them in order?
Where can I watch The Maze Runner movies online?
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