The Maze Runner (2014)
Kernel Score: 82% · 17,913 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Action, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Released: 2014-09-10
Runtime: 113 minutes
Is The Maze Runner worth watching?
Worth watching. A teenager wakes up in a walled glade surrounded by a deadly maze, and the mystery pulls you through its brisk 113 minutes. The ideas are standard young-adult dystopia, but the setup is strong enough to carry it.
Watch it if you
- like young-adult dystopian thrillers
- enjoy mysteries where the rules are unclear
- want a fast-moving survival story
Skip it if you
- want answers rather than sequels
- dislike teenage-led action
Best for: Binge weekend
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Maze Runner
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A teenager with no memory of his past finds himself among a group of boys living in a walled enclosure surrounded by a massive, ever-changing maze. As he struggles to adapt to their rules and society, he begins to uncover clues that may lead to escape and the truth behind their confinement.
The Maze Runner parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Maze Runner is a PG-13 dystopian thriller involving teens trapped in a deadly maze facing danger and mystery.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes perilous, sometimes deadly encounters within the maze and among the trapped group.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Maze Runner
If you liked The Maze Runner, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) — 81%: The final chapter of the same series
- The Long Walk (2025) — 77%: Bleak survival game involving young people
- 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) — 77%: Tense trapped-and-uncertain thriller
- Prey (2022) — 87%: Lean survival thriller
- 9 (2009) — 76%: Strange post-apocalyptic adventure
- Gattaca (1997) — 86%: Thoughtful dystopian sci-fi
Director
Cast
- Dylan O'Brien as Thomas
- Kaya Scodelario as Teresa Agnes
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt
- Ki Hong Lee as Minho
- Will Poulter as Gally
- Aml Ameen as Alby
- Patricia Clarkson as Ava Paige
- Blake Cooper as Chuck
- Dexter Darden as Frypan
- Jacob Latimore as Jeff
The Maze Runner FAQ
Is The Maze Runner worth watching?
Worth watching. A teenager wakes up in a walled glade surrounded by a deadly maze, and the mystery pulls you through its brisk 113 minutes. The ideas are standard young-adult dystopia, but the setup is strong enough to carry it.
Where can I watch The Maze Runner?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Maze Runner OK for kids?
The Maze Runner is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Maze Runner is a PG-13 dystopian thriller involving teens trapped in a deadly maze facing danger and mystery.
What movies are like The Maze Runner?
If you liked The Maze Runner, try Maze Runner: The Death Cure, The Long Walk, 10 Cloverfield Lane and Prey.