If you just finished a weekend binge-watch and you're staring at your TV screen wondering where the rest of the story went, you aren't alone. It’s that classic post-apocalyptic itch. You’ve watched Thomas run, you’ve seen the Cranks, and you’ve definitely cried over a certain letter. But now the big question: how many Maze Runner movies are there exactly?
Right now, the answer is three. That’s it. One tight, action-packed trilogy.
But honestly, that isn't the whole story. If we’re talking about what’s currently sitting on your streaming shelf, you have The Maze Runner (2014), The Scorch Trials (2015), and The Death Cure (2018). It’s a complete arc. You start in a giant stone box and end at the edge of the world. However, if you're a die-hard fan looking at the horizon in 2026, things are finally starting to get weird again in the best way possible.
The Original Trilogy: A Quick Refresh
Basically, Wes Ball—the director who somehow made a $34 million budget look like a $150 million blockbuster—steered this ship from start to finish. Most YA franchises (looking at you, Divergent) fell apart before they could finish. The Maze Runner actually made it across the finish line.
- The Maze Runner (2014): This is the one that started the obsession. Thomas wakes up in an elevator, remembers nothing but his name, and gets dumped into "The Glade." It's high-concept, claustrophobic, and mostly stays true to the mystery of the first book.
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015): Things go off the rails here. Not in a bad way, but the movie deviates heavily from James Dashner’s second book. Instead of telepathic communication and weird staged tests, we got a "zombie" wasteland and a lot of sprinting through sand.
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018): This one almost didn't happen. Production was famously halted for about a year after Dylan O’Brien suffered a serious on-set injury. When it finally arrived, it wrapped up the WCKD saga. It’s the longest of the three and feels much more like a traditional sci-fi war movie than a maze-based thriller.
Total box office? Somewhere around $949 million. That’s why Hollywood isn't letting this brand stay dead in the dirt.
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Is There a Fourth Movie?
Technically, no. Not yet. But let’s get into the 2026 reality.
For years, people have been making fake "Maze Runner 4: The Kill Order" trailers on YouTube with AI-generated thumbnails of Dylan O'Brien looking older. Ignore those. They’re clickbait. However, 20th Century Studios (now owned by Disney) officially confirmed they are developing a new project in the Maze Runner universe.
They aren't calling it a "reboot" in the sense of erasing Thomas and Newt. Instead, they're describing it as a "continuation." Think of it like what they did with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. It’s the same world, just a different chapter. Maybe it’s a prequel based on The Kill Order, or maybe it’s a story set decades later.
Jack Paglen, who wrote Transcendence, was reportedly tapped to write the script. Wes Ball is back, too, but as a producer this time around. He’s a bit busy with The Legend of Zelda movie lately, so he’s handing the torch to someone else for the actual filming.
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The "How Many" Confusion: Books vs. Movies
The reason you see people arguing about how many Maze Runner movies are there online is often because of the books. If you walk into a bookstore, you’ll see way more than three titles.
- The Maze Runner
- The Scorch Trials
- The Death Cure
- The Kill Order (Prequel set right after the sun flares)
- The Fever Code (Prequel showing how the Maze was built)
- The Maze Cutter (Set 73 years after the original trilogy)
If Disney decides to adapt the newer books like The Maze Cutter, we could eventually see a second trilogy. But as of today, those stories only exist on paper. If you’re a movie-only fan, you’re missing out on some massive lore—like the fact that Thomas and Teresa helped design the maze in the first place.
Why the Movies Are Surging Again in 2026
You might have noticed The Maze Runner popping up in the "Trending" sections of Peacock or Hulu lately. There’s a reason for that. Netflix lost the streaming rights at the end of 2025, and as soon as the trilogy moved to new platforms, a whole new generation of viewers discovered it.
It’s also aged surprisingly well. While other 2010s YA movies feel a bit "cringe" now, the Maze Runner films leaned into the horror and the grit. They didn't focus on love triangles as much as Twilight or The Hunger Games. It was mostly just "run for your life and try not to get your brain melted by a virus." That vibe is timeless.
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What You Should Do Next
If you've seen all three movies and you're still hungry for more, you have two real options.
First, read the prequel books. The Kill Order is notoriously dark—it deals with the actual release of the Flare virus—and it gives you a totally different perspective on WCKD. Second, keep an eye on official trades like The Hollywood Reporter. Any news about a fourth movie (the "continuation") will break there first, not on a random TikTok "leak" page.
Basically, the tally stands at three films, but the "Maze" is definitely expanding.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Prequels: If you want the "real" ending and the full backstory, pick up The Fever Code. It bridges the gap between the Flare and the first movie.
- Watch the Deleted Scenes: The Blu-ray and digital extras for The Death Cure contain some of the most emotional moments that didn't make the theatrical cut, including more context on the "Immune" kids.
- Track Wes Ball’s Updates: Since he's producing the next film, his social media or interviews about his current projects often drop breadcrumbs about where the Maze Runner continuation stands.
The Maze Runner trilogy remains a standout of the dystopian era, and while only three movies exist now, the franchise's heartbeat is getting louder. Stay tuned to official studio channels for the 2027-2028 production window. Until then, you've got three solid movies to re-watch. Just remember: WCKD is good. Sorta. Maybe. Actually, probably not.