While James Dashner wrote prequel novels—specifically The Fever Code and The Kill Order —these have never been adapted for the screen. Therefore, the three films listed above comprise the entirety of the cinematic universe.
Approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes. Rating: The films are rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, and some thematic elements.
Their goal is twofold: rescue their friend Minho, who has been captured for experimentation, and take down WCKD once and for all. This film features the most ambitious action sequences of the trilogy, including a bus chase through a tunnel and a massive siege on the city walls.
This is the most popular way to read the series because it avoids spoilers and preserves the "shock" of the main trilogy's twists. maze runner in order
6. Crank Palace (2020) – A side story focusing on Newt’s journey during the events of The Death Cure .
A novella taking place during The Death Cure , following Newt’s perspective after he leaves the group. It is best read after finishing the original trilogy.
There are two digital/e-book originals that were later printed in the collection The Maze Runner Files (2013). They are non-essential but add depth. Rating: The films are rated PG-13 for intense
Picking up immediately where the first film left off, The Scorch Trials drastically expands the scope of the world. Having escaped the Maze, Thomas and the Gladers are rescued and taken to a facility run by the mysterious Janson (Aidan Gillen).
It balances the "teen drama" elements with legitimate thriller and horror aesthetics. If you enjoy stories about survival, government conspiracies, and fast-paced action, watching these movies in order is a weekend well spent.
If you are re-watching the series, you may notice a three-year gap between the second and third films. Originally, Fox planned to release The Death Cure in 2017. However, during filming, star Dylan O’Brien was involved in a serious on-set accident, suffering significant injuries. This is the most popular way to read
To experience the series as intended, you should read them in the order they were published. This preserves the central mysteries and allows you to discover the world alongside the main character, Thomas. Recommended Reading Order (Publication)
– Prequel set 13 years before the first book.
publication order because the prequels often assume you already understand the world's mysteries. Goodreads +1 The Original Trilogy: The Maze Runner (2009) The Scorch Trials (2010) The Death Cure (2011) Prequels & Novellas: The Kill Order (2012): A prequel set 13 years before the first book, focusing on how the Flare began. The Fever Code (2016): A second prequel showing how the Maze was built and how Thomas and the others were trained. Crank Palace (2020): A novella that takes place during the events of The Death Cure , following Newt. The Sequel Trilogy ( The Maze Cutter ): Sets the stage 73 years after The Death Cure with new characters. The Maze Cutter (2022) The Godhead Complex (2023) The Infinite Glade (2025) Reddit +2 2. The Books: Chronological Timeline Order If you want to see the story unfold exactly as it happened in history, use this order provided by Screen Rant : The Kill Order The Fever Code The Maze Runner The Scorch Trials The Death Cure (with Crank Palace occurring during the latter half) The Maze Cutter Trilogy 3. The Movies: Watch Order The films follow the original trilogy's release order and are quite different from the books in several plot areas. According to Wikipedia , the watch order is: Wikipedia +1 The Maze Runner (2014) Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) Quick Tips for Fans 10 sites guide on the order to read all the maze runner books - Reddit Oct 11, 2024 —
The start of a sequel trilogy set 73 years after the events of The Death Cure , following the descendants of the original survivors. Summary: Where should you start?