1 of the Best YA Dystopian Franchises Returns to the Tops of the Charts 11 Years Later

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As a movie buff, I remember the early 2010s being *full* of young adult dystopian stories hitting the big screen – and a lot of them were huge successes. I’ve noticed a particular film trilogy is really having a moment right now, actually topping the charts on a major streaming service. The first movie in the series just jumped to number one, which is pretty exciting to see!

According to Flix Patrol, all three *Maze Runner* movies are currently in the top ten most-streamed films on Netflix in the US. *The Maze Runner* is number one, beating out popular titles like *KPop Demon Hunters* and *Despicable Me 3*. Its sequels, *Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials* and *Maze Runner: The Death Cure*, are also performing well, landing at number five and number nine respectively.

The movie “The Maze Runner” is based on James Dashner’s popular book series. Written by Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, and T.S. Nowlin, the story follows Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien, a teen who wakes up with no memory in a large clearing called the Glade. This Glade is surrounded by a dangerous Maze filled with terrifying creatures. Throughout the film, Thomas learns about the ruined world he’s in, starts to remember his past, and tries to figure out the secrets of the Maze.

The main cast of *The Maze Runner* included Kaya Scodelario as Teresa, Aml Ameen as Alby, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt, Ki Hong Lee as Minho, and Patricia Clarkson as Ava Page.

The movie was a box office success when it came out, earning over $348 million despite only costing $34 million to make. It was also well-received by critics and audiences alike, currently holding a 66% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 172 reviews.

The first film’s success guaranteed a sequel, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, which came out in 2015 and also did well, though critics weren’t as enthusiastic. The series concluded with Maze Runner: The Death Cure in 2018, which received mixed reviews.

How The Maze Runner Changed Its Star’s Life

In 2024, revealed a near-fatal accident that happened while filming the third movie – he was hit by a car. He explained it profoundly changed his perspective, especially when it came to asserting himself on set. He noted it’s common for young actors to be pressured into compliance, often being told not to cause trouble or be seen as difficult, discouraging them from speaking up.

After the accident, I realized there’s a difference between self-care and simply looking out for yourself. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re causing trouble for speaking up. Looking back, I was a 24-year-old raising valid concerns about how things were being handled, but nobody listened or showed me respect. Then the accident happened, and unfortunately, it seemed like those responsible faced no consequences.

In May 2024, a new project was announced. There haven’t been any news updates about it since then. However, creators clarified that it won’t be a retelling of the original story, nor will it continue directly after the events of the trilogy starring Dylan O’Brien.

The entire The Maze Runner trilogy is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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2025-10-11 15:07