Thomas wakes up in a maze again. That is the whole point of Maze Runner: The Death Cure, and it is also the problem. The third film in the franchise returns to the setup that launched the series: a young man who does not remember who he is, trapped in a closed world with a group of strangers. But unlike the first movie, which felt urgent and strange, this one feels like it is repeating itself. The plot is thinner, the stakes are murkier, and the action sequences, while busy, do not earn their place.
The film wants to be a big, noisy blockbuster. It mostly succeeds at being big. It fails at being satisfying.
Trailer, via 20th Century Studios.
Thomas Wakes Up Again
The story picks up after the events of the previous film. Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien, has escaped the maze and learned the truth about the WCKD corporation. Now he is part of a resistance movement, fighting against the very people who created him. The setup is simple enough. A boy learns he was built as a test subject, and now he wants revenge.
But the film spends too much time telling us this. Scenes of Thomas remembering his past are narrated through voiceover, and the dialogue often repeats information we have already heard. The result is a film that trusts the audience less than it should. It explains everything, from the history of the WCKD corporation to the nature of the Flare virus, as though the viewers are children who need to be talked through the plot.
The flashback structure does not help. We see Thomas as a child, living a normal life, and then we see him as a teenager in the maze. These scenes are meant to humanize him, but they slow the pacing and break the tension of the present-day action. By the time the final act arrives, the viewer has forgotten why any of this matters.
The Scorch and the New Maze
The setting shifts from the enclosed maze of the first film to the open desert of the Scorch. This is a smart move on paper. The Scorch is a harsh, unforgiving landscape, and it should feel scarier than a maze with walls. But the film treats the desert as a backdrop rather than a character. The sand is hot, the air is dry, and the WCKD soldiers are relentless. That is all we get.
The new maze, which appears late in the film, is a twist that should have been the centerpiece. Instead, it is rushed and underdeveloped. The rules of the maze are never fully explained, and the sequence ends before it can build any real dread. The chase through the maze is exciting in the moment, but it leaves the viewer confused about what it means.
The film also introduces a new villain, a scientist named Jorge, played by Giancarlo Esposito. Jorge is meant to be the mastermind behind the WCKD operation, but his character is thin. He is a shadowy figure with a plan, but the plan is never made clear. The film shows Jorge making decisions, but it never explains why he makes them. This is a serious flaw. A villain should have a motive, and the film refuses to give Jorge one.
Dylan O’Brien and the Supporting Cast
Dylan O’Brien carries the film. He is charismatic, intense, and committed to the role. His performance is the best reason to watch Maze Runner: The Death Cure. He sells the emotional weight of Thomas’s journey, even when the script around him is weak. When Thomas is in danger, the viewer feels it. When he is conflicted, the viewer understands. O’Brien deserves credit for making a flawed film watchable.
The supporting cast is solid but underused. Kiara Barnes plays Brenda, Thomas’s friend from the maze, and she brings warmth to her scenes. Rosa Salazar plays Teresa, a fellow survivor, and she delivers a strong performance despite the film’s tendency to sideline its female characters. Will Poulter returns as Gally, the former enemy turned ally, and he gives the role a menacing presence. But none of them are given enough material to make their performances count.
The film also includes a subplot involving a young girl named Newt, played by Nathaniel Martello-White. Newt is a survivor who knows the Scorch better than anyone else. She is supposed to be a guide and a friend, but her scenes are sparse. The film introduces her, uses her for a few action beats, and then forgets about her. This is a missed opportunity. A character who knows the Scorch could have added depth to the world, but she is treated as a prop instead of a person.
The Action Sequences
The action in Maze Runner: The Death Cure is loud and fast. There are car chases, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat. The stunts are well-choreographed, and the editing is energetic. On paper, this should work. Big action films succeed by immersing the viewer in chaos and spectacle. But Maze Runner: The Death Cure fails to ground its action in anything meaningful.
The fights are choreographed with skill, but they lack purpose. A fight scene should tell us something about the characters or the situation. In this film, the fights exist to show off effects and movement. They are fun to watch in the moment, but they leave the viewer wondering why they happened. The film is full of noise, but there is no signal.
The climax, which involves Thomas facing Jorge in the new maze, is a letdown. It is a big set piece, with lights, music, and explosions. But the resolution is shallow. Jorge is defeated, and the film ends, but the viewer is left with questions. What was Jorge’s plan? Why did he do what he did? The film never answers.
The Soundtrack
The score, composed by Brian Tyler, is competent but unremarkable. It swells during the action scenes, and it drops during the quieter moments. It does its job, which is to underline the emotions on screen. But it does not stand out. It is the kind of score you hear and forget.
The film also includes licensed music, including songs by Imagine Dragons and Thirty Seconds to Mars. These tracks are used well in the marketing materials, but they are less effective in the film itself. They are background noise, not thematic statements. The soundtrack is pleasant, but it does not elevate the film.
The Technical Craft
The production design is strong. The Scorch is a believable wasteland, with cracked earth, dead trees, and ruined buildings. The maze is a network of corridors and chambers, lit by flickering lights. The visual effects are polished, and the action sequences are shot with energy. On a technical level, Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a professional piece of filmmaking.
But technical polish is not the same as artistry. A film can look good and still fail. Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a technically proficient film that fails to engage the viewer on an emotional or intellectual level. The craft is there, but the soul is missing.
The Running Order
The film runs 138 minutes, which is a long runtime for a story this thin. Here is a rough breakdown of how the time is spent:
| Segment | Time |
|---|---|
| Opening credits and setup | 10 minutes |
| Flashbacks to Thomas’s childhood | 15 minutes |
| Thomas escapes the Scorch and meets the resistance | 30 minutes |
| The chase through the desert | 25 minutes |
| The new maze and the final confrontation | 40 minutes |
| Closing scenes and epilogue | 18 minutes |
The film moves quickly in the middle, but the opening and closing sections drag. The flashbacks are informative, but they are also slow. The epilogue is rushed, tying up loose ends that were barely established. The pacing is uneven, and the runtime feels padded.
A Comparison With the Previous Films
| Maze Runner: The Death Cure | Maze Runner | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials |
|---|---|---|
| Setting: The Scorch and a new maze | Setting: The maze | Setting: The maze and the Scorch |
| Thomas remembers his past through voiceover | Thomas discovers the maze | Thomas escapes the maze |
| WCKD is the enemy | WCKD is mysterious | WCKD is revealed |
| Action is the focus | Mystery is the focus | Escape is the focus |
| The ending resolves the conflict | The ending sets up the sequel | The ending raises questions |
The comparison shows how the series has shifted over time. The first film was about discovery. The second was about escape. The third is about confrontation. Each film has a clear identity, but the third one loses the magic of the first two. It is bigger, louder, and more confident, but it is also more hollow.
The Final Verdict
Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a disappointment. It has a talented lead actor, a decent score, and some impressive action sequences. But it lacks a clear direction. The plot is thin, the characters are underdeveloped, and the ending is unsatisfying. It is a film that tries to be everything and succeeds at nothing.
The film is not a disaster. It is not a failure in the way that a truly bad film fails. It is a failure of ambition. It is a film that wanted to be a blockbuster and settled for being a routine one. It is a film that had a story to tell and told it poorly.
The score is 5 of 10.
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