Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Name: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: September 18, 2015
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 43
Cast: Aidan Gillen, Dylan O'Brien, Giancarlo Esposito, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster

2015

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 428 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 428 Ratings

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Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox | Release Date: September 18, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Aidan Gillen, Dylan O'Brien, Giancarlo Esposito, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Summary: Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD’s vastly superiorThomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD’s vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all. [20th Century Fox]… Expand

Director: Wes Ball

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 132 min

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Critic Reviews

Brian Truitt

Sep 17, 2015

Katniss and Tris might still be queen bees of the genre, but Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers find a satisfying, teen-friendly way to combine rebellion, politics, science and a lot of jogging for a broad audience. Read full review

Stephen Kelly

Sep 9, 2015

Scorch Trials ambitiously opens up its world with mixed results: gripping action, so-so script. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Sep 17, 2015

The Scorch Trials isn’t a particularly good movie, but it’s just fast and nutty enough to keep you entertained. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Sep 16, 2015

Starts at a sprint and hurtles at us for a good long, stretch, before it stops to catch its breath. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Sep 17, 2015

It’s not a bad movie. It’s like several pretty good ones. Read full review

The Playlist Nick Schager

Sep 16, 2015

Director Wes Ball’s adaptation of the second book in author James Dashner’s popular series is the exact opposite of its predecessor, presenting a sprawling adventure that, when not liberally cribbing from more illustrious sci-fi forefathers, spends plentiful time fleshing out the dull details of its oppressed-youth scenario. Read full review

James Rocchi

Sep 9, 2015

One of the most tedious apocalypses to come down the chute in recent years, this series gets lamer, and lazier, with each entry. The only ‘Trial’ offered by this film is the ordeal of watching it. Read full review

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User Reviews

GreenGoblin215

Sep 20, 2015

I will start by saying that I have read the book Trilogy. I haven't read the prequel though yet and I have read the 1st 2 books Twice. I will now continue with my review for this movie after establishing that I'm an avid fan of the books. I only did this bc a lot of reviews I see got mad atI will start by saying that I have read the book Trilogy. I haven't read the prequel though yet and I have read the 1st 2 books Twice. I will now continue with my review for this movie after establishing that I'm an avid fan of the books. I only did this bc a lot of reviews I see got mad at the movie for certain outcomes that happened in the book. I will say that I personally loved the movie. I found it to be a worthy successor to the 1st film which I have seen 3 times. The story while different from the 2nd book in many facets also plays nicely with the 1st movie. The acting is Amazing and my favorite character in the book Jorge played by Giancarlo Esposito was Fantastic. The action was extremely well done and very riveting. The enemies which everyone should know by now if you have read the books or seen the trailers are a mix between "28 Days Later" & "World War Z". I will move onto my 2nd opinion of the story which when comparing it to the book is very different and there are certain scenes from the book that I wish they had included in the film but it is what it is regardless from that it moved along just fine. I would recommend this movie for sure if you're a fan of the books or even the movie. I also would recommend not paying attention to reviews from people who haven't read the book as they don't have the whole picture. I can't wait for part 3 being "The Death Cure".… Expand

6 of 13 users found this helpful67

TheQuietGamer

Feb 8, 2016

Not only is it a shocking (and welcome) change of pace from the first movie, but it's also a nice deviation from the typical YA-book-turned-movie scenario. The expected themes are in play, but "The Scorch Trials" does enough unique to make it stand out from the ever growing pack of theseNot only is it a shocking (and welcome) change of pace from the first movie, but it's also a nice deviation from the typical YA-book-turned-movie scenario. The expected themes are in play, but "The Scorch Trials" does enough unique to make it stand out from the ever growing pack of these kind of movies.

For all intents and purposes it's a post-apocalyptic zombie movie. Surprising, considering the first fit into the standard sci-fi mold similar to Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver. The only thing it really had going in it's favor was a darker overall tone.

Here though it defies expectations. It's got thrilling action and the characters have been much improved. For starters our lead Dylan O'Brien is much more likable this time around. The supporting cast is just as charming as ever, with the standout once again being Ki Hong Lee as Minho.

Plenty of twists and new character developments take place, with more of the mystery of the overall plot being revealed along the way. The new characters fit right in.

So perhaps the whole zombie apocalypse thing isn't exactly a new idea, but it's a nice enough change of pace to allow this Maze Runner sequel to break away from the standard YA novel movie mold. It's a heck of a lot of fun, a huge improvement over it's predecessor, and has left me impatiently waiting for the next one.

As a result, my total score for the movie is a near-perfect score of 9.9/10. An excellent movie all around. One that's worth watching even this genre is beginning to grate on your nerves at this point. Just keep in mind the first is basically required to understand what's going on here.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

CinemaCreed

Sep 18, 2015

Even though it leaves out some details from the book and some plot holes, The Scorch Trials is a great movie. Don't know why it got a mixed score. It tries to include as much as it can from the book, taking it to life very well. The cranks are really scary and well made. The acting is greatEven though it leaves out some details from the book and some plot holes, The Scorch Trials is a great movie. Don't know why it got a mixed score. It tries to include as much as it can from the book, taking it to life very well. The cranks are really scary and well made. The acting is great and the story too, It is never boring, the action almost never stops. I totally recommend it.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

TVJerry

Sep 18, 2015

In the original film, Dylan O’Brien and his friends made it out of the deadly maze. This sequel picks up as they find themselves with a new set of challenges in a perilous "scorched" landscape. They spend most of the movie running from the evil military scientists, zombies and miscellaneousIn the original film, Dylan O’Brien and his friends made it out of the deadly maze. This sequel picks up as they find themselves with a new set of challenges in a perilous "scorched" landscape. They spend most of the movie running from the evil military scientists, zombies and miscellaneous rogue outliers. Although action is plentiful, not much of it is particularly memorable (the slanted skyscraper is the only exception). There are also mysteries to unfold, which add more questions than answers. For those who've read the novels or enjoy seeing plucky teens fight for their lives, there's an adequate amount of activity.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

NickLikesMovies

Oct 7, 2015

No plot , no characters , no originality , but good action and acting boost it a little.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

ydnar4

Nov 22, 2015

I enjoyed the first Maze Runner movie. I didn’t read the books but I found the first film to be fairly entertaining and it was the first time that we got an adaptation of a young adult novel that wasn’t the Hunger Games that was actually tolerable. I like the kick off of The Scorch Trials.I enjoyed the first Maze Runner movie. I didn’t read the books but I found the first film to be fairly entertaining and it was the first time that we got an adaptation of a young adult novel that wasn’t the Hunger Games that was actually tolerable. I like the kick off of The Scorch Trials. Its mystery is very similar to the first movie only with more of a sci-fi spin on it but eventually this film began to wear thin. There are also some exceptional new characters that are introduced all throughout the film played by some familiar faces like Giancarlo Esposito and Barry Pepper.

There is too much going on in the Scorch Trials, but then its also too long at 131 minutes because there are several points in the film where the story seems to be at a stalemate and adds to length despite not being an essential component. Then they add zombies to the mix for a little while and they still have to keep away for the main villain so that clogs things up. Plus, these zombies are sometimes made up actors and sometimes they are CGI so that really screws up the continuity.

Finally we get to Dylan O’Brien who impressed me in the first film and looks to have some potential to be a star in more films in the future, but I could not stand his character by the ending of this movie. He is very comparable to Captain America with his pureness and always has to do the right thing. You need to have a hero with at least one flaw. Then it just gets to a point where it is unbelievable and annoying because it just seems like an easier way to drag the film on and allow more sequels. I know this is really not O’Brien’s fault that his character was written that way but it just made the film so predictable. This character is only supposed to be a teenager and teens are not that moral. I also got really sick of his over exaggerated running.

Then much like the first film, we are left with a cliff hanger ending in order to set up a sequel. It wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t so pathetically obvious and this movie wasn’t so shaky in the first place, but I’ll probably still watch the third film just because I want to see how the new characters will fit into the next film, so I guess I’m just as gullible as anyone else.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Nov 23, 2019

The plot of this movie was such an incoherent mess. For a 2 hour film, There were a lot of annoying cuts that seemed to skip sections of the plot at a time. For instance, There was a part where they're about to get stuck in a storm and are seeking shelter, It then immediately cuts to theThe plot of this movie was such an incoherent mess. For a 2 hour film, There were a lot of annoying cuts that seemed to skip sections of the plot at a time. For instance, There was a part where they're about to get stuck in a storm and are seeking shelter, It then immediately cuts to the following day with the group just chilling on the ground. Another example is he gets drunk, has flashbacks in a club and wakes up to the club empty, reunited with his friends and seeing the host of the club getting beaten.

Those examples show to me that the writer obviously had no clue what the heck he was doing when adapting this book and it shows. His poor writing really helped ruin this movie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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35	#35 Most Discussed Movie of 2015
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