Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent dystopian trilogy finale wraps us loose ends.
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Why Age 13+?
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Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 26 parent reviews
Based on 105 kid reviews
Kids say the film is an intense blend of emotional moments and violence, featuring tragic character deaths and disturbing scenes that may not be suitable for younger viewers. While many appreciate the action-packed narrative and strong performances, there's a clear divide on its fidelity to the original book series, with some fans feeling disappointed by the alterations made in the adaptation.
- emotional moments
- intense violence
- tragic character deaths
- mixed reviews on fidelity
- action-packed narrative
- strong performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
The final installment in the Maze Runner trilogy, MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE follows Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), Newt (Thomas Sangster), Frypan (Dexter Darden), and the rest of the escaped Gladers as they attempt to save Minho (Ki Hong Lee) from WCKD's clutches. If they can't, Vince (Barry Pepper) needs to get the rest of the immune on a ship to start over somewhere far away. Minho has been taken to the Last City, a labyrinthine city controlled by WCKD, for more last-ditch experiments. Thomas, his quasi-love interest Brenda (Rosa Salazar), and the other members of their squad team up with the small resistance right outside the Last City's gates to go on a final mission to rescue their friend. But to get in, Thomas must confront his former friend who betrayed the cause -- Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), who still believes WCKD can do good if they use the immune to find a cure -- and evade cold-blooded WCKD enforcer Janson (Aiden Gillen).
Is It Any Good?
Fans of James Dashner's dystopian saga and the movie series will appreciate the closure this serviceable finale provides, with O'Brien immersing himself in the role of Thomas one last time. The stakes in this one are high, but for Thomas and his buddies, it all boils down to saving Minho. The world-building isn't as strong here as in, say, The Hunger Games, but it does have a clearer premise than the later Divergent films: The immune just need to get away from WCKD's experimenting and start over together.
A couple of twists and turns reunite the Gladers with kids they thought they'd never see again, and characters must make difficult life-or-death choices. Scodelario's conflicted Teresa pleads her case to Thomas, who's willing to donate blood if it means saving the infested. That's an ongoing theme of this installment, which does feature some thrills and nail-biting confrontations but is ultimately about a group of young men (girls and women are scarce in this series) who learn to trust, protect, and defend one another against villains who sought to use and destroy them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of violent dystopian stories aimed at teenagers. What impact does the violence have in Maze Runner: The Death Cure?
Is it different to see violence than to read about it? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence? Are the deaths in this installment particularly difficult to handle? If so, why?
Which characters are role models? What character strengths do they demonstrate?
Dashner fans: Do you think this movie captures the spirit of the book? What changes and differences did you appreciate? What scenes from the book did you miss seeing on the big screen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 26, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : April 24, 2018
- Cast : Dylan O'Brien , Thomas Brodie-Sangster , Kaya Scodelario
- Director : Wes Ball
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : 20th Century Fox
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 142 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, and some thematic elements
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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