Where were the Maze Runner movies filmed? Explore the real filming locations behind the blockbuster dystopian trilogy.
If someone told you the Maze Runner trilogy was filmed in a giant, high-tech labyrinth, you’d be forgiven for believing them. Instead, director Wes Ball transformed real forests, abandoned malls, deserts, and modern cityscapes into one of sci-fi’s most unforgettable dystopian worlds.
Based on James Dashner’s bestselling novels, the trilogy follows Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers as they battle Grievers, Cranks, WCKD, and the occasional terrible life decision.
Alongside Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, and Will Poulter, the cast filmed across Louisiana, New Mexico, and South Africa, with each location perfectly matching the trilogy’s increasingly dangerous world.
Table of Contents
🎞️ How Many Maze Runner Movies Are There?
There are three films. What’s the correct order to watch the Maze Runner movies? Release order, as the trilogy tells one continuous story.
Here are the Maze Runner movies in order:
🏃🏽➡️ Maze Runner Filming Locations
So, if you’re ready to retrace Thomas’s footsteps, preferably without anything mechanical trying to eat you, here’s where every Maze Runner movie was filmed.
🌿 The Maze Runner (2014)
In The Maze Runner (2014), Thomas wakes up in the mysterious Glade with no memory of his past, which is already a pretty terrible start to the day. Surrounded by towering walls and deadly Grievers, he joins a group of teenagers searching for a way out before the Maze claims another victim.
To bring this dystopian world to life, director Wes Ball skipped the Hollywood backlot and headed to St. Francisville and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where dense forests became the perfect backdrop for the Glade.
The production built an enormous practical village complete with huts, farmland, and gathering areas, then surrounded it with towering 20-foot green-screen walls so the Maze could be added digitally later.
The combination of real locations and practical effects gave the film its immersive feel, although the local wildlife occasionally threatened to steal the spotlight. As it turned out, the Grievers weren’t the only dangerous creatures lurking in the woods.
Where was it filmed:
- St. Francisville, Louisiana: Glade, forests, and Maze exteriors.
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Production base and studio interiors.
Trivia:
- The film was made on a modest $34 million budget, earning over $348 million worldwide.
- The towering Maze walls combined 20-foot practical green-screen structures with CGI.
- Snake wranglers reportedly removed around 25 venomous snakes from the set before filming.
🏜️ Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
In Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), Thomas and the Gladers quickly discover that surviving the Maze was only Level One.
Crossing the desolate Scorch, they battle feral Cranks, dodge collapsing buildings, and uncover even darker secrets about WCKD while joining forces with Brenda, Jorge, and Mary Cooper.
To create the harsh wasteland, the production headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where rugged deserts and abandoned buildings looked post-apocalyptic with very little help.
The abandoned Winrock Shopping Center was transformed into haunting indoor ruins using real sand and debris instead of relying heavily on CGI, while nearby Zia Pueblo provided dramatic red rock landscapes for the film’s relentless chase scenes.
Apparently, if you’re going to spend an entire movie running, you might as well do it somewhere with spectacular scenery.
Where was it filmed:
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: WCKD facilities and ruined streets.
- Winrock Shopping Center: Sand-filled Scorch interior sequences.
- Zia Pueblo, New Mexico: Desert landscapes and chase scenes.
Trivia:
- Several cast members experienced altitude sickness while filming in New Mexico.
- Director Wes Ball prioritized practical locations over CGI, giving it a gritty, realistic look.
- The Winrock Shopping Center was filled with real sand to make the ruined interiors look authentic.
🌆 Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)
In Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), Thomas risks everything to rescue Minho from WCKD’s heavily fortified Last City, setting the stage for the trilogy’s biggest and most emotional showdown.
Alongside Teresa, Newt, Brenda, Jorge, and the remaining Gladers, he faces impossible choices as old loyalties are tested and long-hidden secrets finally come to light.
To create the futuristic metropolis, the production filmed extensively in Cape Town, South Africa, where its sleek skyline and modern architecture became WCKD’s imposing headquarters.
The spectacular opening train heist was staged near the Orange River in the Kalahari Desert, while additional locations around the Western Cape provided dramatic backdrops for the film’s large-scale action sequences.
Production was famously delayed for nearly a year after Dylan O’Brien suffered serious injuries during a stunt accident, but the wait paid off, delivering the trilogy’s most ambitious visuals and biggest practical action scenes.
Where was it filmed:
- Orange River, Kalahari Desert: Opening train heist and landscapes.
- Cape Town, South Africa: Last City and WCKD headquarters.
- Western Cape, South Africa: Additional action and exterior scenes.
Trivia:
- The film’s explosions and action scenes relied on practical effects and real pyrotechnics.
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) became the highest-grossing film in the trilogy, earning more than $288 million worldwide.
❓ Maze Runner FAQs
Still have questions? Don’t worry, this section contains far fewer Grievers than the movies.
Is The Maze Runner based on a book?
Yes. The Maze Runner trilogy is based on James Dashner’s bestselling young adult novels. The first three films adapt the books below:
How closely do the Maze Runner movies follow the books?
The Maze Runner movies stay true to the novels’ central story and characters but simplify several plotlines, add new action sequences, and change parts of the ending to better suit the big screen.
What are the biggest differences between the books and movies?
The Maze Runner movies streamline the story by removing or changing several characters, eliminating the Gladers‘ telepathic communication, and altering major events, particularly in The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure. Several characters meet different fates than they do in the books.
Do you need to read the books before watching the movies?
No. The films tell a complete story on their own, but the books offer more detail about WCKD, the Flare virus, and the characters’ backgrounds.
How is the Flare virus different in the books and movies?
In the books, the Flare is an airborne virus that slowly destroys the brain, while WCKD studies immune brain patterns to find a cure. In the movies, it spreads through bites and infected bodily fluids, turning victims into zombie-like Cranks as WCKD harvests an enzyme from immune survivors to develop a cure.
How is the Maze different in the Maze Runner books and movies?
In the books, the Maze is an underground structure beneath an artificial sky with a hidden cliffside exit. In the movies, it’s a massive open-air labyrinth surrounded by forests, with towering concrete walls and a heavily fortified exit that the Gladers must unlock.
Why is The Death Cure different from the book?
The filmmakers made several changes to The Death Cure to simplify the story, increase the action, and deliver a more cinematic ending while preserving the novel’s main themes.
Are there more Maze Runner books after the movies?
Yes. James Dashner expanded the series with the prequels which begin a new story set years after the original trilogy. The prequels in order:
- The Kill Order: The Origin of the Maze Runner
- The Fever Code: The Story of How the Maze Was Built
- The Maze Cutter trilogy
Is there a fourth Maze Runner movie?
There isn’t a direct fourth film, although Disney has reportedly been developing a new project inspired by James Dashner’s later novels rather than continuing Thomas’s story.
Who are the Grievers?
Grievers are bio-mechanical creatures created by WCKD to patrol the Maze. They’re essentially what happens when someone decides a giant robotic scorpion wasn’t quite terrifying enough.
Who are the Cranks?
Cranks are humans infected by the deadly Flare virus. As the disease progresses, they become increasingly violent and unpredictable.
Why did WCKD build the Maze?
WCKD created the Maze to study immune teenagers and develop a cure for the Flare virus, believing extreme stress would produce valuable research data. Their methods were… less than ethical.
What was the Maze Runner filming accident?
In March 2016, Dylan O’Brien was seriously injured while filming a stunt for The Death Cure. Production was suspended for nearly a year while he recovered.
Who is in the Maze Runner cast?
The Maze Runner actors who star in the trilogy are:
- Dylan O’Brien: Thomas
- Kaya Scodelario: Teresa Agnes
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster: Newt
- Ki Hong Lee: Minho
- Will Poulter: Gally
- Dexter Darden: Frypan
- Rosa Salazar: Brenda
- Giancarlo Esposito: Jorge
- Aidan Gillen: Janson
- Patricia Clarkson: Ava Paige
What movies are like Maze Runner?
If you enjoyed the trilogy, try:
- The Hunger Games series: Teen heroes battle a deadly dystopian regime.
- Divergent trilogy: A divided society hides dangerous secrets.
- I Am Number Four (2011): Superpowered teens fight relentless enemies.
- The 5th Wave (2016): Humanity struggles against an alien invasion.
- The Host (2013): Survivors resist an extraterrestrial occupation.
📺 Where to Watch the Maze Runner Movies
Ready for another run through the Maze? Thankfully, your sofa is much safer than the Glade.
Watch the Maze Runner moves on Prime:
- ➡️ Watch The Maze Runner (2014)
- ➡️ Watch Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- ➡️ Watch Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)
Buy the box set collection:
From the forests of Louisiana to the deserts of New Mexico and the futuristic skyline of Cape Town, the Maze Runner trilogy proves that the real-world locations can be every bit as unforgettable as the stories themselves.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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