Maze Runner 3: The Death Cure - A Thrilling Conclusion to a Dystopian Saga
If you are a fan of dystopian sci-fi movies, you have probably heard of or watched Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the third and final installment in The Maze Runner film series. Based on the novel by James Dashner, this movie follows the adventures of Thomas and his friends as they try to find a cure for a deadly virus that has ravaged the world. In this article, we will explore what makes this movie an exciting and satisfying conclusion to a popular franchise.
maze runner 3
What is Maze Runner 3 and why is it important?
Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a 2018 American dystopian sci-fi action thriller film directed by Wes Ball and written by T.S. Nowlin. It is the sequel to Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and the third and final installment in The Maze Runner film series, which is based on the book series by James Dashner. The film stars Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen, Walton Goggins, Ki Hong Lee, Barry Pepper, Will Poulter, Rosa Salazar, and Patricia Clarkson.
This movie is important because it concludes a story that has captivated millions of fans around the world since the first book was published in 2009. The film series has been praised for its thrilling action sequences, intriguing mysteries, diverse characters, and relevant themes. The film also marks a comeback for Dylan O'Brien, who suffered serious injuries while filming a stunt for this movie in 2016, which delayed its release for almost a year.
What are the main themes and genres of the movie?
Maze Runner: The Death Cure belongs to several genres, such as sci-fi, action, adventure, thriller, mystery, and dystopia. The movie explores various themes, such as friendship, loyalty, courage, sacrifice, survival, freedom, rebellion, morality, ethics, science, power, corruption, and hope. The movie also raises questions about what it means to be human in a world where humanity is threatened by a deadly virus and a ruthless organization.
What are the main characters and actors of the movie?
The movie features several characters from previous movies as well as some new ones. Here are some of them:
Maze Runner: The Death Cure cast and crew
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Maze Runner: The Death Cure release date and box office
Maze Runner: The Death Cure plot summary and spoilers
Maze Runner: The Death Cure reviews and ratings
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Maze Runner: The Death Cure book vs movie differences
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Maze Runner: The Death Cure characters and relationships
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Maze Runner: The Death Cure WCKD organization and experiments
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Cranks infection and symptoms
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Flare virus and cure
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Gladers group and history
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Last City siege and escape
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Thomas hero and leader
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Minho rescue and torture
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Teresa betrayal and redemption
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Newt death and letter
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Gally return and alliance
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Brenda romance and immunity
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Jorge humor and loyalty
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Giancarlo Esposito actor and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Aidan Gillen actor and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Walton Goggins actor and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Dylan O'Brien actor and injury
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Kaya Scodelario actress and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Thomas Brodie-Sangster actor and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Nathalie Emmanuel actress and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Ki Hong Lee actor and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Barry Pepper actor and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Will Poulter actor and role
Maze Runner: The Death Cure Patricia Clarkson actress and role
Character
Actor
Description
Thomas
Dylan O'Brien
The protagonist of the series. A brave and compassionate leader who wants to save his friends from WCKD.
Teresa
Kaya Scodelario
A former friend of Thomas who betrayed him to work for WCKD. She believes that sacrificing some lives for a cure is justified.
Newt
Thomas Brodie-Sang ster
A close friend of Thomas who is infected by the Flare virus. He struggles to maintain his sanity and loyalty.
Frypan
Dexter Darden
A loyal friend of Thomas who is good at cooking and mechanics. He is one of the few original Gladers left.
Brenda
Rosa Salazar
A smart and resourceful girl who helps Thomas and his friends. She has a crush on Thomas and is immune to the Flare.
Jorge
Giancarlo Esposito
A former leader of a group of survivors in the Scorch. He is Brenda's father figure and a skilled pilot.
Minho
Ki Hong Lee
A brave and loyal friend of Thomas who is captured by WCKD. He is tortured and experimented on by WCKD.
Gally
Will Poulter
A former enemy of Thomas who was presumed dead. He returns to help Thomas and his friends infiltrate WCKD.
Janson
Aidan Gillen
The main antagonist of the series. A ruthless and ambitious WCKD executive who wants to capture Thomas and use his blood for a cure.
Ava Paige
Patricia Clarkson
The leader of WCKD and the creator of the Maze trials. She has a mysterious connection to Thomas and believes that WCKD is doing good for humanity.
Plot summary
The movie begins with Thomas, Newt, Frypan, Brenda, Jorge, and other rebels launching a daring rescue mission to save Minho and other immune kids from a train that is transporting them to WCKD's headquarters in the Last City. They manage to free some of them, but Minho is not among them. Thomas vows to find him and stop WCKD once and for all.
Thomas and his friends are contacted by Gally, who tells them that he is alive and working with a group of rebels called the Right Arm. He offers them a way to enter the Last City, which is surrounded by a massive wall and guarded by WCKD's army. Thomas agrees to meet him, despite Newt's distrust. Along the way, they encounter a group of Cranks, people who have been driven mad by the Flare virus. They manage to escape, but Newt reveals that he has been infected by the virus and asks Thomas to kill him if he turns.
Thomas and his friends meet Gally, who introduces them to Lawrence, the leader of the Right Arm. Lawrence tells them that he has a plan to destroy the wall and create a distraction for them to enter the city. He also reveals that Teresa, who betrayed Thomas and joined WCKD, is working with him as a spy. Teresa contacts Thomas and tells him that she can help him find Minho and that she has discovered that his blood can cure the Flare. Thomas agrees to meet her, despite Brenda's jealousy.
Thomas meets Teresa at a secret location, where she shows him that Minho is being held in a skyscraper called the Maze Tower. She also tells him that WCKD is planning to harvest the immune kids' brains for a cure, which will kill them. She asks him to trust her and give her his blood, but he refuses. They are attacked by Janson and his men, who capture Teresa and chase Thomas. Thomas escapes with the help of Newt and Gally, who have followed him.
Thomas decides to go to the Maze Tower alone to save Minho, but Newt insists on coming with him. They are joined by Frypan, Brenda, Jorge, Gally, and some other rebels. They enter the city through a tunnel that Lawrence has blown up with explosives. They encounter several obstacles and dangers along the way, such as guards, traps, snipers, and Cranks. They also witness the chaos and violence that has erupted in the city as the rebels fight against WCKD's forces.
Thomas and his friends reach the Maze Tower, where they split up into two groups: one to find Minho and the other to disable WCKD's security system. Thomas finds Minho in a laboratory, where he is hooked up to wires and tubes. He frees him and they fight their way out of the building. Along the way, they encounter Teresa, who tells them that she has found a cure using Thomas's blood samples. She gives them a vial of the cure and tells them to use it on Newt, who is dying from the Flare. She also tells them that she has betrayed WCKD and helped the rebels infiltrate the building. She apologizes to Thomas and asks him to forgive her. Thomas takes the vial and leaves with Minho. Meanwhile, the other group manages to disable WCKD's security system, but they are confronted by Janson and his men. A fight ensues, in which Gally kills Janson by shooting him with a harpoon gun. The group then reunites with Thomas and Minho and tries to escape from the building. However, they are stopped by Ava Paige, who tells them that she is the one who sent Thomas into the Maze and that she has been watching him ever since. She reveals that Thomas is the key to the cure and that she wants him to join WCKD and save humanity. She also tells him that WCKD is not evil, but misunderstood. Thomas rejects her offer and shoots her in the chest, killing her. The group then makes their way to the rooftop, where they find a helicopter waiting for them. They board the helicopter and fly away from the city, which is collapsing from the explosions caused by Lawrence and the rebels. As they fly, Thomas tries to use the cure on Newt, but it is too late. Newt succumbs to the Flare and dies in Thomas's arms, after telling him that he is his best friend. Thomas mourns for his friend and buries his body on a beach. The movie ends with Thomas and his friends arriving at a safe haven, where they are greeted by other survivors, including some of their old friends from the Maze and the Scorch. They also find a note from Teresa, who has sacrificed herself to help them escape from WCKD. The note says that she is sorry for what she did and that she hopes that Thomas can live a happy life. The note also contains a memory card with all of Thomas's memories that were erased by WCKD. Thomas decides not to watch the memory card, but to keep it as a reminder of his past. He then joins his friends and looks at the sunset, smiling. Reviews and ratings
Maze Runner: The Death Cure received mixed to positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The movie has a 43% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 162 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Maze Runner: The Death Cure may offer closure to fans of the franchise, but for anyone who hasn't already been hooked, this bloated final installment is best left unseen." On Metacritic, the movie has a score of 51 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". On IMDb, the movie has a rating of 6.2 out of 10, based on 116,487 user ratings.
Some critics praised the movie for its action-packed scenes, emotional moments, and satisfying conclusion to the series. For example, Brian Truitt of USA Today wrote: "The Death Cure is a solid ending to a series that never quite found greatness but was always entertaining". Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "The Death Cure delivers a full-scale war movie one in which our heroes storm an enemy stronghold in search of their kidnapped comrades while bringing this epic YA saga to an emotionally satisfying conclusion".
However, some critics criticized the movie for its long running time, convoluted plot, clichéd characters, and lack of originality. For example, Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "The Death Cure is one long chase scene/action sequence/escape attempt after another interrupted by occasional bouts of bland dialogue and corny speeches". Katie Walsh of Los Angeles Times wrote: "The Death Cure feels like an overlong rehashing of themes we've seen before in this genre corrupt adults trying to exploit teens who just want freedom".
Trivia and facts
Here are some interesting and fun facts about Maze Runner: The Death Cure:
This is the first movie in the series that does not feature a maze.
This is the longest movie in the series, with a running time of 142 minutes.
This is the only movie in the series that does not have a post-credits scene.
This is the only movie in the series that does not feature Kaya Scodelario's natural brown hair color. She dyed her hair blonde for this movie.
This is the only movie in the series that does not feature Dylan O'Brien's natural brown eye color. He wore blue contact lenses for this movie.
This is the only movie in the series that does not feature Aml Ameen, who played Alby in the first movie. He left the series due to creative differences with the director.
This is the only movie in the series that features Walton Goggins, who plays Lawrence, a new character. He is also known for his roles in The Hateful Eight, Justified, and Tomb Raider.
This movie was filmed in South Africa, where the actors had to deal with extreme weather conditions, such as heat, wind, and dust.
This movie was dedicated to the memory of Wes Ball's father, who passed away during the production of the movie.
Box office and budget
Maze Runner: The Death Cure had a budget of $62 million, which is slightly lower than the previous movies in the series. The movie grossed $288.3 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing movie in the series. However, it still managed to earn a profit and become a moderate success.
The movie performed well in some international markets, such as China, where it earned $83.6 million, making it the highest-grossing movie in the series in that country. The movie also did well in South Korea, where it earned $25.5 million, making it the second-highest-grossing movie in the series in that country.
The movie faced some competition from other movies that were released around the same time, such as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Greatest Showman, Black Panther, and Fifty Shades Freed. The movie also suffered from some negative reviews and a delayed release date due to Dylan O'Brien's injury.
Conclusion
Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a thrilling conclusion to a dystopian saga that has entertained and inspired millions of fans around the world. The movie delivers on its promise of action, emotion, and resolution, while also raising some important questions about humanity and morality. The movie also showcases the talent and charisma of its young cast, especially Dylan O'Brien, who overcame a serious injury to finish his role as Thomas. Whether you are a fan of the books or not, this movie is worth watching if you enjoy sci-fi, adventure, and mystery.
Have you watched Maze Runner: The Death Cure? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Maze Runner: The Death Cure:
Is Maze Runner: The Death Cure based on a book?
Yes, it is based on the book of the same name by James Dashner, which is the third and final book in The Maze Runner series. However, there are some differences between the book and the movie, such as the characters, events, and endings.
Is Maze Runner: The Death Cure the last movie in the series?
Yes, it is the last movie in The Maze Runner film series, which consists of three movies: The Maze Runner (2014), Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018). There is no plan to make any more movies based on the books.
Is there a cure for the Flare virus?
In the movie, Teresa discovers that Thomas's blood can cure the Flare virus, which is a disease that turns people into zombie-like creatures called Cranks. She gives Thomas a vial of his blood that can cure one person. Thomas uses it on Newt, but it is too late to save him. It is unclear if there are any other cures or if Thomas's blood can be replicated.
What happens to Teresa?
In the movie, Teresa dies while helping Thomas and his friends escape from WCKD's headquarters. She pushes Thomas out of a collapsing building and falls to her death. She leaves a note for Thomas that says that she is sorry for what she did and that she hopes that he can live a happy life.
What happens to Thomas?
In the movie, Thomas survives and escapes from WCKD's headquarters with his friends. He buries Newt's body on a beach and joins other survivors at a safe haven. He receives a memory card from Teresa that contains all of his memories that were erased by WCKD. He decides not to watch the memory card, but to keep it as a reminder of his past. He smiles and looks at the sunset with his friends. 44f88ac181