It feels like a lifetime since Dylan O'Brien first woke up in that rusty metal elevator, gasping for air and surrounded by a bunch of teenagers who looked just as confused as he was. Honestly, the Maze Runner trilogy—based on James Dashner’s massive YA book series—remains one of the few "dystopian era" franchises that actually holds up. If you're wondering how can I watch The Maze Runner today, you aren't alone. People are constantly searching for it because the licensing rights for Wes Ball’s trilogy move around more than the walls of the Glade itself.
One day it's on Netflix. The next, it's gone.
Where the Gladers Are Currently Living
Right now, the most consistent home for the entire trilogy—The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure—is Disney+. Since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, they basically own the keys to the kingdom. If you have a subscription there, you’re usually golden in most territories, including the US, UK, and Canada.
🔗 Read more: Finding Books Like The Road: Why Some Stories Just Break You
But streaming is weird.
Sometimes, licensing deals made years ago "claw back" the rights for a few months. For instance, you might occasionally see the first movie pop up on Hulu or Max (formerly HBO Max) because of legacy contracts. If you’re a Hulu subscriber, check there first before you go buying anything. It’s also worth noting that if you are in the UK or Australia, the trilogy is almost a permanent fixture on Disney+ under the "Star" banner.
Is it on Netflix?
People ask this constantly. The answer is: it depends on your GPS coordinates.
Netflix doesn't have the global rights to The Maze Runner. However, it frequently appears in libraries like Germany, Brazil, or Japan. If you're in the United States, don't expect it to show up on your Netflix home screen anytime soon. Disney is pretty protective of their Fox library these days. They want those monthly subscription fees going to their own apps, not Reed Hastings'.
How Can I Watch The Maze Runner If I Don't Want to Subscribe?
Subscription fatigue is real. I get it. You don't want to pay $15 a month just to watch one movie about kids running through a concrete labyrinth.
If you want a one-and-done experience, digital rental is the way to go. You can find all three films on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (iTunes), Google Play, and Vudu. Usually, a standard definition rental is about $3.99, while 4K will run you $5.99.
Buying them is actually the smarter move if you're a fan.
You can often find the "Triple Feature" bundle on the Apple TV app for about $14.99. That’s essentially the price of one movie theater ticket for over six hours of content. Plus, the digital 4K transfers on Apple TV are surprisingly crisp. The Scorch Trials, in particular, looks incredible with HDR because of all those dark, gritty tunnel scenes and the high-contrast desert landscapes.
The Physical Media Argument
I’m going to be "that guy" for a second. If you really love this series, buy the Blu-rays. Why? Because streaming services edit things. They change bitrates. Sometimes they even lose the license in the middle of your marathon.
The Maze Runner 4K Ultra HD discs are some of the best-reviewed in terms of sound design. If you have a decent home theater setup, the sound of the Maze doors closing in Dolby Atmos is a completely different experience than the compressed audio you get from a stream. You can usually find the Blu-ray trilogy at Walmart or Amazon for less than $20.
Understanding the Watch Order
Don't overcomplicate this. Some people try to get fancy with prequels because Dashner wrote The Kill Order and The Fever Code. Ignore that for the movies. The films were made as a linear progression.
🔗 Read more: Agatha and the Truth of Murder Cast: What Most People Get Wrong
- The Maze Runner (2014): This is the "bottle movie." Everything happens in the Glade and the Maze. It's tight, claustrophobic, and mysterious.
- The Scorch Trials (2015): The world opens up. It’s basically a zombie movie disguised as a YA adventure. This is where most people get "The Flare" explained to them.
- The Death Cure (2018): The big finale. It was delayed because Dylan O'Brien had a serious accident on set, but they eventually finished it. It’s the longest of the three and much more of an action-heist film.
Why You Can't Find "The Kill Order" Movie
Here is a bit of "expert" truth that might bum you out: there is no fourth movie.
A lot of people finish the trilogy and immediately search for how can I watch The Maze Runner 4. It doesn't exist. While there are prequel books, the box office for The Death Cure was "okay" but not "let's make five more of these" amazing. Plus, the cast has moved on. Will Poulter is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe now. Thomas Brodie-Sangster is doing prestige TV. Dylan O'Brien is a massive indie darling.
There have been rumors of a reboot or a Disney+ series, but nothing is in active production. If you see a trailer on YouTube for Maze Runner 4, it’s definitely "fan-made" (read: fake).
Technical Specs: Getting the Best Picture
If you are watching on a 4K TV, make sure you are actually getting the 4K stream.
Disney+ includes 4K UHD and HDR10/Dolby Vision in their standard premium tier. If you are renting from Amazon, double-check that you clicked the "UHD" version and not the "HD" version. They are often the same price, which is a weird trap Amazon sets for the unobservant.
- Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Widescreen)
- Best Way to Listen: Headphones. The sound design of the "Grievers" (those mechanical spider-monsters) is terrifyingly directional.
Why the Location Matters
Licensing is a nightmare. If you’re traveling, you might find that the movie you started in the US isn't available when you land in France. This is because 20th Century Fox (now Disney) sold international distribution rights to different companies in different decades.
If you're using a VPN, set your location to Canada or the UK. Those regions almost always have all three films available on Disney+ due to how their "Star" content library is integrated. It saves a lot of clicking around.
Common Frustrations
"I searched for it on Netflix and it only showed me The Hunger Games."
💡 You might also like: Why Pictures That Are Really Funny Still Rule the Internet
Yeah, Netflix’s algorithm is aggressive. If they don't have what you want, they will show you "similar" titles to keep you on the app. Don't be fooled. If it’s not there, it’s not there. Another common issue is the "Premium Video On Demand" (PVOD) confusion. Sometimes a movie shows up on a service but has a little "lock" icon or a dollar sign next to it. That means you're using the app as a storefront, not a streaming library.
Free Options?
Legally? Not many. Sometimes Tubi or Freevee (Amazon's free service) will get the rights to the first movie for a month, but you’ll have to sit through ads about insurance and cat food. It’s worth a quick search on JustWatch, which is a site that tracks where movies are currently playing. It is the most accurate tool for this.
Actionable Steps for Your Weekend Binge
If you are ready to dive back into WICKED and the Glade, here is your path forward:
- Check Disney+ first. If you have it, you likely have the whole trilogy for "free."
- Use JustWatch. Type in your country and "The Maze Runner." It will tell you if it's currently on a random service like Peacock or Paramount+ that you might have forgotten you pay for.
- Look for the Digital Bundle. If you plan on watching all three, buying the bundle on Vudu or Apple TV is almost always cheaper than three separate rentals.
- Verify the version. Ensure you are watching the 4K version if your hardware supports it. The cinematography in the second film is genuinely beautiful and deserves the extra pixels.
There's no word on a new movie, so for now, the original trilogy is all we’ve got. It’s a wild ride, and honestly, the practical effects in the first movie look better than most of the CGI-heavy stuff coming out today. Happy running.