Over the last decade, there’s been no shortage of YA novels adapted for the big screen looking to start a franchise, and there are plenty of movies like The Maze Runner out there that are worth your time.
Director Wes Ball helmed the entire trilogy, set in a dystopian future where nothing is as it first seems, and a plucky band of heroes uncover a conspiracy tied to the very fate of humanity.
It essentially became a genre unto itself during the 2010s, and we’ve put together a list of ten titles that appeal to anyone seeking out movies with similar themes or settings.
Top 10 Dystopian Movies Like The Maze Runner
1. The Hunger Games
A box office behemoth, The Hunger Games launched a multi-billion dollar money-spinner that took the titular concept and wrapped it around a story of rebellion, romance and a relentless will to survive.
Jennifer Lawrence anchors the entire movie in another strong performance fitting of her reputation while the action sequences deliver big in terms of scale, spectacle and excitement.
When you think of movies like The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games is usually one of the first that springs to mind, and it also happens to be one of the best.
2. Divergent (2014)
The planned four-film series may have never made it to completion, but Divergent nonetheless got off to a solid start with the first installment.
Neil Burger’s opening salvo does a great job of building the world and expanding the mythology surrounding a society split into distinct factions dependent on their particular set of skills.
If you want movies like The Maze Runner but fancy more of a sci-fi angle, then Divergent is well worth a watch given the many similarities.
3. The Giver (2014)
There must have been something special in the script for The Giver to convince Academy Award winners Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep to sign on, even if it never led to the sequels that were evidently planned.
A dystopian twist on the ‘Chosen One’ narrative, Brenton Thwaites’ Jonas discovers that knowledge is the most dangerous weapon of all as he seeks to escape his oppressive surroundings and liberate the ones closest to him.
It might be a little light in terms of action and thrills, but The Giver is a more introspective and thoughtful spin on the stories found in movies like The Maze Runner.
4. The Host (2013)
As you would expect from a movie adapted from a book by Twilight author Stephanie Myer, The Host puts a more romantic twist on the dystopian future seen in movies like The Maze Runner.
Earth has been colonized by an alien race that wipes memories and uses the human race as hosts, but there are survivors hiding out in an attempt to remain safe, but things are never that easy when it comes to sci-fi.
It doesn’t quite manage to pull off the genre-bending balancing act, but it still hits the plot and story beats expected from the tale of a young protagonist looking to defy the odds.
5. I Am Number Four (2011)
Movies like The Maze Runner don’t always have to take place in post-apocalyptic wastelands, and I Am Number Four is one of them that’s set firmly in the present day.
There’s a heavy focus on action, as you’d expect from anything with producer Michael Bay’s name attached, as a fugitive alien tries and fails to blend in as a regular teenager.
The set pieces are the movie’s strongest suit by some distance, and I Am Number Four is a highly polished if ultimately unspectacular addition to the catalog of YA adaptations.
6. The 5th Wave (2016)
Another one of the movies like The Maze Runner that puts an extra-terrestrial bent on the established formula, The 5th Wave sees humans mounting a fightback against their alien invaders.
Essentially a war story wrapped in the clothes of a glossy action-packed sci-fi, star Chloe Grace Moretz provides a solid grounding for this film.
The 5th Wave hardly sold itself on realism, but it does provide enough entertainment despite rigidly adhering to the standard archetypes of the YA genre.
7. Mortal Engines (2018)
Peter Jackson’s presence as producer and co-writer promised a vast and expansive mythology at the very least, and on that front Mortal Engines definitely delivers.
The huge mobile cities at the center of the story provide unique opportunities when it comes to crafting the action scenes and an awe-inspiring sense of scale as the plot hurtles from one revelation to the next.
The vehicles are like Mad Max on steroids, and the futuristic fantasy flick offers a more high-octane alternative to movies like The Maze Runner.
8. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)
Trying to build a detailed and intricate mythology in the space of one movie is no easy task, but The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones just about manages to pull it off and left fans wanting more.
Heroine Clary Fray discovers that she’s descended from the Shadowhunters, half-angelic warriors dedicated to protecting our world from the forces of evil.
If you can’t make your mind up on whether you want a standard YA blockbuster, sci-fi or fantasy, The Mortal Instruments has you covered by delivering all three in the same package.
9. Ender’s Game (2013)
Harrison Ford’s return to sci-fi was enough to sell Ender’s Game to a lot of people, but it also provides plenty of entertainment for those looking for movies like The Maze Runner.
Our title hero is a plucky upstart with the potential to play a defining role in the intergalactic war between humanity and the evil alien race known as the Formics.
Big on style and spectacle, Ender’s Game boasts solid performances from a talented ensemble cast, and features bigger themes and a more intelligent script than many other similar titles in the back catalog of YA adaptations.
10. Dark City (1998)
On the surface, Alex Proyas’ breakout feature doesn’t seem to have much in common with movies like The Maze Runner, but dig a little deeper and the thematic connections are definitely there.
A man wakes up to discover he’s wanted for a series of murders he didn’t commit, but he has no idea if he’s actually guilty or not.
The dark, gritty modern noir follows a hero slowly unraveling a conspiracy that leads them directly towards a shady underworld cabal run with sinister intentions, not dissimilar to The Maze Runner’s basic setup.