<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $312.3 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (stylized onscreen simply as The Scorch Trials) is a 2015 American dystopian science fiction action thriller film based on James Dashner's novel The Scorch Trials, the second novel in The Maze Runner book series . The film is the sequel to the 2014 film The Maze Runner and the second installment in The Maze Runner film series . It was directed by Wes Ball, with a screenplay by T.S. Nowlin . Adding to the original film's cast of Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie - Sangster, Dexter Darden, Alexander Flores, Ki Hong Lee, and Patricia Clarkson, the new supporting cast includes Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen, Jacob Lofland, Barry Pepper, Rosa Salazar, Lili Taylor, and Alan Tudyk . </P> <P> The plot of The Scorch Trials takes place immediately after the previous installment, with Thomas (O'Brien) and his fellow Gladers running away from the powerful World Catastrophe Killzone Department (W.C.K.D.), while facing the perils of the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with dangerous obstacles . Filming began in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 27, 2014, and officially concluded on January 27, 2015 . </P> <P> Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials was released in select international territories starting September 9, 2015 in 2D, 3D, 4DX and Barco Escape, and was released on September 18, 2015 in the United States in 2D and Premium Large Format theaters, by 20th Century Fox . It was originally set to be released in IMAX, but this was cancelled, as Everest had all worldwide IMAX screens booked until the release of the film The Walk . The Scorch Trials received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it decent--commending its action sequences and performances--while others criticized the film for its lack of plot and character advancement . Like its predecessor, the film was a commercial success grossing $30.3 million on its opening weekend, making it the ninth - highest grossing debut in September . The film went to the number one spot at the box office during its opening weekend, and has grossed $312 million worldwide . </P>

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