<P> The Maze Runner is a 2014 American dystopian science fiction action thriller film directed by Wes Ball, in his directorial debut, based on James Dashner's 2009 novel of the same name . The film is the first installment in The Maze Runner film series and was produced by Ellen Goldsmith - Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, and Lee Stollman with a screenplay by Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, and T.S. Nowlin . The film stars Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Aml Ameen, Thomas Brodie - Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Will Poulter, and Patricia Clarkson . The story follows sixteen - year - old Thomas, portrayed by O'Brien, who awakens in a rusty elevator with no memory of who he is, only to learn he's been delivered to the middle of an intricate maze, along with a large number of other boys, who have been trying to find their way out of the ever - changing labyrinth--all while establishing a functioning society in what they call the Glade . </P> <P> Development of The Maze Runner began in January 2011 when Fox purchased the film rights to Dashner's novel with film studios Temple Hill Entertainment and TSG Entertainment . Principal photography began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on May 13, 2013 and officially concluded on July 12, 2013 . </P> <P> The Maze Runner was released on September 19, 2014 in the United States by 20th Century Fox . Critics considered it to be better than most young adult book - to - film adaptations . The film topped the box - office during its opening weekend with a $32.5 million debut, making it the seventh - highest grossing debut in September . The film earned over $348 million worldwide at the box - office, against its budget of $34 million . </P> <P> A sequel, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, was released on September 18, 2015 in the United States . A third and final film, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, was released on January 26, 2018 . </P>

When did the first maze runner movie come out