With the film market arguably already saturated with teen dystopian movies, The Maze Runner is the latest to throw its hat into the overcrowded ring.
It's another month, and another group of teenagers is taking on yet another oppressive post-apocalyptic society. Based on the first in a trilogy (of course!) of books by James Dashner, The Maze Runner is slightly unique due to its decidedly male approach: three dozen boys trying to navigate an imposing conundrum. And the film even includes a cast of rising-stars who make it worth a look, including Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf), Will Poulter (We're the Millers) and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Love Actually), plus Kaya Scodelario (Skins) in the token female role.
Dylan O'Brien stars in 'The Maze Runner'
Already this year, we've had Divergent with Shailene Woodley and The Giver with Brenton Thwaites, and next month we get the third instalment in the big mama of teen-dystopian movies: The Hunger Games with Jennifer Lawrence.
Watch the trailer for The Maze Runner here:
All of these films tell essentially the same story with various wrinkles, as a gifted adolescent (usually with the help of some key friends) takes on the injustice of a paranoid post-apocalyptic system that is crushing the human spirit. Along the way, the teens discover their personal strength and courage.
More: Why We Should All Stop Asking If 'The Maze Runner' Is The New 'Hunger Games'
Thankfully, all of these stories divert from the formula after the opening chapter. There is still one more Hunger Games movie coming next year, plus two more Divergents (Insurgent and Allegiant) after that. Plans are already afoot to adapt the second Maze Runner book, The Scorch Trials, into a movie. But The Giver offers the most options, with three sequels and two prequels. In current split-sequel fashion, that could yield seven or eight more movies if audience interest holds up.
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