Parent reviews for The Maze Runner (2024)

So, this is supposed to be based on the book, one of my son’s favourites, but it is far too violent for its PG rating. In one scene the boys gang up to push another boy, who is screaming and begging for mercy, to his death in the maze, even though he is on his knees and crying in a very humiliated way, and which they ignore (it supposed to be for the best but this in itself undermines all of the other apparent “positive messages” in my view and is not suitable for children of the same age or younger to see). There is also machine killing of the boys and medical experimentation on children by adults implied. I mean, really, tho the actors are kids, how is this a kids’ movie? No way I would let my 11 yo watch this, not least because it would probably ruin the book for him it is so dark in how the themes and events are depicted in this horrible Hollywood version that in my view is more R than PG, and it is definitely horror.

I'm motivated to write as I'm now confused by many reviews. I wouldn't let my nearly 12 year old watch the film as so many reviews said it was far scarier than the book. So my daughter read the book, I read the book and then we watched the film. Nope, having read the book the film is definitely Maze Runner light. The book is far more gripping, tense and has elements of violence and horror than this diet interpretation. If you haven't read the book then maybe it's a shock, but if you have, then I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Like any film there just isn't the time to develop the relationships between characters, the book is a million mile an hour ride of claustrophobia, confusion and drama which I'm afraid no movie can live up to. It's a decent enough film but my point is, we didn't watch the film before we read the book as so many reviews indicated it was more scary than the book - in my opinion it really isn't.

The Maze Runner is a 2014 film based off of a book where a large group of kids are thrown into a large field in the middle of a giant maze, where they must escape, however they are at great threat of being infected with a zombie-like virus and large spider creatures, and here I’m going to explain in full detail if it’s appropriate for your child:VIOLENCE:A man is “stung” or infected with a virus when he attacks the protagonist in the woods. The protagonist reaches for an animal skull and smashes the mans face and fight further when the man is then bashed over the head with a wood paddle. The scene has some bloody injuries, and the knocked out man twitches on the floor. 2 men fight and one is thrown to the ground and hits his head, he is fine.In a chase sequence, 2 men rapidly try to escape a large spider creature while also trying to drag an injured friend, the sequence is very intense and at the end the spider creature is crushed in the wall, showing its organs and goo splattered on the ground, people dig through it graphically and pull out a metal object.The infected are disturbing to watch suffer as they scream and pound on tables.A mans bloody clothing is found in the maze, referencing his death. In a much more intense and frightening sequence, the spider creatures or “Grievers” break into the village as all the teens desperately true to survive. Some and dragged away into the air, ripped apart (always obscured or offscreen) and more. At towards the end a man is hooked in its tentacle and is taken away, which is emotional to some.Many teens poke at and try to survive loads of grievers climbing to them, and some are thrown off into the pit of the maze as the grievers are stabbed with spears, at the end of the sequence a griever is crushed and their organs and goo splatter everywhere.Many boys discover tons of dead bodies in a facility with blood splattered on walls and the floor, some are shown with blatant bullet holes in them, then a video begins where a woman is talking, and a very graphic video of a very realistic (I think it’s real) human brain being poked at. Then in the video people are shown breaking into the lab shooting the doctors on camera, mostly bloodless, and then the woman removes her gun and shoots herself in the head offscreen. We see the people reactions. Then we see her body on the floor.At the final stand off, a man points a gun at another man, when a boy runs in front of him as he shoots and a spear is thrown into his chest on camera. The young boy who was shot is shown with blood spreading on his shirt then falls to the ground and so does the other person. Everyone is then dragged out, very emotional scene.Overall, this movie and the series in general isn’t that overly graphic for PG-13, but still is best for older kids.LANGUAGE:Use of sh*t, hell and damn throughout.OVERALL: 12+

The Maze Runner is a great movie! Definitely recommend it. A little bit violent but not too bad if your child is a mature nine year old or above. Mild cursing, nothing extreme. Go check it out!

Absolute loved this movie. My 8 year old was engaged throughout the whole entire thing. The themes aren’t that strong and is perfect for kids 8 and up

best movie of all time so much story so much stuff and its in a maze!!!!

There is a lot of swearing, and a suicide. In one scene monsters try to wipe out the people of the glade. Not for the squeamish or people who get scared easily.

James M. Parent of 9 and 11-year-old

Very good film. Although quite mature and containing some intense scenes a mature 12 or 13 year old would love it. However keep in mind there is a lot of violence such as a woman committing suicide.