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The Maze Runner poster

Is The Maze Runner OK for Kids?

ActionMysteryScience FictionThriller
13+
PG-13⭐ IMDb 6.8 / 102014 · 1h 53m
Wes Ball● Script verified
See all movies for 13-year-olds

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What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay
🗡️Violence
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Cartoon / Comedic
3
Action & Peril
3
Injuries & Death Shown
3
Graphic & Disturbing
  • Ben is stung by a Griever in broad daylight, leaving a visible wound, and is later thrown into a pit as punishment for being infected
  • Chuck is impaled by a Griever spike and dies in Thomas's arms in an emotional, fatal injury shown on screen
  • Gally is shot with a gun and dies from the gunshot wound
  • Alby is stabbed/attacked by a Griever with visible bleeding, and a graphic autopsy scene shows a dead Griever being dissected with its internal parts examined
  • Multiple chase sequences show runners fleeing pursuing Grievers through the maze, and a nighttime scene shows multiple Grievers invading the Glade causing mass panic and casualties
  • Overall tone is tense survival violence with real stakes and consequences, including two on-screen character deaths (Chuck and Gally)
💬Language
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
10
Mild Words
(damn, hell)
9
Moderate
(ass, b**ch)
6
Strong
(sh*t)
0
Extreme
(f**k)
  • Characters say 'hell' (8 times), 's**t' (6 times), 'da**' (3 times), 'a**' (2 times), and 'bastards' (1 time)
  • The boys use the invented slang term 'shank' as an insult (5 times), which functions as a creative near-profanity substitute
  • No f-words or c-words detected in the script
👻Scary Scenes
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Mildly Tense
1
Startling Moments
4
Genuinely Scary
3
Deeply Disturbing
  • Ben's transformation during 'The Changing' involves screaming, violent behavior, and a psychological breakdown that is genuinely disturbing to witness
  • The first Griever encounter shows a mechanical creature with multiple appendages attacking in darkness, and a nighttime invasion of the Glade shows multiple Grievers breaking into their safe sanctuary
  • An intense maze chase sequence has runners fleeing multiple Grievers with narrow escapes and walls closing in, and Chuck's death by impalement is shown as an intense, emotional scene
  • A startling moment occurs when Teresa suddenly awakens and attacks the boys with weapons
  • The discovery that the maze and trials were orchestrated experiments on children is disturbing on a psychological/thematic level
  • Scary scenes resolve with the group escaping and uncovering answers, though not without loss and lingering unease
💕Romance
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
2
Crushes & Holding Hands
0
Kissing & Dating
1
Suggestive
0
Sexual Content
  • Thomas shows concern and protective feelings toward Teresa when she first arrives in the Glade
  • Teresa and Thomas recognize each other, hinting at a previous connection between them
  • Teresa and Thomas share a vulnerable moment discussing memories and dreams together, which is suggestive of emotional intimacy but nothing physical or sexual
  • No kissing, dating, or sexual content is present
🍺Substances
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Mentioned in Passing
1
Shown Casually
1
Featured Prominently
0
Glorified or Abused
  • A casual reference is made to Gally's drink recipe during a bonfire celebration
  • A syringe is used to inject Alby with an unknown compound taken from inside a Griever, shown prominently as a medical/emergency measure rather than recreational use
  • Substance use is not glorified; the injection scene is presented as a tense, potentially dangerous medical intervention
⚡Stimulation
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Gently Engaging
1
Exciting
2
Intense
1
Overwhelming
  • Maze running sequences are fast-paced with tight corridors and changing walls, creating sustained tension
  • The final escape sequence is overwhelming, combining multiple Grievers, a timed door code, Chuck's death, and a gunshot in rapid succession
  • The nighttime invasion of the Glade features panic, running, and creatures breaking through defenses at an intense pace
  • The Griever autopsy scene is exciting but slower-paced as characters examine technology discovered inside the creature
  • Sensory-sensitive children may find the final escape and night invasion sequences overwhelming due to their chaotic, rapid pacing

Parents also checked

The Maze Runner — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being a young-adult adventure film, the Griever autopsy scene involves a graphic dissection of the creature's internal parts, and Chuck's death by impalement happens directly in Thomas's arms — both are more visceral than parents might expect from the film's marketing as a teen sci-fi adventure.

About The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner follows Thomas, a teenage boy who wakes up with no memory in a mysterious enclosed community called the Glade, surrounded by a massive shifting maze patrolled by deadly mechanical creatures called Grievers. As he and the other boys work to escape and uncover the truth behind their imprisonment, they face life-threatening dangers, betrayal, and the shocking revelation that they've been part of a scientific experiment. The tone is tense, action-driven sci-fi survival with moments of genuine horror and loss.

👨‍👧
Best watched together
Themes of scientific experimentation on children, the disturbing 'Changing' sequence, and the deaths of Chuck and Gally are heavy for young teens — parents watching alongside 11-13 year olds can help contextualize the violence and discuss the ethical questions the story raises.

Family Takeaways from The Maze Runner

What it gets right

  • ✓The film shows genuine loyalty and sacrifice, such as Minho helping Thomas despite the danger and the group choosing to escape together rather than leaving anyone behind
  • ✓Chuck's gesture of trusting Thomas with his letter to his parents demonstrates hope and faith even in a hopeless situation

The Maze Runner Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

No cultural or religious themes detected for this film.

Cast:Dylan O'BrienKaya ScodelarioThomas Brodie-SangsterKi Hong LeeWill Poulter

Is The Maze Runner Appropriate for Your Child's Age?

✗Age 5: Not recommended for 5-year-olds
✗Age 8: Not recommended for 8-year-olds
✗Age 10: Not recommended for 10-year-olds
✗Age 12: Not recommended for 12-year-olds
✓Age 13: Generally appropriate for 13-year-olds
✓Age 15: Generally appropriate for 15-year-olds
✓Age 17: Generally appropriate for 17-year-olds

Individual children may vary — use your judgment.

Parents also ask about The Maze Runner

  • Is The Maze Runner appropriate for a 13-year-old?
  • Does The Maze Runner have violence?
  • Is The Maze Runner OK for kids?
  • What is the age rating for The Maze Runner?

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