What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
If you loved The Maze Runner (Book 1), start with Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) — a film on the same thread. Below: 2 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Maze Runner (Book 1) across media.
What hooked you in The Maze Runner (Book 1) was the disorienting feeling of being trapped in a system designed to test your survival.
Films on the same thread
Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Wes Ball · Film · 2018
Shares a thread with The Maze Runner (Book 1): Survival.
If you enjoyed the high-stakes navigation of The Maze Runner (Book 1), you will appreciate this final chapter where Thomas faces a lethal, WCKD-controlled urban environment.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Film · 2015
Shares 2 threads with The Maze Runner (Book 1): Survival, Conspiracy.
This sequel expands the conspiracy you first encountered in The Maze Runner (Book 1), pushing the group into a desolate landscape where their survival instincts remain vital.
Series on the same thread
Severance
Dan Erickson · Series · 2022
Explores: Identity Crisis, Existentialism, Memory Manipulation.
Like the memory-wiped protagonists in The Maze Runner (Book 1), the characters here grapple with fragmented identities and the sinister reality of a controlled, corporate environment.
Lost
Jeffrey Lieber · Series · 2004
Shares a thread with The Maze Runner (Book 1): Survival.
Much like the stranded Gladers of The Maze Runner (Book 1), this group must rely on teamwork and decode island secrets to survive their mysterious, isolated predicament.
The 100
Jason Rothenberg · Series · 2014
Shares 3 threads with The Maze Runner (Book 1): Survival, Hope, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction.
This series mirrors the premise of The Maze Runner (Book 1) by placing expendable youth into a dangerous, life-or-death situation orchestrated by a detached, authoritative regime.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
The conspiracy-laden atmosphere found in The Maze Runner (Book 1) is echoed here, as a group of friends uncovers the terrifying truth behind secret government experiments.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
While the tone differs, the focus on complex group dynamics and collaborative problem-solving will resonate with readers who enjoyed the team-based survival of The Maze Runner (Book 1).
The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Ringer · Podcast · 2026
Explores: banter, insider access, celebrity culture.
While this lacks the dystopian setting of The Maze Runner (Book 1), the emphasis on tight-knit camaraderie and established group rituals provides a similar sense of belonging.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary conflict in The Maze Runner (Book 1)?
The primary conflict in The Maze Runner (Book 1) involves a group of boys trapped in a mysterious maze after their memories are erased. Thomas must join forces with fellow runners to navigate the dangerous structure and find a path to escape the community.
How are the boys introduced to the setting of The Maze Runner (Book 1)?
In The Maze Runner (Book 1), characters are deposited into a community of boys with no memory of their past lives. This discovery serves as the starting point for their struggle to understand the maze and the circumstances of their confinement within the trap.
What is the role of the runners in The Maze Runner (Book 1)?
The runners in The Maze Runner (Book 1) are a specific group of boys tasked with navigating the maze. They work together to map the structure and search for a way out, which is necessary for the community to have any shot at escaping their trapped existence.
Is The Maze Runner (Book 1) a story about memory loss?
Yes, memory loss is a central element of The Maze Runner (Book 1). The story begins with Thomas arriving in a community of boys after his memory has been erased, forcing him to adapt to his new environment while attempting to solve the mystery of the maze.