10 Ways The Maze Runner Movies Got The Books Wrong
Thomas and Teresa's Telepathy
In the books, it is an established fact that Thomas and Teresa can communicate with each other through telepathy. This mental connection forms the foundation of their relationship and is the main reason the other Gladers distrust them so intensely. This supernatural bond is completely missing in the films, which weakens the suspicion directed at them by Gally and the other members of the group.
The Sky Turning "Off"
By the end of the experiment, the Glade’s artificial sky begins to “turn off,” revealing the truth about their environment. The usual day–night cycle once gave the Gladers a false sense of normalcy, but its sudden disappearance marks the beginning of “The Ending,” signaling that WICKED is removing variables and forcing them to solve the Maze or die.
The "Griever Hole" and the Invisible Cliff
The method of escaping the Maze is significantly changed in the movie. In the books, Thomas discovers that the way out is by following the Grievers. The creatures leap into an invisible cliff—an abyss that leads directly to the WICKED lab, where the Maze can be shut down. This crucial element, known as the “Griever Hole,” is omitted in the films.
The Neck Tattoos
In the books, each Glader receives a tattoo on their neck revealing their assigned fate. Thomas is marked to be killed by Group B, and Minho is labeled the group’s true leader. These tattoos immediately create distrust within the group and foreshadow the psychological torture WICKED planned for Phase Two. The movies leave this entire subplot out.
Teresa's Complex "Betrayal"
In the movies, Teresa’s betrayal is portrayed as a straightforward decision to reveal the group’s location to WICKED. However, the books give her a far more emotional and psychologically complex arc. She must choose between saving Thomas—even if it means betraying him, or obeying WICKED and watching him die. This nuance makes her character far more tragic and layered than the films show.
Group B and the Kidnapping
The films briefly hint at a second Maze run by female survivors, but never explore the storyline in depth. Group B becomes background noise in the sequels, and the audience never sees how dangerous and significant they are. In the books, Group B is a real threat to Thomas and the others, especially during the events in the Scorch.
The "Cranks" were Intelligent (The Gone)
The books portray the Cranks as some of the most chilling characters in the series. Many retain intelligence, emotions, and even the ability to speak, use weapons, and set traps. “The Gone” are Cranks who have completely lost their sanity, making them unpredictable and terrifying because they are still human, just stripped of morality. The movies instead depict them as generic, mindless zombie-like creatures, losing all the nuance.
The Metal Balls (Bulb Busters)
The most horrifying threat in the Scorch is not the Cranks or the lightning storms. It’s the silver liquid metal traps known as Bulb Busters. These deadly blobs latch onto a victim’s face and instantly decapitate them. They were one of the scariest obstacles the Gladers faced in the tunnels. The films omit them entirely, losing one of the series’ most shocking dangers.
Newt's "Please, Tommy, Please"
In the movies, Newt dies fighting Thomas, but the books depict something far more devastating. Living among the infected in Crank Palace, Newt eventually loses control of himself and desperately begs Thomas to kill him. Thomas is forced to shoot his best friend in the head as an act of mercy. This heartbreaking moment of assisted suicide is entirely missing from the film adaptation.
The Return to the Maze
The movies end with the survivors escaping to a beach that becomes their safe haven. However, the books provide a full-circle moment: the characters return to the Maze after realizing there is no cure for the virus. Inside, they find the Flat Trans, a device that instantly transports them to a lush green forest—a paradise for the remaining humans. This ending, far more hopeful and symbolic, is never shown in the films.
