Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze.
Despite a moderate budget of $62.0M, Maze Runner: The Death Cure became a solid performer, earning $288.2M worldwide—a 365% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) showcases deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Wes Ball's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 23 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Thomas and his group are living as resistance fighters, planning daring raids against WCKD to rescue immune captives being transported by train.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Thomas discovers Minho is being tortured in the Last City for experimentation. The safe status quo of rescuing random immune kids is shattered by personal stakes.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 35 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Thomas chooses to infiltrate the Last City despite orders not to. He, Newt, Frypan, Brenda, and Jorge break away from the camp and enter the walled city through underground tunnels., moving from reaction to action.
At 71 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Thomas finds Minho and successfully breaks him out of WCKD's torture facility. False victory: they think they're escaping, but Teresa has tracked them and WCKD closes in., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 107 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Newt, fully infected with the Flare and turning into a Crank, begs Thomas to kill him. Thomas is forced to stab his best friend. Newt dies in Thomas's arms—the emotional low point of the film., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 114 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Thomas realizes Teresa's cure research could save humanity, but he chooses people over science. He decides to storm WCKD one final time to stop Janson and save the remaining immune kids, honoring Newt's sacrifice., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Maze Runner: The Death Cure's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Maze Runner: The Death Cure against these established plot points, we can identify how Wes Ball utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Maze Runner: The Death Cure within the science fiction genre.
Wes Ball's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Wes Ball films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Maze Runner: The Death Cure represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Wes Ball filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional science fiction films include Lake Placid, The Postman and Oblivion. For more Wes Ball analyses, see Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, The Maze Runner.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Thomas and his group are living as resistance fighters, planning daring raids against WCKD to rescue immune captives being transported by train.
Theme
Vince tells Thomas: "There's a difference between saving lives and risking yours for people who are already gone." The theme of sacrifice versus pragmatism is established.
Worldbuilding
The opening train heist establishes the post-apocalyptic world where WCKD controls the Last City, immune children are harvested for a cure, and the Flare virus devastates humanity. Thomas learns Minho wasn't on the train.
Disruption
Thomas discovers Minho is being tortured in the Last City for experimentation. The safe status quo of rescuing random immune kids is shattered by personal stakes.
Resistance
Thomas debates whether to mount a suicide mission into the Last City. Vince and others argue it's impossible. Newt reveals he's infected with the Flare. Brenda and Jorge offer insider knowledge to help.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Thomas chooses to infiltrate the Last City despite orders not to. He, Newt, Frypan, Brenda, and Jorge break away from the camp and enter the walled city through underground tunnels.
Mirror World
Thomas reconnects with Gally, who he thought was dead. Gally now works with the Right Arm resistance inside the city and represents the thematic counterpoint: pragmatic survival versus loyal sacrifice.
Premise
The team infiltrates WCKD headquarters using insider tactics. They navigate the dystopian Last City, encounter Cranks, reunite with Teresa, and execute their plan to locate and extract Minho from the facility.
Midpoint
Thomas finds Minho and successfully breaks him out of WCKD's torture facility. False victory: they think they're escaping, but Teresa has tracked them and WCKD closes in.
Opposition
WCKD forces hunt the group through the city. Newt's Flare infection worsens. Teresa struggles between her loyalty to finding a cure and her feelings for Thomas. Janson and WCKD gain ground, civilians die, and the city descends into chaos.
Collapse
Newt, fully infected with the Flare and turning into a Crank, begs Thomas to kill him. Thomas is forced to stab his best friend. Newt dies in Thomas's arms—the emotional low point of the film.
Crisis
Thomas grieves Newt's death and processes the devastating loss. He reads Newt's final letter, which urges him to keep fighting and not give up. The darkness threatens to consume him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Thomas realizes Teresa's cure research could save humanity, but he chooses people over science. He decides to storm WCKD one final time to stop Janson and save the remaining immune kids, honoring Newt's sacrifice.
Synthesis
Final assault on WCKD tower. Thomas confronts Teresa and Janson. The building burns and crumbles. Teresa sacrifices herself to save Thomas. The immune children are evacuated to the Safe Haven, and Thomas memorializes the fallen.
Transformation
Thomas and the survivors reach a peaceful island sanctuary. He carves Newt's name into a memorial rock alongside other fallen friends. The boy who started as WCKD's subject is now a leader who built a new home through sacrifice.