Maze Runner Outpaces Stranger Things as Netflix Era Shifts
Stranger Things may be Netflix’s poster child for YA sci-fi, but as The Maze Runner trilogy exits the platform, it’s clear this earlier franchise still has a few tricks up its sleeve. Here’s why the comparison matters.
For years, Stranger Things has been the go-to example of young adult science fiction, thanks in large part to its massive presence on Netflix and the way it’s been rolled out as a major streaming event. The show’s become a bit of a symbol for how genre stories are now promoted and watched in the streaming age.
The Maze Runner, on the other hand, landed in cinemas before all that became standard. The dystopian trilogy, which ran from 2014 to 2018, wrapped up its story before streaming giants really took over. With the series about to leave Netflix on 9 January, it’s getting a last burst of attention from punters keen to catch it before it disappears.
Maze Runner’s World Keeps Changing
What stands out about Maze Runner is how the world the characters live in doesn’t stay the same. The Glade, with its strict rules and routines, is completely upended by the end of the first instalment. There’s no going back for the characters.
The second film, The Scorch Trials, throws the group into a totally different environment—ruined cities, wastelands, and unpredictable human threats. By the time The Death Cure rolls around, the focus shifts again, this time to the cities under WCKD’s control and the fallout from the world that created the Maze in the first place. Each film answers old questions and throws up new, tougher ones.
Unlike Stranger Things, where the main crew rarely leaves their small town, Maze Runner isn’t afraid to shake things up. The characters’ surroundings, the way they live, and what they’re up against all change in big ways. It’s a proper journey, not just a series of similar challenges. That’s a big part of why the trilogy still feels satisfying years later.
Stranger Things: More About the Hype Than the Story?
Every new season of Stranger Things is treated like a major Netflix event. There are long waits, split releases, and heaps of promo about when it’s coming back. When it finally drops, everyone’s talking about it for a bit, then it goes quiet until the next round.
That’s a different approach to Maze Runner, which just kept the story moving with each new film. No years-long gaps or splitting things into parts—each entry picked up where the last left off and pushed forward.
Because of this, Stranger Things often feels most exciting right when it’s released. Compared to the steady pace of the Maze Runner trilogy, it’s remembered more for the buzz around each season than for how the story actually develops.
Comparing the Two: Format, Genre, and Impact
Category
Stranger Things: Television series
The Maze Runner: Film trilogy
Release Date (USA)
Stranger Things: 15 July 2016
The Maze Runner: 19 September 2014
Creators / Director
Stranger Things: The Duffer Brothers
The Maze Runner: Directed by Wes Ball
Genre
Stranger Things: Sci-Fi, Horror, Drama, Mystery
The Maze Runner: Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Action, Thriller
Budget
Stranger Things: $400-480 million (season 5)
The Maze Runner: $34M (The Maze Runner), $61M (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials), $62M (Maze Runner: The Death Cure)
So, which one comes out on top? Is the Maze Runner trilogy still ahead of Stranger Things, or does Netflix’s flagship series deserve the top spot? Let us know what you reckon in the comments.
The Maze Runner trilogy is streaming on Netflix until 9 January 2026 and on Apple TV in the US. All seasons of Stranger Things are available on Netflix.