Maze Runner The Death Cure Budget
Science FictionActionAdventureThriller2h 23mUpdated
Synopsis
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.
What is the budget of Maze Runner The Death Cure?
"Maze Runner The Death Cure," a science fiction released in 2018, was directed by Wes Ball and stars Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario. The production budget was $62,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for science fiction productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a science fiction production like this include:
- Visual Effects & CGI Pipeline: Sci-fi films are among the most VFX-intensive productions in Hollywood.
- Production Design & World-Building: Creating a believable sci-fi world required significant investment in set construction, prop fabrication, and conceptual design , from physical environments through LED volume stages and virtual production technology.
- Technology & Camera Systems: Cutting-edge camera rigs, motion capture stages, LED volume stages (virtual production), and proprietary rendering technology often push the technical budget far beyond conventional filming costs.
- Filming & Locations: Principal photography began on March 14, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Previously it was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con that filming would begin in February 2016.
What were the major cost factors in Maze Runner The Death Cure?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Maze Runner The Death Cure."
- Visual Effects: Visual Effects & CGI Pipeline is one of the primary cost drivers in science fiction productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design & World-Building is one of the primary cost drivers in science fiction productions of this scale.
- Technology: Technology & Camera Systems is one of the primary cost drivers in science fiction productions of this scale.
How Does Maze Runner The Death Cure's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $62,000,000, Maze Runner The Death Cure sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001): Budget $62,000,000, Worldwide Gross $18,720,175
- 2 Guns (2013): Budget $61,000,000, Worldwide Gross $131,940,411
- Gone Girl (2014): Budget $61,000,000, Worldwide Gross $370,890,259
- The Mermaid (2016): Budget $60,720,000, Worldwide Gross $553,810,228
- 15 Minutes (2001): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $56,359,980
The median budget for wide-release science fiction films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Maze Runner The Death Cure Box Office Performance
"Maze Runner The Death Cure" earned $58,032,443 domestically and $288,175,335 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $62,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Maze Runner The Death Cure," that break-even threshold was roughly $124,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $288,175,335, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $62,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $288,175,335
- Net Return: $226,175,335
- ROI: approximately 364.8%
At 364.8%, "Maze Runner The Death Cure" earned roughly $4.65 for every $1 invested in production.
Maze Runner The Death Cure Production History
Principal photography began on March 14, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Previously it was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con that filming would begin in February 2016. On March 18, 2016, it was reported that actor Dylan O'Brien had been hospitalized for injuries sustained on set during filming.
Awards and Recognition
7 nominations total
Critical Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of based on reviews, and an average rating of . The website's critical consensus reads, "Maze Runner: The Death Cure may offer closure to fans of the franchise, but for anyone who hasn't already been hooked, this bloated final installment is best left unseen." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 50 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Maze Runner: The Death Cure cost to make?
The production budget was $62,000,000. Twentieth Century Fox financed the trilogy capper, with budget discipline maintained even after a costly multi-month shutdown caused by a serious on-set injury to star Dylan O'Brien.
How much did The Death Cure earn at the box office?
The Death Cure grossed $58,028,768 domestically and $230,000,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $288,000,000. It opened to $24,156,000 on January 26, 2018, finishing first at the domestic box office but well below the openings of the prior two installments.
Why was The Death Cure delayed by over a year?
Star Dylan O'Brien sustained a serious injury on the Vancouver set in March 2016, including facial fractures and a concussion, after being struck by a vehicle during a stunt sequence. Fox shut down production, pushed the release from February 2017 to January 2018, and waited for O'Brien's full recovery before resuming filming in March 2017.
Who directed The Death Cure?
Wes Ball directed all three Maze Runner films, completing the trilogy in his early thirties. Ball later directed Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024, $160,000,000 budget, $397,000,000 worldwide), elevating him into franchise tentpole territory.
Who stars in The Death Cure?
Dylan O'Brien returns as Thomas, with Kaya Scodelario as Teresa, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt, Ki Hong Lee as Minho, Dexter Darden as Frypan, and Will Poulter as Gally. Adult cast includes Patricia Clarkson, Aidan Gillen, Walton Goggins, and Giancarlo Esposito.
Where was The Death Cure filmed?
Principal photography took place in Cape Town, South Africa, with additional location work in the Western Cape region. South Africa's Foreign Film and Television Production Incentive offered a meaningful rebate that helped offset the higher costs created by the extended production timeline.
How does The Death Cure compare to the other Maze Runner films?
The Death Cure earned $288,000,000 worldwide against $348,300,000 for The Scorch Trials (2015) and $348,000,000 for the original The Maze Runner (2014). The franchise totaled approximately $984,000,000 worldwide across three films on combined budgets near $164,000,000.
What did critics think of The Death Cure?
Reviews were mixed, with a 42% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 51 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave the film a B+ CinemaScore. Critics praised the trilogy resolution and action set pieces but objected to a bloated 142-minute runtime.
Was Maze Runner: The Death Cure profitable?
Yes. Against the $62,000,000 production budget and an estimated $50,000,000 to $60,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $288,000,000 produced a clear theatrical profit. Home video, cable broadcast, and streaming revenue extended the financial return.
Is there a Maze Runner sequel or reboot?
A reboot of the franchise was announced in 2023 under 20th Century Studios, with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts director Steven Caple Jr. attached to direct from a screenplay being developed by Jack Paglen. The reboot is separate from the original Wes Ball trilogy.
Official Trailer
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