Published On: Sun, Jun 29th, 2025
Movies | 4,308 views

‘Excellent’ sci-fi movie based on hit book series streaming for free | Films | Entertainment

Get ready for a thrilling night in, as a popular science-fiction film based on a bestselling book series is available to stream for free tonight.

BBC Three will air Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials tonight (Sunday, June 29th) at 9 PM, and it will be available to stream on iPlayer shortly after.

Released in 2015, this high-stakes thriller is the sequel to The Maze Runner, which premiered in 2014.

Based on James Dashner’s young adult novel series, The Maze Runner film franchise features a talented cast, including Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Directed by Wes Ball, the films are set in a dystopian future where the protagonist, Thomas (O’Brien), wakes up trapped in a mysterious maze with no memory of the outside world. The adventure unfolds as Thomas tries to piece together an escape plan, reports Surrey Live.

The first film follows the characters’ attempts to break out of the maze, while The Scorch Trials sees them trying to uncover the truth behind the sinister organisation WCKD (World Catastrophe Killzone Department).

Although the first film received positive reviews, the sequel was panned by critics, earning a disappointing 48 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The critical consensus reads: “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is an action-packed sequel at the cost of story, urgency, and mystery that the original offered.”

However, casual viewers have defended the action drama against criticism. On Rotten Tomatoes, a reviewer shared their blunt assessment: “The critics’ reviews behind this movie [are] ridiculous in my opinion. It isn’t better than the original Maze Runner but both movies have their own flaws […].”

Meanwhile, on IMDb, numerous fans expressed their delight with the sequel. A particularly enthusiastic viewer raved: “From beginning to end, I was on the edge of my seat. Unlike the first, there’s a lot more violence and death in this movie […].”

This same fan continued to lavish praise: “This movie is super intense and action-packed that you won’t want to look away for a moment.”

Reviews on Google also reflected this glowing sentiment, with one admirer saying: “Super thrilling movie, I was entertained from start to finish. I never read the books so I can’t compare but wow the movie was excellent.”

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials airs on BBC Three tonight at 9PM. The film will be available to stream on iPlayer shortly after broadcast.