Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials received mixed reviews from critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 46%, based on 147 reviews, with an average rating of 5.41/10. The website’s critical consensus states, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is an action-packed sequel at the cost of story, urgency, and mystery that the original offered.”[53] Metacritic gives the film a score of 43 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[54] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of “B+” on an A+ to F scale.[55]

The main criticisms of the film were its narrative, particularly its changes from the source material, and lack of character development.[56][57] Forbes said the film suffered from “middle movie syndrome”, claiming that it did not offer an introduction nor a finale.[58] The Wrap stated that, “it doesn’t offer much plot or character development”.[59] Stephen Kelly of Total Film said, “Scorch Trials ambitiously opens up its world with mixed results: gripping action, so-so script.”[60] Walter Addiego of the San Francisco Chronicle said, “there’s lots of eye candy, and the pace is fast, but somehow the movie falls short.”