The Maze Runner trilogy, directed by Wes Ball, is a thrilling dystopian series about a group of teenagers trapped in a maze with no memory of their past. In each movie, new challenges appear, and many new characters are introduced. Each one brings their own strengths, personalities, and conflicts to the story, however, there are five characters in each movie that rise to the top.

Starting with movie one, The Maze Runner, Thomas takes the top spot. He is brave, resourceful, and naturally takes the lead when facing challenges. His curiosity about the maze drives the plot further and keeps the other characters in the Glade motivated and hopeful. Following Thomas is Minho, the cunning and fast runner who knows the maze best out of anyone else. Minho’s loyalty to his friends and his undying courage make him a close second. Newt comes in third, providing a calm and thoughtful presence among the chaos. Newt’s leadership and intelligence make him a key character in the first movie. Gally, who starts as an antagonist, is fourth. Although he creates conflict, his role is important in shaping Thomas’s character, along with the story. Teresa rounds out the list at fifth. While clever and strong, she doesn’t have much screen time in the first movie. However, she still plays a very significant role in revealing secrets about the maze. 

In movie two, The Scorch Trials, Thomas remains number one at the top because he continues to be the character to push the plot forward with his leadership and curiosity. He ends up being the reason everyone escapes WCKD and finds temporary safety. Minho also remains in second place, still showing his bravery and skills as he leads everyone through The Scorch. Newt is third, again, offering guidance and keeping the group of kids together under stressful circumstances. Jorge, a newly introduced character, comes in fourth. He brings his experience from his past to help the group of kids navigate the world and the people outside the maze. Brenda, another new character, is ranked fifth. She adds new perspective and support for Thomas while she helps them avoid WCKD while they find the Right Arm.

By movie three, The Death Cure, Thomas is still number one, proving his leadership and determination when he takes down WCKD and saves the immunes. In this movie, Newt moves to second. He follows Thomas wherever he goes and is one of the main reasons why Minho is rescued. His character becomes more relevant, giving him the chance to show his strengths. Brenda is number three, as her relationship with Thomas deepens and she frees the immunes from WCKD. Gally takes the number fourth, continuing to be unpredictable, yet memorable. In this movie, he comes back as a protagonist and helps free Minho and take down WCKD. Teressa is in fifth place, staying a complex and controversial character. On one hand, she betrayed her friends and turned them in; on the other hand, she helped them all and found a cure for the Flare, the disease that was taking over the world. By the end, she was crucial to the plot and contributed greatly to both sides of the story.

Overall, these rankings reflect how each character grows and changes throughout the trilogy. Thomas is introduced as a leader and keeps that quality throughout all three movies. However, characters like Newt, Minho, and Brenda become more significant as the plot progresses. Gally and Teresa have their moments, but mainly stay background characters. All three movies were recently added to Netflix and can be streamed there.