7 Saddest Character Deaths In The Maze Runner Movies

Over the course of its story, The Maze Runner films offered a number of memorable deaths, proving that characters on neither side were safe. Adapted from James Dashner’s best-selling novels, The Maze Runner saw its characters fight against the World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department, an organization that was experimenting on them. With The Maze Runner cast led by Dylan O’Brien, the series was a huge success, grossing over $940 million worldwide. The Maze Runner 4 is currently in development and will likely help the franchise hit the $1 billion mark.

The Maze Runner movies take place in a dystopian world, so the characters’ lives were constantly threatened by several things such as the elements, grievers, the Flare virus, and WCKD. While The Maze Runner trilogy featured several action scenes, the films also had emotional moments that could make audiences cry. The Maze Runner trilogy didn't shy away from killing off fan-favorite characters or innocent people who were caught in the war between WCKD and the people fighting against the tyrannical organization.

7 Dr. Mary Cooper

Mary is introduced to the franchise in the second film, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. The doctor previously Worked for WCKD before leaving the organization and joining The Right Arm, where she served as the second-in-command. Mary played a significant role in helping The Right Arm raid the WCKD facilities. Shortly after she met Thomas and his friends, Mary was caught in a shootout between WCKD and The Right Arm. Janson shot Mary at the end of Maze Runner: Scorch Trials, and she died during the ambush.

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Mary doesn't really have a lot of screen time in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, but her death was moving nonetheless. She was one of the few scientists who understood that although WCKD had altruistic intentions when it came to finding the cure for the Flare virus, the way they went about it wasn't right. Her death was a huge loss for The Right Arm and the rest of the immunes she was fighting for. But perhaps what made Mary’s death so sad was the emotional toll it had on her partner, Vince, who held her till she let out her last breath.

6 Ben

Introduced in The Maze Runner movie as one of the Runners in the Glade, Ben had limited screen time, yet still managed to leave a mark on the main characters. When Thomas went to fetch fertilizer in the forest, an emotionally distressed Ben attacked him, causing a fight.When the other Gladers saved Thomas from Ben, they figured out that he had been attacked by a Griever and was going through the Changing, which explained his erratic behavior. Subsequently, they banished him to the maze so he wouldn't harm anyone else. But this decision proved costly, as it resulted in Ben's death.

Most likely, Ben was killed by a Griever in the maze. Ben's death was particularly heartbreaking because of how it affected the other Gladers. They didn't want to doom their friend, but they believed that they were left with no choice given his condition. His death left a hole in the hearts of his fellow Gladers and served as a lesson about life in The Maze Runner's world.

5 Alby

Alby was one of the most important members of the main group in The Maze Runner, as well as their leader. He was loved and respected by everyone in the Glade who saw him as their big brother. Following Ben's banishment, Alby and Minho went into the maze to retrace his steps. Unfortunately, Alby was stung by a Griever, which appeared to seal his fate. Luckily, Thomas found a way to cure Alby, using the medicine that Teresa had brought with her when she arrived in the Glade. But just when it seemed that Alby was out of harm's way, The Maze Runner killed him off.

Although Alby survived the first Griever attack, he wasn't so lucky the second time. When the doors to the Glade wouldn't shut, the Gladers were attacked by Grievers. One of the Grievers attacked Chuck, and Alby saved him, but he was unfortunately killed in the fight. Alby died the way he lived: protecting his fellow Gladers. Given that Alby was the one who knew the Glade more than anyone, his death was devastating for his friends. His loss was deeply felt by his fellow Gladers who missed his strength, kindness, and leadership. In a way, Alby’s death was the beginning of the end for his friends, because they had to find a way to survive in the Glade without his knowledge.

4 Winston

Like many of his fellow Gladers, very little was known about Winston's past life. Winston, a Runner, is first seen in The Maze Runner film where he barely has any screen time. Winston was brave and had a good sense of what was right and wrong, which is proven when he stands up for Thomas and Teresa when Gally orders that the two should be offered to the Grievers. Ultimately, it was largely Winston's good nature that made his fate in The Scorch Trials such a sad occurrence. In the movie, Winston contracted the Flare virus which would turn him into a Crank, a zombie-like creature that would infect others if left uncured.

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When the Runner discovered that he was infected after being too weak to keep up with his friends, he took a gun and tried to shoot himself. His friends were obviously confused at his behavior until he showed them that his leg was infected. He convinces them they are better off without him, and so Newt gives him the gun and Winston dies by suicide. Winston's death is a solemn moment in Maze Runner: Scorch Trials. At the point of his death, the Gladers had already lost too many people they cared for.

3 Teresa

Teresa's death in Maze Runner: The Death Cure is one of the most significant moments in the film. After spending some time in the WCKD facility, it became clear that Teresa viewed the organization's experiments differently than her friends did. So, it came as no surprise when she betrayed them and handed them over to the WCKD scientists who planned to use their blood to find the cure for the Flare virus. In the final scenes of Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Teresa seemingly had a change of heart. When she discovered that Thomas' blood could destroy the Flare virus, she decided to broadcast it to the world and asked him to join her.

During the bombing of the tower, Teresa sustained fatal injuries and died after sharing a kiss with Thomas. Teresa had betrayed her friends, but she redeemed herself by saving Thomas. Her death is particularly meaningful because she didn't get to see the world that she had helped save and her and Thomas' story was cut too soon. The final moments of her death are emotional, particularly because of the guilt she felt for betraying her friends and then torturing them.

2 Chuck

Chuck and Thomas met in the Glade and struck up a friendship. The pair had a sweet sibling-like relationship that showed how much they cared for each other. While in the Glade, Chuck took care of Thomas, whom he admired greatly, and even took him some food when he was being punished. So, when the time came for Chuck to choose between escaping the Glade with Thomas or remaining with Gally and the others, he chose to go with Thomas.

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When the Gladers were escaping, it turned out that Gally, who had been stung by a Griever, had followed them into the maze. Gally tried to shoot Thomas, but Chuck, loyal and true as ever, jumped in front of Thomas and saved his life. Chuck’s death at the end of The Maze Runner was probably the hardest for Thomas in the films because he knew how much he wanted to see his family again. The fact that he didn't get that chance made it all the more heartbreaking. Although Chuck doesn't appear in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, he is mentioned when Thomas lets Brenda know that Chuck was her little brother after she showed him his picture.

1 Newt

While in the Glade, Newt was Alby's second-in-command. The sweet teenager was kind-hearted, and one of Thomas' closest friends. In The Maze Runner films, Newt is portrayed as being one of the immune people since he was sent to the Glade. However, it's revealed that he actually isn't immune, a fact that becomes clear when he contracts the Flare virus. Following their escape from the WCKD facilities, Newt gives Thomas a note, but he doesn't read it since he was instructed to do so when the time was right.

When Newt's infection becomes serious, he is taken to the place where they keep the Cranks. Thomas eventually reads the note, and discovers that Newt wanted him to end his life because of his infection. Although he was reluctant, Thomas shot Newt, and he died. Newt's death is the hardest in The Maze Runner films because of how much he and Thomas had been through together. The fact that Thomas had to shoot one of his best friends made Newt's death even more heartbreaking.