Common questions about Mazes and Monsters

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did the 1982 television film Mazes and Monsters premiere?

Mazes and Monsters premiered on television on the 2nd of May 1982. This broadcast marked the first time Tom Hanks played a lead role in a film.

What real-life event inspired the plot of Mazes and Monsters?

Mazes and Monsters was adapted from Rona Jaffe's 1981 novel which was based on the real-life disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III from Michigan State University in 1979. Early media accounts speculated that Egbert's participation in fantasy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons contributed to his disappearance.

Where was the climax of the film Mazes and Monsters filmed?

The climax of the film was filmed in the actual South Tower of the World Trade Center in 1983. This scene depicts the character Robbie Wheeling wandering in the South Tower lobby while preparing to jump from the observation deck.

Who wrote the novel that the film Mazes and Monsters was adapted from?

Mazes and Monsters was adapted from a novel written by Rona Jaffe in 1981. The story centers on Robbie Wheeling, a college student at Grant University whose descent into a fantasy role-playing game spirals into a terrifying psychological break.

When was the 40th-anniversary Blu-ray of Mazes and Monsters released?

Plumeria Pictures released a 40th-anniversary Blu-ray of Mazes and Monsters on the 19th of September 2022. This release marked the film's first high-definition release and cemented its legacy as a cult classic.