Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

PG

Released Feb 12, 2010

1h 59m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

48%

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150 Reviews

53%

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250,000+ Ratings

Always trouble-prone, the life of teenager Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) gets a lot more complicated when he learns he's the son of the Greek god Poseidon. At a training ground for the children of deities, Percy learns to harness his divine powers and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime: he must prevent a feud among the Olympians from erupting into a devastating war on Earth, and rescue his mother from the clutches of Hades, god of the underworld.

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Critics Consensus

Though it may seem like just another Harry Potter knockoff, Percy Jackson benefits from a strong supporting cast, a speedy plot, and plenty of fun with Greek mythology.

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Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

The Greek gods had outsized powers and petty grievances. These Gen-Y demigods are no different - it's a whole generation of kids with daddy issues

Rated: C

Feb 18, 2010

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A.O. Scott

At the Movies

I thought it was mischievous and witty and amusing and I was just sort of drawn into it.

Feb 16, 2010

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Time Out

It's not enough to compensate for the computer-game-style plotting, which is largely based on us picking up narrative nuggets that mechanically slot into place later on.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 16, 2010

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Justin Kim

Loud and Clear Reviews

Though its infamy may be overblown, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is still an unimpressive film that more than justifies the book fans’ outcry for a better adaptation.

Jan 6, 2025

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

This is a by-the-numbers fantasy adventure that merges the modern world with a magical one.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 22, 2023

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

The Lightning Thief is good juvenile entertainment. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 19, 2022

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Lijimol J

Now I am a devoted fan of Percy Jackson books. I have already read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. So when I first heard that they were making a movie, it was going to be good. But i was so wrong because instead of following what the writer Rick Riordan they did a totally different thing . They did not put Clarisse in the first film; instead combined her with annabeth, creating a bad character for a daughter of Athena. And one thing I hate about this movie is how demigods are not aloowed to meet there parents like dude that i what makes up the main plot of the movie!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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Diego P

As a movie it's good... I think, but as an adaptation it's terrible. Because they're like 5 years older, I mean Percy is I think 12 at the beginning and 16 by the end. This one is at least 17 and that's already bad. What's next... oh yeah the fight with Ares... what can I say... Where is he?!... They removed that... and Hades... what happened, is he the bad guy? .. in fact he's one of the best gods... so many things... 3/5 and I'm being very, very kind.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

Full Review

Henry C

The Percy Jackson movies, especially Sea of Monsters, offer a fun, fast-paced escape that the recent show just doesn’t match. While the show drags with slow pacing and overly serious tone, Sea of Monsters delivers humor, heart, and thrilling action. It captures the spirit of adventure and the charm of Percy’s world without getting bogged down in exposition. The movie introduces Tyson and Clarisse, adding depth and excitement. Adapting The Titan’s Curse is a must—it’s darker, more intense, and introduces fan-favorites like Nico and Thalia. With epic battles and emotional stakes, it’s perfect for the big screen and would reignite love for the series in a way the show couldn’t.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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Radio R

From favorite books to horrible live-action movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

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Jack G

Absolutely abysmal butchers one of my favorite books of all time with horrible acting and had no idea how to adapt the book. Disrespectful

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

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No M

in my opinion this movie undervalued becuase The only argument is that the characters are not the same age as in the book, but the movies are very good. thanks for read

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

Full Review

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Chris Columbus

Director

Logan Lerman

Percy Jackson

Brandon T. Jackson

Grover

Alexandra Daddario

Annabeth

Jake Abel

Luke

Sean Bean

Zeus

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Synopsis

Always trouble-prone, the life of teenager Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) gets a lot more complicated when he learns he's the son of the Greek god Poseidon. At a training ground for the children of deities, Percy learns to harness his divine powers and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime: he must prevent a feud among the Olympians from erupting into a devastating war on Earth, and rescue his mother from the clutches of Hades, god of the underworld.

Director: Chris Columbus
Producer: Karen Rosenfelt, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, Mark Radcliffe
Screenwriter: Craig Titley
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Phoenix Film Partners, Dune, Sunswept Entertainment, 1492 Pictures
Rating: PG (Mild Language|Action/Violence|Peril|Some Scary Images|Suggestive Material)
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $88.8M
Runtime: 1h 59m

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