Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Name: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Released: February 12, 2010
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 47
Cast: Kevin McKidd, Logan Lerman, Steve Coogan

2010

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Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 381 Ratings

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5.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 381 Ratings

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Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: February 12, 2010 | PG

Starring: Kevin McKidd, Logan Lerman, Steve Coogan

Summary: Trouble-prone Percy Jackson is having problems in high school - but that's the least of his challenges. It's the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus seem to have walked out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology texts and into his life. Percy has learned that his real father is Poseidon, god of the sea, which means Percy is aTrouble-prone Percy Jackson is having problems in high school - but that's the least of his challenges. It's the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus seem to have walked out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology texts and into his life. Percy has learned that his real father is Poseidon, god of the sea, which means Percy is a demigod - half human, half god. At the same time, the powerful gods on Olympus are feuding, which could launch a war enveloping our entire planet. (20th Century Fox)… Expand

Director: Chris Columbus

Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 118 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

Director Chris Columbus has fun with this goofy premise, but as always I am distracted by the practical aspects of the story. Does it bother the Greek gods that no one any longer knows or cares that they rule the world? What are the genetic implications of human/god interbreeding? Read full review

Ethan Alter

So has "Percy Jackson" successfully cracked the "Potter" code? In terms of overall quality, not even close. Still, the film's carefully calibrated mixture of CGI-enhanced spectacle, diverting (and blood-free) action sequences and adolescent angst could make it a modest hit with the eight to 12-year-old set. Read full review

Joe Williams

The CGI effects are a familiar sort and so is the heroic-quest motif. The principal virtue in this modest entertainment is that the young characters act like real teenagers. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Pete Hammond

Columbus knows his way around this kind of material even if some of the special effects look like they came from Deep Discount. The gods are well-rendered, but nothing special. Still for the Potter crowd, Percy provides a nice diversion until the real thing comes along. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Very little of it is as persuasive or enveloping as its beloved English counterpart. But it works very hard to distract 11-year-olds from thinking about the November arrival of “The Deathly Hallows.’’ Read full review

Mary Elizabeth Williams

The overblown and overlong version of Percy's adventures largely fails to capture the quirky allure of Riordan's books. Read full review

Scott Tobias

The film becomes particularly risible when family matters come into play. Since the young demigods, by nature, are raised in single-parent homes, their encounters with the gods are characterized less by wonder than by the therapy-speak of wounded kids with daddy issues. Read full review

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User Reviews

unliunliunli

Apr 20, 2012

I read all five books of Percy Jackson & The Olympians. I must say it was a good collaboration of Greek mythology and modern events. I like the story as well as the characters. However, the movie was quite disappointing. I wasn't expecting anything in the movie but I was disappointed how theI read all five books of Percy Jackson & The Olympians. I must say it was a good collaboration of Greek mythology and modern events. I like the story as well as the characters. However, the movie was quite disappointing. I wasn't expecting anything in the movie but I was disappointed how the story changed. After reading the book, I was excited to see how the cabins would look like, the fight b/w Clarisse and Percy in bathroom, how Iris-messaging worked and a lot more things I would like to see. But the movie didn't even show it.
On the lighter note, the actors were great. I liked Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) and Persephone (Rosario Dawson). I loved the view of Underworld and the Olympus. I could imagine how it will look like during the Titan war.
I heard that there'll be a Sea of Monsters movie. I hope this one will be good as the book. I don't know how they will incorporate the real story after the first movie. But let's see :)… Expand

1 of 9 users found this helpful18

BellaC

Mar 1, 2010

I loved this movie!!!!!!!!! But I do admit the acting could use improvment, I thought it was a great story over all. They also did add humor in it wich made it an even better movie. Even if they changed it from the book still very well done. =)

0 of 2 users found this helpful

ShannonP

Mar 6, 2010

A wonderful movie filled with fun and HISTORY!

0 of 2 users found this helpful

Tyranian

Oct 11, 2019

Has a few decent moments but is overwhelmingly average in almost every way.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

txrangersfan72

Jan 18, 2011

Cute, but slow and boring. While I love the theme, I never read the series. The movie targets the same age group as the books and hits the mark. Unfortunately, I'm not part of the demographic.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

YellowKirby

Mar 11, 2016

Before I get started with the review, I just want to say I really, really, really like the books. But the movie? Pfft, where do I begin? It has terribly wooden acting, ignores its source material, has terrible usage of terrible CGI, and almost ruins Percy Jackson. It is a complete and utterBefore I get started with the review, I just want to say I really, really, really like the books. But the movie? Pfft, where do I begin? It has terribly wooden acting, ignores its source material, has terrible usage of terrible CGI, and almost ruins Percy Jackson. It is a complete and utter disgrace of a film, and should never have been made.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

haileyoliveira

May 13, 2017

Terrible movie. Definite waste of adaptation rights and Logan Lerman. The books all top this easily. This movie is only worse than its sequel. Hope Uncle Rick takes back the rights and Percy gets a good adaptation, maybe with the CW.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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28	#28 Most Discussed Movie of 2010
46	#46 Most Shared Movie of 2010