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

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

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Aug 22, 2023

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

| Oct 19, 2022

For every creative aspect, there is a contrived and rather nonsensical counter that unfortunately tips the scales more towards derivative than innovative.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Nov 30, 2020

There's nothing resembling a spark in this film anywhere.

| Original Score: 2.0/4.0 | Sep 19, 2020

OK, but only just.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jun 26, 2020

The Lightning Thief is an admirable kid's fantasy.

| Jan 23, 2020

As a former middle school teacher of gifted literature, I value all fairly well-made films for children and parents and this one is in that league.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 13, 2020

The plot uses the presence of the Greek gods as an indistinct outline to influence teenagers who are more interested in the prestige and glamor of their connection than the responsibility that comes with it.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 9, 2015

It provides a great adventure movie for the family audience.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 31, 2012

The premise of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief holds great potential potential the film never realizes.

| Original Score: D+ | Nov 5, 2011

Percy Jackson is simply uninspired in every single meaning of the word. It's probably the crassest, most obviously derivative work of this sort since Eragon.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Apr 25, 2011

It kind of just builds up to a lot of Not Much.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 4, 2011

Manages to pay its respects to the Greek myths and actually convey them as fun.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 4, 2010

Mildly diverting.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 6, 2010

Just another mediocre fantasy flick, but if you enjoyed the books, I'm sure you'll enjoy the film.

| Original Score: 5.5/10 | Jul 6, 2010

An enjoyable PG-rated family adventure in its own right, but Columbus' film can't live up to the Potter gold standard, and it strays enough from Riordan's source material to make its tween readership blow a gasket every few minutes. [Blu-ray]

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 6, 2010

Not a perfect film, but the movie does have a certain passion that a lot of other franchise attempts have lacked. If you like Greek mythology and are looking for an antidote to Clash of the Titans, this may be what you're looking for.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 4, 2010

A great family film, with just the right measures of action, mythological allusions, humor, and adventure.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 30, 2010

Of all the would-be Potter projects that have hit the screen over the years, this is one of more polished and enjoyable ones.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 16, 2010