Rick Riordan’s fantasy book series Percy Jackson based on Greek mythology is one of the most influential books of its genre. The book series has a huge fanbase and long storyline, making it a perfect fit for a big screen adaptation. The book series’ first tried its big screen debut in 2010 with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief starring Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario. The film was roasted by critics but given the fan following of the books, it broke even at the box office. Considering this, a sequel was made based on Riordan’s second book, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. The sequel had even worse critical reception but once again broke even at the box office. However, after two movies the studio understood that this is not working out.
Then almost a decade later Disney greenlit a show based on Riordan’s work that will be developed closely with the author for a brand new Disney+ series. After a long wait and fair share of controversies, the show is finally coming out next week. Following that, the critics’ reviews are in today. So, has the new show faced the same fate as the previous adaptations of this franchise? Or is this a brand new day? Let’s find out.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Reviews – Rick Riordan’s Books Finally Get a Worth Adaptation!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians debuted with an amazing 95% Rotten Tomatoes score which is 47 points higher than the previous adaptation of the books way back in 2010. At the time of writing, the show stands tall with a FRESH rating on RT and 96% score from 23 reviews. IGN has also given it an impressive 7/10. Check out the critics’ reviews below:
Rihaana Stark (Geeks of Color) – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the perfect adaptation. It’s faithful to the source material but still leaves room for surprises. It’s a heartfelt adventure that will get even the most jaded viewers hooked.”
Francisca Tinoco (We Got This Covered) – “Just like it’s protagonist, Disney’s ‘Percy Jackson’ suffers from some growing pains, but its good intentions and genuine love for the lore eventually help it find its footing.” Original Score: 3.5/5
Kayleigh Dray (AV Club) – “Uncle Rick has worked hard to give us something that adheres to the spirit of his original works, something fast-paced and bonkers (in the best possible way) and thoroughly entertaining.” Original Score: B+
Petrana Radulovic (Polygon) – “With a stellar cast bringing the cherished characters to life, it seems like a dream come true for Percy Jackson fans.”
Aprillé Morris (OffColour.org) – “After the poor performance of the first adaptation, so bad that even the series author has decried it for years, it seems redemption and kleos (Greek for glory) have finally arrived for Percy Jackson and the Olympians!” Original Score: 4/4
Kayleigh Dray (AV Club) – “Uncle Rick has worked hard to give us something that adheres to the spirit of his original works, something fast-paced and bonkers (in the best possible way) and thoroughly entertaining.” Original Score: B+
Aramide Tinubu (Variety) – “The series depicts a genuinely inclusive world, showcasing storylines and characters that will captivate fans for the next decade. At long last, Riordan’s work has been given the extensive visual adaptation it deserves.”
Dominic Baez (Seattle Times) – “Even with the lightning-quick pacing… “Percy” has plenty going for it. Visually, it’s a gem.”
Poppie Platt {Daily Telegraph (UK)} – “Ready yourself and order The Penguin Book of Classical Myths for the kids to obsess over when they’ve finished watching…” Original Score: 4/5
Dan Rubins (Slant Magazine) – “Largely missing from the series is the coherent world-building and quicksilver pacing of the novels.” Original Score: 1.5/4
Matthew Creith (TheWrap) – “The writing… is quick-witted, the action is stellar, and making Percy’s journey an episodic tale helps to propel the young character forward in exciting directions.”
The confirmed cast of the Disney+ series is Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabath, and Aryan Simhadri as Grover. Other actors involved in the series include Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus, Glynn Turman as Chiron, Charlie Bushnell as Luke Castellan, Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue, Lance Reddick and more. Percy Jackson and The Olympians will drop its first episode on Disney+ on December 20th, 2023.
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