Percy discovers that his absent father is Poseidon — and that being the son of a Greek god comes with some very dangerous family politics.
A modern kid. An ancient feud.
Percy Jackson has never quite fitted in at school. A terrifying encounter on a museum trip gives him a new explanation: the Greek gods are real, monsters can hide in plain sight, and Percy is a demigod. His friend Grover has been protecting him all along.
At Camp Half-Blood, Percy finds other children with divine parents. He also discovers why he is in danger. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has vanished, and Percy is suspected of taking it. With the gods heading towards war and his mother caught in the crisis, he sets out with Annabeth and Grover.
The quest across America
The film puts mythological dangers in recognisably modern places. A roadside stop conceals Medusa. Nashville’s Parthenon becomes a monster-filled obstacle. A Las Vegas casino offers a seductive escape from the clock. The journey gives each member of the trio a different strength: Percy’s connection to water, Annabeth’s battle skills and Grover’s resourcefulness.
Director Chris Columbus makes this first adventure an introduction to a hidden world. Camp Half-Blood provides the training ground, while the road trip lets Percy discover how much of the ordinary world has another identity.
Who to look out for
Logan Lerman plays Percy, with Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth and Brandon T. Jackson as Grover. The supporting cast brings familiar faces to the gods and monsters: Sean Bean is Zeus, Kevin McKidd is Poseidon and Uma Thurman plays Medusa. Pierce Brosnan’s Mr. Brunner has a second identity as Chiron, the centaur who helps train young heroes.
Ending explained — reveal major spoilers
The stolen bolt has been hidden in the shield Luke gives Percy. Luke, a son of Hermes, wants to turn the gods against one another. Percy confronts him and returns the bolt to Zeus before the deadline. The apparent theft is therefore a setup, rather than a crime Percy has committed.
The ending resolves the immediate threat of war but leaves Percy with a new life to navigate. He returns to Camp Half-Blood knowing who his father is and why the world will never look ordinary again.
Before you watch
No reading is required to follow the film. It introduces its own version of the characters and mythology. Book readers should expect substantial changes to the route, character ages and plot. Watch this film before Sea of Monsters, which continues with the same central cast.