Finding movies like Percy Jackson and the Olympians isn't actually about finding more Greek gods. Well, it's not just about that. Most people think if you liked Logan Lerman's blue-eyed sass or Walker Scobell's more book-accurate "Persassy" attitude, you just want more Zeus. But honestly? The itch you’re trying to scratch is probably that specific mix of "middle school is a nightmare" and "wait, I'm actually a secret legend."
You want that urban fantasy vibe. The kind where a normal teenager walks into a New York alleyway and accidentally discovers a portal to a world where they aren't just the weird kid with ADHD anymore.
Why We Keep Looking for Movies Like Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Let’s be real for a second. The 2010 movie The Lightning Thief was... a choice. Fans of Rick Riordan's books generally treat it like that one cousin nobody talks about at Thanksgiving. But even with its massive departures from the source material, it hit a certain "vibe." It was bright, it was fast, and it made mythology feel like something that could happen at a Krispy Kreme.
Finding that same energy today is actually kinda hard. We've shifted into "gritty" reboots and ultra-serious high-fantasy epics that take three hours just to explain the map. If you're hunting for movies like Percy Jackson and the Olympians, you’re likely looking for the "Golden Trio" dynamic, a quest with a ticking clock, and a world where the magical and the mundane are separated by a very thin, very breakable veil.
The Heavy Hitters: Modern Mythology and Secret Worlds
If you want the literal Greek connection, your options are surprisingly slim if you want "good" quality. However, there are a few standouts that nail the spirit.
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1. Shazam! (2019)
I know, I know. It’s a DC superhero movie. But hear me out. Billy Batson is basically a demigod without the "Poseidon is my dad" drama. He’s a foster kid who gets ancient powers from a wizard, has a hilarious best friend (Freddy is 100% Grover energy), and has to learn that being a hero is about more than just flying. It’s got that same "kids with the power of gods" fun that the Percy Jackson movies tried to capture.
2. The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
This is the most underrated movie on this list. Period. It takes the King Arthur legend and drops it into modern-day London. You’ve got a group of "loser" kids who find Excalibur in a construction site. It has that exact Percy Jackson DNA: ancient prophecy, a weird mentor (this version of Merlin is fantastic), and kids having to save a world that doesn’t even know it’s in danger.
3. Clash of the Titans (2010)
If you just want to see a Kraken get punched in the face, this is your stop. It’s much darker and more "action-movie" than Percy, but it’s pure Greek myth. You get Sam Worthington as Perseus, Ralph Fiennes as a very creepy Hades, and Liam Neeson shouting about releasing krakens. It’s not "funny" like Riordan’s world, but the monster designs are top-tier.
The "Secret School" and Trio Dynamics
A huge part of the Percy Jackson appeal is Camp Half-Blood. It’s the idea of a safe haven for people who don't fit in.
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The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)
This movie is basically "What if Percy lived in Manhattan but did magic instead of sword fighting?" Jay Baruchel plays a reluctant hero trained by Nicolas Cage (who is doing a lot in this role). It’s got the urban fantasy checklist: hidden labs, ancient sorcerers trapped in nesting dolls, and a big climax in the middle of a city. It’s fun, fast, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
It’s the obvious choice, but for a reason. Chris Columbus directed both the first Potter and the first Percy Jackson movie. You can see the fingerprints everywhere—the "chosen one" arriving at a magical camp/school, the two best friends (one smart, one comic relief), and the discovery of a hidden heritage. If you haven't revisited the early Potter films in a while, they hold that same "wonder" that the Disney+ series is currently leaning into.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
This one leans more into the "hidden creatures in our backyard" aspect. It’s about siblings moving into a creepy house and finding a field guide to fairies, ogres, and brownies. It’s shorter and tighter than a lot of modern fantasy, making it a great weekend watch if you miss the sense of discovery in the Percy Jackson films.
When the Adaptation Goes... Sideways
We have to talk about the "Percy Jackson Effect." This is when a beloved book series gets turned into a movie that just... misses. If you liked the vibe of the Percy Jackson movies but wanted more "teenagers with destiny" stuff, you've probably run into these:
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- Artemis Fowl (2020): It changed almost everything from the books (sound familiar?), but it still features a high-tech underground world of fairies.
- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013): This is the YA version of Percy Jackson. It’s set in New York, involves "Shadowhunters" who are half-angel, and features a hidden world of demons and vampires. It’s a bit more "romance-heavy," but the world-building is very similar.
- Eragon (2006): Dragon riders! It’s a classic "hero's journey" that suffered from the same rushed production as the early Percy films.
Diving Into the "Urban Fantasy" Deep End
If you're older and looking for something that feels like a "grown-up" version of movies like Percy Jackson and the Olympians, you should check out American Gods or Kaos (the Netflix series). Kaos is particularly interesting because it’s a modern-day reimagining of the Greek gods—Zeus is a paranoid billionaire in a tracksuit. It captures that "gods among us" feel better than almost anything else.
And don't sleep on Wonder Woman (2017). The first act on Themyscira is the closest we’ve ever gotten to a big-budget, high-quality Camp Half-Blood. It treats the mythology with respect while still being a massive, entertaining blockbuster.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch "The Kid Who Would Be King": If you want the most "Percy-like" feeling of a modern kid doing ancient things, this is the winner.
- Give "Shazam!" a Chance: Ignore the "superhero" branding. It’s a demigod movie in disguise.
- Check out the "Percy Jackson" Disney+ Series: If you only saw the 2010 movies, the 2023 series is a completely different beast—it’s much slower, focuses on the characters' ages (they're actually 12!), and was heavily supervised by Rick Riordan himself.
- Explore the 1963 "Jason and the Argonauts": If you want to see where the inspiration for these movies came from, the stop-motion skeleton fight is still one of the coolest things in cinema history.
Stop looking for a "perfect" copy of Percy Jackson. It doesn't exist. Instead, look for the pieces that made you love it: the humor, the secret world, and the idea that being "different" is actually your greatest strength. Whether it’s Arthurian legend in London or a wizard in a New York subway, the spirit of the Half-Blood is everywhere.