Rick Riordan’s five-book series about the exploits of a dyslexic adolescent named Percy Jackson and his companions has a sizable following within the target demographic. The YA film genre exploits the inconsistencies of people stuck at a crossroads in life, with some films revealing even darker and more personal parts of life. People were naturally delighted when plans for a full-fledged silver screen version were announced. To be honest, the overall experience is the closest thing to what Harry Potter has to offer in terms of books. The films, on the other hand, tell a completely different story.
‘Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief,’ the first film in the Percy Jackson series, is based on the first book in the series. With Chris Columbus, the director of the Harry Potter films, at the helm and a strong supporting cast that included Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, and Steve Coogan, the stakes were high. Despite the fact that the picture was not a critical success, it was not horrible. Percy Jackson discovers his true identity as a Demigod (half-human, half-god), the offspring of a human mother and Poseidon, the God of the Sea. He must recover Zeus’ stolen lightning, a crime he is wrongly convicted of, in order to prevent Gods from fighting. What follows is a bizarre, imaginative, and plainly full of mythical twists and turns adventure that spans the mountain to the underworld, culminating in the film’s conclusion. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of movies comparable to Percy Jackson that we think you’ll enjoy. Some of these films, such as Percy Jackson, are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Fans will enjoy over two hours of epic spectacle in Clash of the Titans. Perseus, the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, finds himself in the middle of a fight between gods and mankind. Perseus gathers a company of warriors to assist him in defeating the Kraken, Medusa, and Hades, God of the Underworld, for the benefit of humanity. Clash of the Titans stars Sam Worthington as Poseidon, Liam Neeson as Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes as Hades in this adaptation of a 1981 film. The graphics are practically tacky, the action is terrific, but because everything is so basic, the film doesn’t stand out on many levels. Regardless, this is a fantastically enjoyable flick.
Divergent (2014)
Divergent is another book-to-film adaption set in a dystopian society in which an average girl realizes her true potential and identity and joins forces with like-minded people to overthrow the current regime of extremism. Shailene Woodley has an outstanding performance as Beatrice Prior, who discovers her identify as a Divergent during the aptitude test, not belonging to any of the five factions but belonging to them all at the same time. The first film in this highly conceptual series, inspired by Veronica Roth’s trilogy, takes far too long to establish its premise. It has all of the hallmarks of a standard YA film: a strong cast, excellent visual and sound effects, and a well-crafted story. However, it does not bring anything new to an overused genre. Divergent, on the other hand, is a decent start for the franchise.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
Possibly the most well-known Young-Adult Fantasy series ever written. And its initial installment is one of the franchise’s best. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, based on J.K Rowling’s novel, sparked a fad for fantasy adventure films aimed at a younger audience. Harry Potter, an orphan, receives an unusual invitation letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What follows is the story of a fantastic world filled with wizards, portions, mystical creatures, and pure amusement. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black, Rubeus Hagrid, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Lord Voldemort are figures that have defined a generation in the twenty-first century.
I’m Number Four is the most similar to Percy Jackson. It’s the story of a gifted adolescent named John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) who must travel from town to town in order to keep his secret hidden. He’s being pursued by Aliens at the same time. The movie is entertaining, but that’s about all. It contains all of the YA fantasy film tropes, which is its downfall. It’s nothing exceptional, but it’ll keep you occupied on a Saturday night if you’re bored.
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters (2013)
The sequel to ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,’ ‘Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,’ is the most comparable film to ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’ (no rocket science was harmed while coming to this conclusion). It continues the story from the first film. Percy Jackson and his pals are well-known at Camp Half-Blood. However, complications arise quickly. To keep the barrier safe from malicious forces, they must safeguard Thalia’s tree. They embarked on a voyage that included the Bermuda Triangle and Washington, DC after hearing the Oracle’s words. The movie isn’t horrible, but it’s also not good enough. Nonetheless, it fails to prevent the franchise’s future from being cast in doubt.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
The second episode of the Narnia trilogy, directed by Andrew Adamson, manages to maintain the high level set by the first. After years of helping Prince Caspian reclaim his realm from his evil uncle, King Miraz, four siblings of a family embark on a fantasy adventure in the world of Narnia. With all the computer-generated visual effects to depict the realm of Narnia, the family film is adventurous, with doses of teen romance, courage, and moral decisions. After the popularity of the first picture, the film has a high recall value.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2000)
The first book in the Chronicles of Narnia series. The land of Narnia, the wondrous creatures, the kingdom, and the animals are all depicted in this superb film. Four young siblings discover a passage to the magical country of Narnia through the wardrobe, where they play an important role in destroying the White Witch, played by an amazing Tilda Swinton. The picture is thrilling, enjoyable, and full of emotional passion.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is without a doubt one of the best Sci-Fi adventures for youngsters. Catching Fire, based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, follows the story of Katniss Everdeen, who is on a mission to overthrow the prevailing power structure of brutality and authoritarianism. The sequel is darker, delves deeper into ideological tensions, and is more action-packed. Catching Fire is an unique gem of a sequel in the midst of several lackluster adaptations, riding high on Jennifer Lawrence’s outstanding performance.
The Hunger Games (2012)
The Hunger Games deserves a lot of credit for spawning a bloated genre of YA fantasy adventure pictures. The story takes place in a dark dystopian future in which two delegates from each district are picked at random to compete in a fatal survival game. The winner receives everything, while the other of the players are slain. Katniss takes on the role of her younger sister and sets off on a journey of survival, enduring emotional and physical torment and pain. In essence, this is what the ‘Divergent’ series aspired to be yet failed terribly to achieve.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
The original trilogy that kicked it all off. Peter Jackson has brought the Middle Kingdom to life as it appears in J. R. R. Tolkien’s work. The epicness and majesty of the Lord of the Rings trilogy remain unparalleled in the world. Its massive cast, immense castles, armies, and dramatic ambiance all combine to create a flawless cinematic experience. ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the King,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,’ are the three films, each one bettering the one before it. Given the year 2000, when the first film was released, the landmark work of art is also a technological marvel.
The Maze Runner (2014)
Another YA book-to-film adaptation of the same name is Maze Runner. The first and finest installment of the trilogy is The Maze Runner. The series is completed with ‘Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials’ and ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure.’ The film begins with Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien, waking up in a glade with no recollection of his past life. Thomas must find a way out of Glade, which is filled of young people much like him. In order to do so, he must first unravel the maze that covers the glades and houses the Grievers. The Maze Runner is a nice start to the franchise, although with a lukewarm reception. However, the picture fails to stand out in an already overcrowded field.
Tron: Legacy (2010)
As you may expect, Tron: Legend continues the ‘Tron’ legacy (1982). This is a must-see sci-fi thriller. Tron: Legacy, like Percy Jackson, relies on a father-son dynamic to flourish. Sam, who was a superb computer game creator, misses his father. He is thrown into the inverted cyberworld where his father is trapped after strange happenings. The film is really well-made, with fantastic sound and stunning visual effects. The film is futuristic and centers on a virtual reality based on video games, with some philosophical debates thrown in for good measure.
