Percy Jackson Movies in Order: Release and Chronological
The Percy Jackson movies in order are Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), directed by Chris Columbus, followed by Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013), directed by Thor Freudenthal. Release order and chronological order are identical because there are only two films. The Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a separate television series, not a third film.
Percy Jackson Movies in Order of Release
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)Directed by Chris Columbus
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)Directed by Thor Freudenthal
Percy Jackson Chronological Order: Does It Differ From Release Order?
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)Directed by Chris Columbus
- Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)Directed by Thor Freudenthal
How Long Are All the Percy Jackson Movies?
Watching all 2 Percy Jackson movies takes 3 hours and 44 minutes. The longest is Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief at 1 hour and 58 minutes and the shortest is Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters at 1 hour and 46 minutes.
| # | Film | Runtime | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) | 1h 58m | 1 hour and 58 minutes |
| 2 | Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) | 1h 46m | 3 hours and 44 minutes |
Source: Cinvibe, How Long Are All the Percy Jackson Movies?, updated 2026-11-03, cinvibe.com/percy-jackson/watch-order/#runtime-table
Plan a Percy Jackson Marathon
1 night to watch 2 Percy Jackson films (3 hours and 44 minutes) at up to 5 hours a night.
- Night 1 3h 44mPercy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
About the Release Order
There are two Percy Jackson movies, and they came out in this order: The Lightning Thief first, then Sea of Monsters. If you want a quick numbered list, here it is.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), directed by Chris Columbus, opened in US theaters on February 12, 2010 and runs 118 minutes. It follows a teenager with dyslexia and ADHD who learns he is the son of Poseidon, after Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt and sets a deadline of the summer solstice. Logan Lerman plays Percy, with Brandon T. Jackson as Grover and Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013), directed by Thor Freudenthal, reached US theaters on August 7, 2013 and runs 106 minutes. Lerman, Jackson and Daddario all return, and Douglas Smith joins as Tyson, a cyclops who turns out to be Percy's half-brother. Chris Columbus did not direct the sequel, although he stayed on as a producer after Freudenthal was hired in June 2011.
A third movie was never made, and no new Percy Jackson film has been announced as of November 2026. If you are wondering about the new Percy Jackson movie, that page tracks what is and is not confirmed. For the full list of titles, see how many Percy Jackson movies are there.
About the Chronological Order
The Percy Jackson chronological order is the same as the release order: The Lightning Thief, then Sea of Monsters. With only two films there is no prequel to slot in and no jumbled timeline to untangle.
The only wrinkle is a piece of backstory in the setup of Sea of Monsters. Seven years before the story, Thalia Grace sacrifices herself to save her friends, and Zeus turns her into a pine tree whose magic protects Camp Half-Blood. That event comes earlier in story time, but it belongs to the second film, so you meet it there either way. In the present of that film, Percy is a camper with Annabeth and Grover, he meets Tyson, and the campers learn that Luke has poisoned Thalia's tree. For a longer walk through events, our Percy Jackson timeline lays them out in sequence.
What about the Disney+ series? Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a television adaptation of Rick Riordan's books, not a continuation of the films, so it does not slot into the film chronology. Walker Scobell leads the series as Percy, a new face in the role Logan Lerman played in the films. Season 3 adapts The Titan's Curse and premieres on Disney+ on November 20, 2026, according to Disney's press site. For how the two versions compare, see Percy Jackson books vs movies.
What Order Should You Watch Percy Jackson In? Where to Start
In my opinion, start with The Lightning Thief and watch the two films back to back, because Sea of Monsters leans on what you learn at Camp Half-Blood in the first one. You meet Annabeth, Grover, Luke and Chiron there, and the sequel assumes you already care about them. That being said, the pair together runs under four hours, so it is an easy double bill for a weekend.
Who are the films for? Both carry a PG rating in the US and UK, and in Australia The Lightning Thief is rated M while Sea of Monsters is PG. Those are the official ratings, so check them against the youngest viewer in your house. In my opinion, the first film is the one for parents of small children to preview, since Percy is attacked by a Fury on a school trip in the opening act.
The Disney+ series is a different choice. It is the only place the story is still moving, since the films stopped at two. It could be argued that anyone who wants a full story should treat the series as the main route and the films as a curiosity, but if you only have an evening, the films are quicker. Both films are streaming on Disney+ in the US, UK and Australia, and our where to watch Percy Jackson page lists the other options.
Pick the two films first, then decide whether the series is for you. If you enjoy them, move on to the Percy Jackson movies ranked page to see how I would order them.
Facts
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief opened in the US on February 12, 2010. Box Office Mojo, checked 2026-11-03
- Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters opened in the US on August 7, 2013. Box Office Mojo, checked 2026-11-03
- The Lightning Thief (2010), directed by Chris Columbus, runs 118 minutes. TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
- Sea of Monsters (2013), directed by Thor Freudenthal, runs 106 minutes. TMDB, checked 2026-11-03
- The Lightning Thief earned $226,497,209 worldwide on a $95,000,000 budget. Box Office Mojo, checked 2026-11-03
- Sea of Monsters earned $199,850,315 worldwide on a $90,000,000 budget. Box Office Mojo, checked 2026-11-03
- Thor Freudenthal was hired in June 2011 to direct Sea of Monsters, with Chris Columbus staying on as producer. The Christian Science Monitor, checked 2026-11-03
- Season 3 of the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, adapting The Titan's Curse, premieres on November 20, 2026. Disney+ Press (The Walt Disney Company), checked 2026-11-03
FAQs
What order do I watch Percy Jackson in?
Watch Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) first and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) second. Release order and chronological order are the same. The Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a separate television series and can be watched on its own.
Why did they cancel Percy Jackson 3?
A third Percy Jackson film was never made, and no new Percy Jackson film has been announced as of November 2026. The box office offers one clue: Sea of Monsters earned $199.9 million worldwide on a $90 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo, less than the first film's $226.5 million on $95 million.
Is there a Percy Jackson TV series?
Yes. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a series on Disney+. Season 3, adapting The Titan's Curse, premieres on Disney+ on November 20, 2026, according to Disney's press site.
Is Percy Jackson 3 out yet?
No. There are only two Percy Jackson movies, The Lightning Thief (2010) and Sea of Monsters (2013), and no third film has been announced as of November 2026. The next new Percy Jackson release is Season 3 of the Disney+ series, which is a television season rather than a film.
Do I need to watch The Lightning Thief before Sea of Monsters?
Yes, it helps. Sea of Monsters continues the story with the same lead cast, including Logan Lerman as Percy, and expects you to know Annabeth, Grover, Luke and Camp Half-Blood from the first film.
Which Percy Jackson movie came out first?
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief came out first, opening in US theaters on February 12, 2010. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters followed on August 7, 2013.
How long are all the Percy Jackson movies?
Watching all 2 Percy Jackson movies takes 3 hours and 44 minutes. The longest is Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief at 1 hour and 58 minutes and the shortest is Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters at 1 hour and 46 minutes.
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