Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief facts for kids

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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Directed by	Chris Columbus
Produced by	Chris Columbus Michael Barnathan Karen Rosenfelt
Written by	Craig Titley Joe Stillman Rick Riordan (Novel)
Starring	Logan Lerman Brandon T. Jackson Alexandra Daddario Jake Abel Sean Bean Pierce Brosnan Steve Coogan Rosario Dawson Catherine Keener Kevin McKidd Joe Pantoliano Uma Thurman Ray Winstone
Music by	Christophe Beck
Cinematography	Stephen Goldblatt
Editing by	Peter Honess
Studio	1492 Pictures Imprint Entertainment
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	February 11, 2010 (2010-02-11) February 12, 2010 (United States)
Running time	118 minutes
Country	United States Canada
Language	English
Budget	$95 million
Money made	$191,143,508

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (known as Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief in the UK and Australia) is a fantasy-adventure movie directed by Chris Columbus. The movie is based on The Lightning Thief, the first novel in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series by Rick Riordan. It stars Logan Lerman as the main character, Percy Jackson, alongside an ensemble cast which includes Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Rosario Dawson, Steve Coogan, Uma Thurman, Catherine Keener, Sean Bean and Pierce Brosnan. It was released to theaters on February 12, 2010.

In its opening weekend the movie ranked #2; and in its first week the movie grossed $40 million, comprising 40% of its "$95 million budget". Critical reception was mixed. The movie made a worldwide total of $191,143,508 after 28 days of release.

Release Dates
Plot
Cast
Production
Images for kids
See also

Release Dates

Country	Premiere
Belgium	10 February 2010
Switzerland	10 February 2010 (French speaking region)
Egypt	10 February 2010
France	10 February 2010
Indonesia	10 February 2010
Austria	11 February 2010
Australia	11 February 2010
Bolivia	11 February 2010
Belarus	11 February 2010
Switzerland	11 February 2010 (German speaking region)
Chile	11 February 2010
Czech Republic	11 February 2010
Germany	11 February 2010
Denmark	11 February 2010
Hong Kong	11 February 2010
Kazakhstan	11 February 2010
Netherlands	11 February 2010
New Zealand	11 February 2010
Peru	11 February 2010
Portugal	11 February 2010
Russia	11 February 2010
Singapore	11 February 2010
Slovenia	11 February 2010
Slovakia	11 February 2010
Thailand	11 February 2010
Ukraine	11 February 2010
Brazil	12 February 2010
Canada	12 February 2010
Colombia	12 February 2010
Ecuador	12 February 2010
Finland	12 February 2010
United Kingdom	12 February 2010
Ireland	12 February 2010
Iceland	12 February 2010
South Korea	12 February 2010
Lithuania	12 February 2010
Mexico	12 February 2010
Norway	12 February 2010
Philippines	12 February 2010
Romania	12 February 2010
Taiwan	12 February 2010
United States	12 February 2010
Uruguay	12 February 2010
Venezuela	12 February 2010
Argentina	18 February 2010
Greece	18 February 2010
Hungary	18 February 2010
Israel	18 February 2010
Estonia	19 February 2010
Spain	19 February 2010
Ghana	19 February 2010
Kenya	19 February 2010
Nigeria	19 February 2010
Poland	19 February 2010
Turkey	19 February 2010
South Africa	19 February 2010
Sweden	24 February 2010
Syria	24 February 2010
United Arab Emirates	25 February 2010
Bahrain	25 February 2010
Kuwait	25 February 2010
Lebanon	25 February 2010
Serbia	25 February 2010
Japan	26 February 2010
Latvia	26 February 2010
Panama	26 February 2010
Vietnam	5 March 2010
Italy	12 March 2010
China	14 March 2010
Croatia	18 March 2010
Pakistan	2 April 2010

Plot

At the top of the Empire State Building, Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) meets with Zeus (Sean Bean), who comments that the storm clouds have no lightning and that his master bolt has been stolen. He blames Poseidon's son for the theft. Despite Poseidon's claims of his son's innocence, Zeus gives Poseidon 14 days to return it, lest war break out.

During a field trip to a display of Greek and Roman art, teenager Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), is lured away from the crowd by a Fury disguised as his substitute English teacher, who then attacks him, questioning him about the lightning bolt. Percy, who has no knowledge of this, is rescued by his Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner (Pierce Brosnan). After getting rid of the Fury, Brunner gives Percy a magical pen. On Brunner's instruction, Percy's best friend, Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), takes Percy to a training camp for demigods (half-human, half-gods), Camp Half-Blood. They are driven by Percy's mother, Sally Jackson (Catherine Keener). During their trip to the camp, Percy tries to learn about his father from Sally, but they are attacked by a Minotaur. Percy and Grover, who is revealed to be a satyr (half-goat, half-human), make it to the camp. Its defenses keep Sally from entering, she is captured by the Minotaur, and disappears before Percy. Percy engages the Minotaur with the magical pen, which turns into a sword named Riptide. He finally kills the creature with one of its horns.

In touring Camp Half-Blood, Percy learns that Brunner is the camp's trainer and the mythological centaur (half-horse, half-human) Chiron. He also finds out that his father is the god Poseidon. He meets Luke Castellan (Jake Abel), the son of Hermes, and Annabeth Chase (Alexandra Daddario), the daughter of Athena. While at the camp, Percy learns that water has the power to heal his injuries, and allows him to use his magical abilities.

Hades later appears and reveals that Sally Jackson is his prisoner, and proposes she be traded for the master bolt. Chiron instructs Percy not to bargain with the god, but to go to Olympus to convince Zeus that he did not take the bolt. Percy sneaks away from the camp to travel to the Underworld along with Grover and Annabeth, who secure for him a portable shield from Luke, flying shoes and a map to Persephone's (Rosario Dawson) pearls, one of which will reveal the exit from the Underworld.

At Aunty Em's Garden Emporium, they are attacked by Medusa (Uma Thurman), but manage to kill her, and take the pearl from her bracelet. They also take her head, which they later successfully use against a hydra that attacks them during their gaining of another pearl from the crown of a giant statue of Athena at the Parthenon replica in Nashville, Tennessee. They acquire the third and final pearl from a roulette wheel at a hotel casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, in part with help from Poseidon. The map reveals an entrance to the Underworld in Hollywood, California, beneath the Hollywood Sign.

The trio enter the Underworld and cross the River Styx. Persephone takes them to Hades. Percy tries to explain to Hades that he did not steal the bolt. During an resulting chaos, Percy drops his shield, whose handle conceals the missing master bolt, which Hades takes. However, the trio manage to get it back before escaping the Underworld with the rescued Sally, forced to leave Grover behind, in Persephone's "care", as they only had three pearls. They are transported to the top of the Empire State Building, which they learn is the entrance to Olympus. They are confronted by Luke, who reveals himself to have been the real lightning thief. Explaining his hope for new rulers to take over Olympus, he explains that he had hoped that the trio would not escape the Underworld alive. He steals the bolt from Percy and the two fight. After using his water powers to get rid of Luke, Percy arrives in Olympus, where he presents the retrieved bolt, and reveals the truth about Luke. Poseidon explains to Percy the reason why they could not know each other during Percy's childhood, but expresses his love for his son. Percy also requests that Zeus retrieve Grover from the Underworld, to which the god agrees. Percy returns to Camp Half-Blood, where he continues his training, ending the movie in the midst of a clash with Annabeth. After the end credits, a scene shows Sally forcing Gabe out of their apartment and he reads a note on the fridge from Percy that says not to open the fridge. Gabe destroys the lock on the refrigerator and as he opens it, Medusa stares right back at him, and the scene goes black while a crackling noise is heard, showing that Gabe has been turned to stone.

Cast

Main characters

Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson, the film's protagonist (or hero), and son of Poseidon.
Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena
Brandon T. Jackson as Grover Underwood, Percy's best friend, a satyr (half-goat, half-human)

Gods

Sean Bean as Zeus, Lord of the Sky and Ruler of Olympus; Hera's husband and brother.
Kevin McKidd as Poseidon, Zeus's brother; Lord of the Sea and Percy's father.
Steve Coogan as Hades, Lord of the Dead and the Underworld; Persephone's husband.
Melina Kanakaredes as Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Battle Strategies (plans); mother of Annabeth.
Dylan Neal as Hermes, Messenger of the Gods, God of Thieves and Travelers; Luke's father.
Rosario Dawson as Persephone, Goddess of Springtime / Queen of the Dead; Hades' wife and Zeus and Demeter's daughter.
Erica Cerra as Hera, Goddess of women and marriage; Zeus' wife and sister.
Stefanie von Pfetten as Demeter, Goddess of the Earth and Harvest; Persephone's mother.
Dimitri Lekkos as Apollo, God of the Sun and Music; Artemis' twin brother.
Ona Grauer as Artemis, Goddess of the Moon and Hunting; Apollo's twin sister.
Serinda Swan as Aphrodite, Goddess of Love; Ares' lover, Hephaestus' Wife.
Conrad Coates as Hephaestus, God of the Forge; Aphrodite's Husband.

Demigods

Jake Abel as Luke Castellan, son of Hermes

Mythical creatures

Uma Thurman as Medusa
Pierce Brosnan as Chiron, trainer of heroes
Maria Olson as Mrs. Dodds/Alecto, servant to Hades.
Julian Richings as Charon, ferryman of the River Styx.

Mortals

Catherine Keener as Sally Jackson, Percy's mother
Joe Pantoliano as Gabe Ugliano, Percy's stepfather.

Production

In June 2004, 20th Century Fox bought the movie rights to the book. In April 2007, director Chris Columbus was hired to helm the project. Filming began in April 2009 in Vancouver. Sections of the movie were shot at the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee, a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. Filming wrapped up on the morning of July 25, 2009 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Digital intermediate work began in San Francisco in November 2009. Christophe Beck composed the score.

Columbus has stated that the cast were chosen specifically with sequels in mind. " I think with Percy Jackson it was a matter of finding the right cast to fit into these roles, sort of the perfect cast for these roles, because hopefully, God willing, we will go on to do other Percy Jackson movies and you want the cast to grow with their characters."

Images for kids

Logan Lerman plays the titular character.
Chris Columbus is the film's director and producer.