However, upon its release in 2010, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief was met with a mixed critical reception and a divided fanbase. While the film boasted impressive special effects and a strong supporting cast, it suffered from a diluted script, tonal inconsistencies, and a fundamental misunderstanding of the book’s emotional core. This paper argues that the film, while visually competent, ultimately fails as an adaptation by stripping away the narrative elements that made the source material distinct, resulting in a generic fantasy blockbuster that prioritizes spectacle over substance.