When it comes to franchise juggernauts, few can rival J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. Yet if any series had a chance, it would be Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians. With Disney+ picking up the series for a TV adaptation, it seemed poised to reach similar heights. Unfortunately, as it enters its second season, Disney+ now appears to be dropping the ball.
Disney+’s Percy Jackson TV series premiered in December 2023 and was an immediate hit, becoming the service’s most-watched non–Star Wars or Marvel original TV season, according to Luminate Streaming Viewership.
Credit: Disney+
However, Season 2 appears to be off to a slower start, significantly underperforming compared to the first season, with just 483 million U.S. minutes streamed versus Season 1’s 1.3 billion.
Why Percy Jackson Season 2 Is Struggling to Match Season 1’s Viewership
Ironically, Season 2 Earns a Higher Rotten Tomatoes Score Than Season 1
The difference in viewership between Season 1 and Season 2 translates to an estimated 11.2 million total views for S2 versus 31.5 million for S1. For fans, the steep decline is concerning, casting uncertainty over renewals for future seasons beyond Season 3.
Interestingly, S2 currently holds a higher audience score on Rotten Tomatoes than S1, with 86% fresh compared to 78% for the first season. This indicates that quality isn’t the issue. Even though there’s no official explanation for the drop, several factors could be at play.
One potential cause is Disney+ pricing. When S1 debuted, the ad‑supported plan was $7.99/month, with ad‑free around $13.99/month. By October 2025, prices rose to $11.99 for the ad‑supported plan and $18.99 for the ad‑free Premium plan, which may have discouraged some viewers.
Disney’s Percy Jackson Is Golden, It Just Needed Better Marketing
Season 2 Viewership Declines Likely Due to Long Gap and Low Awareness
Percy smiles at Annabeth on the ship in Percy Jackson and the Olympian season 2
Another factor contributing to the drop in viewership could be the two-year gap between seasons. That is plenty of time for younger fans to age out of the series or lose interest. This negative effect on viewership was also likely compounded by a lack of marketing for Season 2, leaving many unaware it had even premiered.
Disney did choose a prime release window, during the holiday season when kids and families were on break, but the timing clearly did not lock in viewers. Hence, one of the most likely reasons Season 2 is underperforming is because many simply did not know it was available, as S2 received relatively less marketing than S1.
This explanation makes sense given that Season 2 is actually rated higher than Season 1. The show has arguably improved in storyline and overall quality. With Disney already renewing Percy Jackson for Season 3, it is clear they recognize the series’ value and will hopefully do a better job marketing the next season.