Disney+’s Percy Jackson Series Sees a Dramatic Drop in Season 2 Viewership

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Few franchises are as massive as J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, but Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians seemed like a strong contender. When Disney+ began adapting the series for television, many expected it to become equally popular. However, as the show enters its second season, Disney+ seems to be mishandling the project.

The Disney+ show Percy Jackson launched in December 2023 and quickly became very popular. According to Luminate Streaming Viewership data, it was the most-watched original season on the platform that wasn’t part of the Star Wars or Marvel franchises.

Credit: Disney+

Season 2 is getting off to a slower start than expected. Viewership numbers are considerably lower than the first season, with only 483 million minutes streamed in the U.S. compared to 1.3 billion for Season 1.

Why Percy Jackson Season 2 Is Struggling to Match Season 1’s Viewership

Factors Behind the Drop: High Disney+ Prices and a Two-Year Gap Between Seasons

Season 2 received about 11.2 million views, a significant decrease from the 31.5 million views Season 1 had. This large drop suggests that viewers aren’t connecting with the new season as much. Many fans are worried about this decline and what it might mean for the show’s future, including whether it will be renewed.

Surprisingly, season 2 is actually better-rated by audiences on Rotten Tomatoes than season 1 – it has an 86% fresh rating versus 78%. This suggests the show’s quality isn’t the reason for the decline in viewership, although there’s no official explanation for the drop and several things could be contributing.

A possible reason for the decline is the cost of Disney+. When the first season launched, the plan with ads was $7.99 per month, and the ad-free version cost around $13.99. But by October 2025, the price for the ad-supported plan increased to $11.99, and the ad-free Premium plan rose to $18.99, which might have turned some viewers away.

The two-year break between seasons is also a concern, as it could cause younger viewers to lose interest or stop watching. Regardless of why viewership has declined, Disney+ would greatly benefit from regaining the excitement that made the first season of Percy Jackson so popular.

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2026-01-05 23:10