Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: October 13, 2006
4.6
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 48 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
10
Mixed:
19
Negative:
19
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
3
SamOct 14, 2006
Clichéd, ridiculous, and rancid, Stormbreaker lacks anything that reminds you of the words "Fun" and "full of life"
2 of 2 users found this helpful
2
AndrewM.Jan 26, 2007
This film is a typically by numbers affair in many respects. The worst aspect is the trite dialogue which is riddled with Alex's cringeworthy one liners. What makes this so unconvincing is the actor himself has the hard-man value of a This film is a typically by numbers affair in many respects. The worst aspect is the trite dialogue which is riddled with Alex's cringeworthy one liners. What makes this so unconvincing is the actor himself has the hard-man value of a kitten with three legs. If you can get past this, which I couldn't, there's a possibility you might enjoy it.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
5
robJul 8, 2008
It was nice to see one of my favorite books put into film, however, it seemed a bit rushed and toned down. The book was exciting, the movie was childish.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
6
ThomasS.Feb 9, 2007
Seen the movie yesterday on DVD. While it had entertaining moments it didn't feel very cohesive. The movie is clearly aimed at teenagers (which I'm not) and I greatly regret Ewan McGregor's early exit.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
3
JuraMJul 28, 2009
The novels thrill you with teenage espionage, action and drama. This movie doesn't. To get quickly to the point the movie is so full of "cheese" the excitement is ruined. This movie had a lot of potential to become a teenage classic but The novels thrill you with teenage espionage, action and drama. This movie doesn't. To get quickly to the point the movie is so full of "cheese" the excitement is ruined. This movie had a lot of potential to become a teenage classic but the director's completely wrong direction with the movie turns it into a woeful "action-comedy" when it should of definitely been on par with the balance of realism and fun in the newer James Bond movies. Ridiculously stupid costume choices and horrible castings (looks at the "ginger" Jack Starbright, eye-liner on Rouke and the "stormbreaker machine" which is a COMPUTER, not a giant rotating eye.) plus the bland acting of an actor who was way too old for his part as Alex ruined the film. Extremely disappointing! I hope a new director can take a new direction and turn these films into what they should be.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
4
PaxsterOct 18, 2010
I'd be suprised if Anthony Horowitz actually liked this adaptation of possibly one of the best teenage books you could read. It is boring, cliche and most of all, it fails to capture the action presented within the book.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
0
BrianLApr 29, 2008
this is not even related to the book.... what the hell, who kill people hanging upside down from a helicopter anyway? and why not just shoot alex rider in the head?
1 of 2 users found this helpful
8
[Anonymous]Oct 30, 2007
Okay I so loved this movie and do not know y it got bad reviews. i mean how were they watching the movie anyway with alex pettyfer in it. so i liked it a lot. BUT I SUGGEST U READ THE BOOKS FIRST THEY R SO MUCH BETTER! i promise.
0 of 2 users found this helpful
10
kittyJul 9, 2008
This is one of my favorite movies ever. I love all of the actors in it and I really think that they all did a good job. I also think that even though it isn't completely like the book they did a good job of changing things and still This is one of my favorite movies ever. I love all of the actors in it and I really think that they all did a good job. I also think that even though it isn't completely like the book they did a good job of changing things and still keeping most of everything.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
6
JayHFeb 29, 2008
5.5/10. young adult James Bond, rather clever at times and has some good action sequences. The bad guys in this are so obvious it doesn't leave much for the imagination. Fun, shallow nonsense. Well edited, good cinematography.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
PetrovitaFeb 24, 2012
Another teenage money-in-the bank movie, cheesy as hell. Alot of money spent into it, no doubt about it, but the story is lacking. Another movie that ruins a great books reputation cover. Do not watch this for the book, but only if you enjoyAnother teenage money-in-the bank movie, cheesy as hell. Alot of money spent into it, no doubt about it, but the story is lacking. Another movie that ruins a great books reputation cover. Do not watch this for the book, but only if you enjoy teenage spy films with oneliners and uniteresting characters.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
3
MovieGuysSep 21, 2013
Average fare floating in the sea of washed away movies. It tried to be like James Bond, but was so patted with kid gloves and bubble wrap around the edges that it came off as too overprotective, like the kind of movie a kid's mom wouldAverage fare floating in the sea of washed away movies. It tried to be like James Bond, but was so patted with kid gloves and bubble wrap around the edges that it came off as too overprotective, like the kind of movie a kid's mom would suggest instead when he/she wanted to see Skyfall.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Voodoo123Aug 11, 2018
A cool idea that falls short of itself... great cast feel underused here. The direction and production value feel underwhelming throughout with below average action scenes that use obvious post effects explosions that really stand out.A cool idea that falls short of itself... great cast feel underused here. The direction and production value feel underwhelming throughout with below average action scenes that use obvious post effects explosions that really stand out. Despite these flaws the pacing is excellent and it held my interest with its interesting characters and story.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
REDWOUNov 23, 2014
Never should have made this into a movie. Atleast like this, this kid's movie with terrible acting and stereotypical accents (German accents are not so-called vampire accents), and also with very low-budgeted visual and sound effects.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
EpicLadySpongeMay 11, 2016
You might want to forget about its existence when it was released to theaters because that's how Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker went when people saw it in theaters.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
3
MovieMasterEddyApr 3, 2016
"Stormbreaker" is a high-profile bust. Opening July 21 in Blighty, amid much hoopla as a "homegrown" blockbuster, film pulled a disappointing $2.3 million from 370 screens the first weekend and looks to wilt fast once word gets out, even"Stormbreaker" is a high-profile bust. Opening July 21 in Blighty, amid much hoopla as a "homegrown" blockbuster, film pulled a disappointing $2.3 million from 370 screens the first weekend and looks to wilt fast once word gets out, even among Rider fans.

Horowitz’s young-adult novels, centered on a 14-year-old school boy who becomes an agent for MI6, have a semi-believability that’s completely vanished in this first screen version, scripted by the author himself. Mulched down into standard action fare, and directed by TV vet Geoffrey Sax (“White Noise”) as if he’s analyzed every Hollywood blockbuster of the past 25 years, pic emerges as a coldly calculated exercise in mid-Atlantic filmmaking that’s unsure exactly who its audience is.

This is a British “Spy Kids” without the fun, or a teenage “Johnny English” without the humor. Not helped by a wooden perf from (then 15-year-old) newcomer Alex Pettyfer as Rider, pic yoyos between eccentric supporting perfs by locals (Bill Nighy, Andy Serkis, Stephen Fry), who try to squeeze some laughs from the witless script, and bemused perfs by Yank guests, Mickey Rourke (as a mixed-race villain), Alicia Silverstone (as a housekeeper called, uh, Jack) and Missi Pyle (as a distant relative of Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS).

Luckiest thesp is Ewan McGregor who, as Rider’s largely-absent uncle, Ian, doesn’t survive the opening credit sequence. Turns out Ian prepared his nephew for an MI6 career by interesting him in scuba diving, martial arts and foreign languages. Soon after Ian bites the dust, courtesy of Russian villain Yassen Gregorovich (Damian Lewis, in pic’s only effective perf), Rider is recruited by MI6 boss Alan Blunt (Nighy) and his deputy, Mrs. Jones (Sophie Okonedo).

Prior to this, young Rider has chased bad guys through London on his mountain bike, escaped from a car crusher, defeated five meatheads with his kung-fu, and stumbled on MI6’s underground HQ.

So aud already knows he’s not an average school boy. Script then double-underlines this with an unnecessary training sequence in Wales, where he’s officially dubbed “a lethal weapon.”

Story finally comes into view around the midway mark, as Rider visits Darrius Sayle (Rourke, extravagant) at a Blofeld-like HQ in the wilds of Cornwall. There, he uncovers a plot involving rigged computers by the dusky villain and Gregorovich.

Aside from the dialogue, which doesn’t have one decent laugh in it, no attempt is made by Horowitz to capitalize on Rider’s youth in an original way. Upper-crust kid seems to have no weaknesses and operates as simply a teen version of James Bond, sans the wise-cracking charm and sexual frissons. He’s given a g.f. of sorts (Sarah Bolger), but only so he can use her horse in the finale.

Tech package and action staging are slick but impersonal; color processing on the print caught was cold and unattractive. Andrew MacRitchie’s restless editing and Alan Parker’s booming music both add to the feeling of being beaten into submission by a relentless machine.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
RenRalaFeb 22, 2022
I don't know why people hate this film so much. A good family film as well as one for the thrill seekers. Deserves my rating.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

42 Critic Reviews

4.6 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 71 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL