Stormbreaker

Alex Rider lives what seems like a normal teenage life until a shocking truth surfaces: his respected uncle, who kept him in the dark about much of his world, is killed on a mission he never knew existed. The aftermath pulls Alex into the shadowy world of MI6 where his new mentor, Alan Blunt, asks him to step into his uncle's shoes. He travels to Cornwall to investigate a cutting edge computer system created by the enigmatic Darrius Sayle. Sayle intends to roll the technology out to every school, but Blunt suspects a sinister plan and sends Alex to uncover the real motive behind the project, as danger grows. That secret world will push him to test loyalty and courage.

Directed by Geoffrey Sax, Stormbreaker adapts Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider saga for screen. Released in 2006, the film was produced in United Kingdom with a 40 million budget and stars Alex Pettyfer opposite Ewan McGregor, bringing the novels to life.

The film grossed roughly 23.9 million worldwide on a 40 million budget, signaling a modest box office showing for a family oriented spy adventure and prompting later reassessments of the Alex Rider film potential from fans critics and studio executives.

As the first live action take on Horowitz's Alex Rider books, Stormbreaker brought a high profile cast to a younger audience and anchored a broader potential franchise. It sparked renewed interest in the character and its cinematic adaptation, though some fans debated its faithfulness to the source for audiences worldwide.

Critics offered mixed notes, praising brisk action and the performances of Pettyfer and McGregor while noting tonal shifts toward lighter family fare. It balances spy intrigue with coming of age moments and examines identity, secrecy, and the moral hazards of powerful technology for a wide audience across different age groups.