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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 42 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
11 OK for kids 11+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    For kids strung out on Anthony Horowitz's 007-lite adventure series, this maiden adaptation is a pleasant enough diversion from having to flip the pages. Read full review

  • 63
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    Taken for what it is - 'tweenage escapism - Stormbreaker is moderately fun. Read full review

  • 63
    USA Today | Staff [Not Credited]

    Though the film is not terribly original (and features a jarringly miscast Alicia Silverstone as Alex's nanny), the action scenes are diverting, the veteran cast is amusing and the engaging Pettyfer makes a solid debut. Read full review

  • 50
    Entertainment Weekly |

    Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker is "Agent Cody Banks" played British and kinda straight -- that is, as straight as you can when your villain, who dispatches foes with a giant jellyfish, is played by a toothpick-chomping Mickey Rourke in purple eye shadow. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Nathan Lee

    Mr. Pettyfer is no Sean Connery, no Roger Moore, no Pierce Brosnan, no Timothy Dalton and no George Lazenby even, but the director, Geoffrey Sax, compensates for his zero of a hero by indulging the exceedingly amused and amusing supporting cast. Read full review

  • 40
    The Hollywood Reporter | Ray Bennett

    A lame and disappointing affair. Read full review

  • 40
    Los Angeles Times |

    The film is forever trying to balance between being for younger teenagers and keeping their parents occupied as well, and never quite gets it right. Read full review

  • 30
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    Perhaps as a publishing phenomenon the concept works, but on-screen it's pretty dull, with good actors in bad roles and bad special effects. Read full review

  • 30
    Variety | Derek Elley

    A shake 'n' bake Brit teen-spy actioner, without a smidgeon of originality, humor or involving characterization, Stormbreaker is a high-profile bust. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Hartlaub

    While it's filled with quality actors, this James Bond tale for tweens feels like something you should be getting for free on television. Read full review

View more reviews for Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 11+ Teen spy hero makes leap from book to screen.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this movie is fine for tweens overall (despite lots of violent material) and will appeal to kids who've read the popular book series it's based on. It's fairly tame when it comes to sex and language, but the violence is pretty intense for a PG-rated film. There are guns, shooting, and explosions throughout, as well as scenes of peril and action (involving airplanes, motorcycles, horses, cars, and boats). No blood is shown.
  • Families can talk about whether a 14-year-old would really have the guts and gumption to be a spy. Why does he put himself in dangerous and life-threatening situations? Did he have any other options, or was he forced into being a spy? Parents can ask kids who've read the books to compare them to the big screen version -- which do they like better? Why? Who would they have cast in all of the roles?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: A main character depends on violence to solve problems. The MI6 people aren't exactly warm and cuddly, and they force Alex into service. A character is senselessly killed.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: Guns, shooting, fighting, and explosions throughout. A man with two guns (pointed into the camera) assassinates a character, although we don't see the impact. A character is killed for making a simple mistake. Many scenes of peril, including car and motorcycle chases, skydiving, and careening off buildings, although no blood is shown.
  • sex false0 Sex: Mild flirting between teens.
  • language false0 Language: A couple of "hecks."
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Nintendo, BMW, Mini-Cooper, zit cream, a fountain pen that shoots sodium pentathol, reference to Hogwarts.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some drinking among adult characters.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

2.0

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… boring and lifeless. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

So-so 153 fan reviews

Critics say

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