History Film / Stormbreaker

The blame for the film's outcome has retrospectively spread over multiple parties. Horowitz [[CreatorBacklash came to regret his overconfidence in the idea and admitted that the movie was a "mistake"]], but has also attributed at least some of the film's flopping to [[ExecutiveMeddling its lack of sufficient distribution in America, namely not getting a wide release]]. He would also [[WordOfGod go on record]] stating that since the novels don't translate well to a cinematic format, any plans of future films are dead and gone.

* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Sayle after Yassen Gregorovitch shoots him.]]

* LightIsNotGood: This applies to the night combat exercise in the Brecon Beacons, as when the light suddenly comes on, it is announced that K Unit has failed the exercise.

* NearMisGroinAttack: When Alex is tied to a chair, he calls Sayle a psychopath. Mr Grin hurls a knife at him and it just misses his crotch. Alex says it was a good shot, while Sayle calls it a near miss. Alex gulps.

* TheResolutionWillNotBeTelevised: The graphic novel adaptation of the film continued to adapt later books in the series even though no more films were made, and have reached the fifth book as of 2016. Most importantly, they answer the question of how Sabina would have been used in the later films, as her AdaptationalEarlyAppearance would have caused what would have seemed to be an insurmountable ContinuitySnarl in ''Eagle Strike''.

The film follows Alex Rider, a teenage boy recruited by UsefulNotes/MI6 after his uncle -- who claimed to Alex that he was a bank manager but is actually a secret agent -- is killed in action. He is sent to investigate the distribution of free megacomputers codenamed ''[[TitleDrop Stormbreaker]]'' to schools across Britain by billionaire Darrius Sayle, who may have less-than-amiable motivations.

[[TemptingFate Then the film actually came out]], and its [[BoxOfficeBomb poor box office returns]] and [[SoOkayItsAverage lukewarm-at-best critical reception]] [[StillbornFranchise effectively dashed all hopes of a sequel, let alone a series]].

Horowitz has since [[WordOfGod gone on the record]] saying that, since the novels don't translate well to film, any plans of future films are dead and gone, but the blame has retrospectively spread over multiple parties. Horowitz [[CreatorBacklash came to regret his overconfidence in the idea and admitted that the movie was a "mistake"]], but has also attributed at least some of the film's flopping to [[ExecutiveMeddling its lack of sufficient distribution in America, namely not getting a wide release]].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: This line from Jack to Alex.
-->'''Jack''': I've been living with you for nine years. How much more related do you wanna be?
** Darius Sayle, the first time we see him, to the reporter on the TV. Also counts as a DoubleEntendre and a ParentalBonus.
-->'''Sayle''': That's right, Viv. I'm going to give a Stormbreaker to every school in the country. And while I'm at it, I wouldn't mind giving you one too.
-->'''Reporter''': Really, Mr. Sayle!

* MommasBoy: Mr Grin ''may'' have been one. Before the film takes place, his mother waved to him in the audience during his act where he would catch a spinning knife in his teeth. Unfortunately for him, when this happened, he lost his concentration and the knife hit him in the face, disfigured him.

** Sabina is another example. Here,she’s British:her nationality is never given in the books.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The book features a car chase, but due to Alex Pettyfer being underage, it was changed to a horse race instead.

''Stormbreaker'' is a 2006 spy film directed by Geoffery Sax, based on the first installment of Creator/AnthonyHorowitz's ''Literature/AlexRider'' young adult novel series. [[MarketBasedTitle In the U.S.]], the film was promotionally named ''Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker''.

** Nadia's suspucious look at Alex in the rear-view mirror in the Hummer before they arrive at the plant in Cornwall. [[spoiler:She later reveals she suspected him from the moment he arrived. [[NotHyperbole She wasn't lying]]]].

The film follows Alex Rider, a teenage boy recruited by MI6 after his uncle -- who claimed to Alex that he was a bank manager but is actually a secret agent -- is killed in action. He is sent to investigate the distribution of free megacomputers codenamed ''[[TitleDrop Stormbreaker]]'' to schools across Britain by billionaire Darrius Sayle, who may have less-than-amiable motivations.

* AdaptationNameChange: MI6 agent John Crawford was called Crawley in the original novels, but the makers of the film were contacted by the real MI6 asking them not to use the name "Crawley" in the film.

* ChekhovsArmoury: All of Alex's gadgets. It seems the communication device is not used, but evidently Alex uses it offscreen to warn MI6 of the involvement of Yassen Gregorovitch in Sayle's plan.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: According to Mrs Jones, in Ian Rider's last message to MI6, he mentioned a virus. [[spoiler:It was assumed to be a computer virus, but it turned out to be the genetically-modified R-5.]]

''Stormbreaker'' is a 2006 spy film directed by Geoffery Sax, based on the first installment of Creator/AnthonyHorowitz's ''Literature/AlexRider'' young adult novel series. [[Main/MarketBasedTitle In the U.S.]], the film was promotionally named ''Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker''.

It was intended to be the first in a series of ''Alex Rider'' films that was promoted with potential of being the next ''Film/HarryPotter'', with Horowitz even writing a screenplay for the next book in the series, ''Point Blanc'', before the ''Stormbreaker'' film came out. Poor box office returns and lukewarm critical reception [[StillbornFranchise effectively dashed all hopes of a sequel, let alone a series]]. Horowitz [[OldShame has even come to regret his overconfidence in the idea and admitted that the movie was a "mistake".]] He says that he has no plans of making more ''Alex Rider'' films, since they don't translate well to film, although a television adaptation is now in the works.

* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: [[spoiler:Alex says in disgust that, like Sayle, lots of people are bullied in childhood, but they don't use it as an excuse for psychopathic behaviour as an adult.]]

* AdaptedIn: Sabina Pleasure, who does not appear in the novels until the third book.

* AmusingInjuries: Jack winns the fight against Nadia (despite being outclassed) when Nadia impales her hand on the fugu fish. Also, her getting slammed with the fridge door earlier in the same scene. The nasty-looking bruise from the former is seen on her hand in a later scene.

* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler:Sayl's motivation for his EvilPlan is that he was bullied a lot as a child.]]

** Alex in the wrecker's yard when the guard dog comes bounding towards him. He gets another one moments later when the car is picked up by the wrecking claw.

It was intended to be the first in a series of ''Alex Rider'' films that was promoted with potential of being the next ''Film/HarryPotter'', with Horowitz even writing a screenplay for the next book in the series, ''Point Blanc'', before the ''Stormbreaker'' film came out. Poor box office returns and lukewarm critical reception [[StillbornFranchise effectively dashed all hopes of a sequel, let alone a series]]. Horowitz [[OldShame has even come to regret his overconfidence in the idea and admitted that the movie was a "mistake".]] He says that he has no plans of making more ''Alex Rider'' films, since they don't translate well to film.