In the kingdom of Alagaësia, ruled by the tyrannical King Galbatorix (John Malkovich), the Dragon Riders, once noble protectors of the realm, have been nearly exterminated. The only hope for the people of Alagaësia lies in a mysterious dragon egg, which has been stolen from Galbatorix’s clutches by the rebel Varden.

The story begins with the egg being sent away by the elf Arya (Sienna Guillory) to prevent it from falling into Galbatorix’s hands. The egg magically appears in the possession of Eragon (Ed Speleers), a poor farm boy living with his uncle Garrow in a small village. When the egg hatches into a dragon, Eragon names the dragon Saphira and realizes that he is destined to become a Dragon Rider.

With the help of Brom (Jeremy Irons), a former Dragon Rider living in hiding, Eragon begins to learn about his new powers and the responsibilities that come with being a Rider. Brom teaches Eragon how to fight, use magic, and understand the deep bond that forms between a Rider and their dragon. As they travel together, Brom reveals that he was once a Dragon Rider himself and that he has been waiting for the return of the dragons to overthrow Galbatorix.

As Eragon and Brom journey to join the Varden, they are pursued by the king’s forces, led by the menacing Shade, Durza (Robert Carlyle). Durza, a powerful sorcerer, is determined to capture Eragon and Saphira for Galbatorix. Along the way, Eragon also encounters Murtagh (Garrett Hedlund), a skilled fighter with a mysterious past, who joins their quest.

The group finally reaches the Varden, who are preparing for a final stand against Galbatorix’s army. In the film’s climax, Eragon and Saphira face off against Durza in a fierce battle. With the help of Arya and the Varden, Eragon manages to defeat Durza, but the victory comes at a great cost. Brom sacrifices himself to protect Eragon, leaving the young Rider to carry on the fight against Galbatorix.

The movie ends with Eragon embracing his destiny as the last free Dragon Rider, determined to overthrow Galbatorix and bring peace to Alagaësia. However, the struggle has just begun, as Galbatorix prepares to unleash his full wrath upon the rebels.