Heads of State (2025)

 🎬 Basic Info

Genre: Action‑Comedy / Buddy Film

Director: Ilya Naishuller (known for Hardcore Henry, Nobody) ew.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15cinemaexpress.com+15

Written by: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Harrison Query 
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Runtime: ~113 minutes (1 h 53 min)

Rating: PG‑13 (for violence, language, smoking)
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Release: Prime Video exclusive, streaming worldwide from July 2, 2025
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Plot Summary

Setup: U.S.  John Cena plays President Will Derringer, a former action star and U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), an ex-SAS commando turned politician, clash during a high-profile NATO summit
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Inciting Event: Their plane, Air Force One, is shot down, reportedly by Viktor Gradov's (Paddy Considine) employees. people.com+15rottentomatoes.com+15whattowatch.com+15.

Core Adventure: Stuck behind enemy lines in Eastern Europe (Belarus), the antagonistic duo must work together with MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) to unravel a global conspiracy and save the free world. whattowatch.com+15rottentomatoes.com+15whentostream.com+15.

Cast & Characters

John Cena as President Will Derringer: charismatic yet insecure, “gym‑strong” but no martial artist timesofindia.indiatimes.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15ew.com+15.

Idris Elba as Prime Minister Sam Clarke: stoic, sarcastic, ex-military leader struggling with political optics timesofindia.indiatimes.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15cinemaexpress.com+15.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Noel Bisset, an MI6 agent who brings action‑hero energy and undercover flair whentostream.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9palify.io+9.

Supporting Cast: Paddy Considine (Viktor Gradov), Jack Quaid (CIA), Stephen Root (hacker), Carla Gugino (U.S.  VP), Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle, Sharlto Copley moneycontrol.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9palify.io+9.

Tone & Style

Buddy Comedy Vibe: Reminisces of classics from the 1980s and 1990s with opposites who connect: Idris Elba as the tough but moral leader and John Cena as the sunny former movie star outlookindia.com+15apnews.com+15ew.com+15.

Action Aesthetic: Director Naishuller uses sharp plane crashes, chases, and fight scenes with cartoonish energy and real-world impact to create dynamic, kinetic sequences. whentostream.com+15cinemaexpress.com+15movieswetextedabout.com+15.

Plot and satire: Despite its geopolitical context (NATO and political optics), the story is light and deliberately absurd, emphasizing entertainment over reality. rogerebert.com+6apnews.com+6moneycontrol.com+6.

Critical & Audience Response

Reaction from the critics: Mixed; critics praise the lead actors' chemistry and action flair, but they find the script formulaic and the geopolitical stakes low.bollywoodhungama.com.

Ratings: ~60–67% on Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer: 67%, Audience: 87%).

Review Highlights:

AP: 1.5/4 stars—notes “missed potential” and underwhelming political commentary apnews.com.

The Week (India): 4/5—praises clean, lean action and strong trio dynamics theweek.in.

Moneycontrol: 3.5/5—labels it “loud, silly, and knowingly absurd,” reliant on charm and chaos moneycontrol.com.

Cinema Express: 2.5/5—applauds technical action but flags flawed writing cinemaexpress.com.

Is It Worth Watching?

For Fans Of: High‑energy buddy‑comedies (Lethal Weapon, Bad Boys), action plots with political flavour, and charismatic central cast.

Less For: Those seeking political nuance or deep satire—this is popcorn escapism, not commentary.

Standout Performances: Cena & Elba’s on‑screen chemistry is the film's engine; Chopra brings unexpected spy‑action oomph and charisma reuters.com.

In a Nutshell

Heads of State is a fast‑paced, globe‑trotting action‑comedy that pairs two unlikely leaders in a chaotic showdown with fashionable flair and banter.  It’s not deep, but for 113 minutes, it delivers a fun, escapist ride perfect for a Prime Video weekend.