Heads of State Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

The new Amazon streamer tries to resurrect the buddy-action genre with swagger and quips, but ends up mirroring today’s global politics — chaotic, loud, & bickering.

Genre: Action / Comedy / Thriller

Director: Ilya Naishuller

Cast: Idris Elba, John Cena, Priyanka Chopra, Paddy Considine, Aleksandr Kuznetsov, Sarah Niles, Katrina Durden, Jack Quaid, Carla Gugino & Sharlto Copley.

Run Time: 113 min.

US Release: 02 July 2025 (Prime Video)

UK Release: 02 July 2025 (Prime Video)

German Release: 02 July 2025 (Prime Video)

Imagine my surprise when this summer's action blockbuster hit Amazon’s streaming platform, starring Idris Elba, together with John Cena. The two had worked together before in Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, with their banter being one of the superhero flick’s highlights. Then I figured out that Nobody and Hardcore Henry regisseur Ilya Naishuller is once again sitting in the directing chair. The trailers looked decent, so what could go wrong, right? Well, contrary to the majority, this does not seem to be the movie for me, because I disliked nearly every minute of it.

So, run with me for dear life, as my review tears down the walls of the newest buddy-action summer hit, Heads of State.

U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke and US President Will Derringer find themselves being the target of a foreign adversary, after a joint CIA/MI-6 mission has gone wrong. Forced to put their differences aside to survive, they uncover a deeper-rooted global conspiracy.  

Containing marvellous action set pieces, as well as sequences, the real offender here is the screenplay! Taken from a story by Harrison Query plus reworked by further two writers, this odd couple bromance, tries too hard at emulating the 80s buddy-action genre, interweaving contemporary political climate into the script -  and therein lies the biggest issue of all, as it felt more like promotional propaganda for NATO, making it incredibly uncomfortable to watch given the current state of affairs. 

As such, this under-two-hour blockbuster felt like it dragged, especially since the story itself is paper-thin, not offering much else except mind-numbing banter between the two leaders of sovereign nations. This creates a tonal imbalance, as it abruptly jumps from its political message to goofy comedy, unevenly. Logic is completely thrown out of the window, as much of the leads’ survival, plot progression, just like revelations rely heavily on convenience, undercutting any sense of credibility.

That said, it's cheeky, self-awareness does manage to bring out a chuckle now and then, even if it is seldom. The uneven partnership between the no-nonsense PM and movie star-turned president should technically create a hilarious atmosphere, though here it is mismanaged.

Equally, conversations are surface-level, carrying little depth. The quippy bickering between the two quickly runs dry, becoming tiresome after a while.

Though Idris Elba has solid chemistry with his co-star John Cena, his restrained portrayal of PM Sam Clark comes off as indifferent at times. Clark is pragmatic, trying to provoke a positive change in his country, despite his polls dropping fast. His dry personality counterbalances Derringer's hyper energetic character, making for a classic odd-couples dynamic that doesn’t always come to fruition.

John Cena fully commits to his role as the chaotic, overly enthusiastic Will Derringer, the newly elected President of the United States. His movie star-turned-politician persona is, at times, way over his head, as he struggles with self-confidence, terms of diplomacy, as well as his defensiveness over criticism. Cena caricatures perfectly celebrities and politicians at the same time, though he struggles to develop his persona further.

Priyanka Chopra as MI6 agent Noël Bisset gives a strong, assertive physical performance. She enters scenes with a graceful presence, selling her fighting choreography and holding her own next to the two leads. Nonetheless, apart from being a warrior, her character isn’t given much else, feeling one-dimensional.

Paddy Considine as the main nemesis, Victor Gradov, obtained a strong entry, yet was ultimately sidelined once the plot shifts into humorous territory. Considine does radiate a menacing aura, sadly, his tragic backstory is wasted in an expository dialogue. 

The rest of the cast consists mostly of well-known actors, who have obtained short cameos. None are really explored; they enter the scene, then exit it, never to be seen again.  

The cinematography is the strongest feature this movie has to offer, containing all of the director's signature fingerprints. Using hyper-kinetic movements, the camera manages to create an interactive feeling during fight segments that include impactful quick cuts. All of this is framed masterfully, giving the picture a fast-moving flow. The look is reminiscent of Hardcore Henry, maintaining a highly polished look through its runtime. That said, the weak script makes the action look at times like a string of disjointed sequences.

Action set pieces employ practical sets, just like effects, that are retouched digitally to create realistic-looking environments. While battle details, such as explosions, are rendered through exceptional CG, other selective VFX parts look unfinished. Then there are a few but obvious utilizations of green screen that pull viewers out, flattening scenes. 

Generally, the sound design is effective, enlisting gunfire and explosions with a punchy weight, blended successfully with rotating rotor blades of helicopters, engine sounds of aeroplanes, or even track noises on trains. The music, composed by Steven Price, is cinematically grand, yet sounds generic. Intelligent needle drops are employed to highlight different segments.

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Verdict: I’m all for military alliances, I am all for defending oneself under the real threat of danger; however, this propaganda piece for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is really tough to watch, especially given that the organisation itself is lately behaving more like the bully. This is weakly wrapped around a superficial buddy action-comedy story, setting the leaders of two sovereign nations at odds with each other, as they need to survive a terrorist attack. Suffering from tonal discordance, it amateurishly interchanges between serious political stakes and childish banter. Cena plus Elba have good chemistry, even if Elba seems less invested. The camera work is the best part of the flick, delivering slick, dynamic action in a polished display. The effects are mostly practical, though the few digital effects are mixed. The score is generic, yet needle drops are effectively implemented. I honestly don’t understand all the good reviews. Heads of State is messy and brainless; it's a 4.0  out of 10. 

Have you seen this new release on Amazon’s streaming platform? Do you agree with my review? I wouldn’t recommend it; it’s not worth the time. Leave a comment below to let me know what you thought. As always, thank you for reading!