Movie Review: Heads of State – A Presidential Tag-Team of Absurdity and Charm

Heads of State  – Movie Review.
Coming to Prime Video Globally on July 2, 2025

Directed by Ilya Naishuller
Screenplay by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec and Harrison Query
Story by Harrison Query
Produced by Peter Safran, p.g.a. and John Rickard, p.g.a.
Executive Produced by Marcus Viscidi, Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, John Cena, Idris Elba
Starring Idris Elba, John Cena, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles,
Richard Coyle and Paddy Considine 

Heads of State  – Movie Review.
Let’s get one thing straight: when you walk into a movie theater to watch Heads of State, you’re not expecting The West Wing. You’re not even expecting Designated Survivor. What you’re signing up for is John Cena as the President of the United States, Idris Elba as the British Prime Minister, and a whole lot of international chaos wrapped in buddy-comedy banter and mid-air explosions. And judging by the packed house and the audience’s frequent bursts of laughter, applause, and audible gasps, this screener had the crowd eating out of its popcorn bucket.

Clearing the Presidential Palette: Before the opening credits even rolled, I had to mentally scrub my cinematic memory clean of every fictional president who’s ever graced the screen with gravitas—Harrison Ford growling “Get off my plane,” Morgan Freeman calming the nation through asteroid threats, Michael Douglas wooing Annette Bening with policy and charm, and yes, even David Palmer’s commanding calm in 24. Because this wasn’t going to be that. This was John Cena. No helmet. No superhero suit. Just a suit, tie, and a title: Commander-in-Chief.
And you know what? He wasn’t terrible. He wasn’t great either. Cena’s President Will Derringer lands somewhere between “WWE promo with a flag pin” and “earnest action hero trying to pass a budget.” His performance is what I’d call elevated wrestling theatrics—a little stiff, a little loud, but undeniably committed. He’s not trying to be Lincoln. He’s trying to survive a hijacked Air Force One and save NATO with a smirk and a right hook. And in that lane, he mostly stays upright.

Enter Idris Elba: The Prime Minister with Punch: Now let’s talk about Idris Elba, who plays UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke with the kind of weary swagger that says, “I’ve seen some things, and I’m not impressed.” Elba, as always, brings a level of gravitas that elevates even the most paper-thin script. His character doesn’t get much room to grow, but Elba makes every line count. He’s the straight man to Cena’s chaos, and their chemistry—unexpectedly—is one of the film’s biggest wins. Think Lethal Weapon meets G20 Summit.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas: The MI6 Maven: Rounding out the trio is Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Noel Bisset, an elite MI6 agent and Elba’s ex, because of course she is. While her screen time is limited, she makes it count. Her opening action sequence—set during Spain’s La Tomatina Festival, no less—is a tomato-splattered, high-octane intro that screams, “I’m here to kick butt and look flawless doing it.” She’s not quite given the material to go full Atomic Blonde, but the potential is undeniable. Mark my words: she’s on the Zendaya trajectory. Watch this space.

The Villain Vibe Check: Every action flick needs a villain, and Heads of State gives us Viktor Gradov, played by Paddy Considine. He’s got the résumé (Peaky Blinders, anyone?), but his performance here is a bit of a rollercoaster. One moment he’s giving Bond-villain menace, the next he’s veering into “Saturday Night Live sketch” territory. It’s not that he’s bad—it’s that he’s inconsistent. And in a movie this over-the-top, consistency is key to keeping the stakes believable.

Scene-Stealer Alert: Jack Quaid: Then, like a firecracker in a foggy room, Jack Quaid bursts onto the screen as CIA weapons specialist Marty Comer. And let me tell you—this guy is a revelation. He’s got the timing, the charm, the comedic instincts, and that elusive “IT” factor that makes you lean forward every time he’s on screen. He’s not just comic relief—he’s the secret sauce. If Hollywood doesn’t hand him a franchise in the next two years, we riot.

Final Verdict: A Rainy-Day Romp: Heads of State isn’t trying to win Oscars. It’s trying to win your Saturday afternoon. It’s the kind of movie you throw on when the laundry’s spinning, the cookies are in the oven, and you need a break from the real world. It’s goofy, loud, occasionally clever, and surprisingly heartfelt in its own absurd way.

So no, it’s not Air Force One. It’s not Deep Impact. It’s not even Veep. But it is John Cena as the President of the United States, and somehow, that’s enough.

Movie reviewer
-Jay Katz