Heads of State Cast, Budget, Box Office Collection, Plot, Review, Hit or Flop, And More
Heads of State is a 2025 action-comedy film directed by Ilya Neishullar. The film stars Idris Elba, John Cena, Priyanka Chopra, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, and Carla Gugino. The film was released worldwide on Prime Video by Amazon MGM Studios on July 2, 2025.
Ilya Neishullar has a passion for creating big action scenes. His first film, Hardcore Henry (2015), looked and felt like a first-person video game. The story was fast-paced, energetic, and exciting.
In his next film, Nobody (2021), he changed things up. Bob Odenkirk, known for shows like Breaking Bad, previously played the role of the quiet man. Neishullar has transformed him into a true action star in a film with intense fights and high tension.
Now with Heads of State, Naishullar brings three big stars. When UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Elba) and US President Will Derringer (Cena) survive an attack, they must work together. They team up with tough MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) to stop a global threat and save the world from chaos.
While promoting the film in London, Naishullar spoke to The Hollywood Reporter India. He talked about making the film, shared his thoughts on today’s film stars and offered advice to new directors trying to get started.
About Heads Of State Movie
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ilya Naishuller |
| Screenplay by | Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Harrison Query |
| Story by | Harrison Query |
| Produced by | Peter Safran, John Rickard |
| Starring | Idris Elba, John Cena, Priyanka Chopra, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root, Paddy Considine |
| Cinematography | Ben Davis |
| Edited by | Tom Harrison-Read |
| Music by | Steven Price |
| Production companies | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, The Safran Company, Potboiler, Big Indie Pictures |
| Distributed by | Amazon MGM Studios (via Prime Video) |
| Release date | July 2, 2025 |
| Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
What’s The Cast And Crew In Heads Of State
| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| John Cena | Will Derringer | President of the United States, former action movie star |
| Idris Elba | Sam Clarke | Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, British Army veteran |
| Priyanka Chopra | Noelle Bisset | Senior MI6 agent assigned to protect Clarke and Derringer |
| Jack Quaid | Marty Comer | CIA officer and station agent in Warsaw |
| Paddy Considine | Viktor Gradov | Russian arms dealer |
| Stephen Root | Arthur Hammond | Hacker working for Gradov |
| Carla Gugino | Elizabeth Kirk | Vice President of the United States |
| Sarah Niles | Simone Bradshaw | White House Chief of Staff |
| Richard Coyle | Quincy Harrington | Downing Street Chief of Staff |
| Clare Foster | Cat Derringer | First Lady of the United States |
| Katrina Durden | Olga the Killer | Assassin working for Gradov |
| Aleksandr Kuznetsov | Sasha the Killer | Assassin working for Gradov |
| Sharlto Copley | Thomas ‘Coop’ Cooper | CIA officer, Bisset’s counterpart |
| Adrian Lukis | Jack Gordon | Reporter |
| Ingeborga Dapkunaite | Belarussian Farmer | Local civilian |
| Steven Cree | Agent Crasson | President Derringer’s lead Secret Service agent |
| Claudia Doumit | Unnamed Cameo | Surprise appearance |
Heads of State Movie Plot (Story)
In “Heads of State,” U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) and U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) are under attack as a common enemy attempts to seize power. The story feels familiar, but director Naishuler adds energy with clean, sharp action sequences. After the attack, Will and Sam find a ride to a quiet village but encounter some troublemakers. As the fight begins, Will’s gym-built muscles don’t help much, but Sam’s military skills keep him in check. You might expect a fun fight like Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in “Rush Hour,” but here the punches and kicks feel raw and heavy, which adds to the impact. Even during tense chase scenes, the film adds small real-life touches that heighten the tension.
In “Heads of State,” John Cena and Idris Elba outdo each other with just the right mix of humor. Cena’s Will Derringer goes from movie star to president, and Alba’s Sam Clark goes from soldier to prime minister. But the film doesn’t portray Will as the Joker or Sam as the unsung hero. Both men have weaknesses and strengths that befit their roles as world leaders. Will, a former actor, struggles with doubt and often seeks approval. He wants to do well, but he’s too concerned with how he appears to the public. Sam, trained as a fighter, only cares about the mission and lacks the charisma needed for politics. His cold and arrogant nature slows him down. These small changes in typical roles make both men feel more real, and they help viewers root for them in a film that could have flattened them.
While Heads of State has many good parts, it also has writing issues that drag the viewer down. Priyanka Chopra’s Noel Bisset, an MI6 agent, kicks off the story, but her role feels thin. These days, stories give more layers to characters, but Noel mostly does the work of moving things along. She’s always lingering and showing up at the right time, but the film never makes us worry about her. The film also struggles to survive as a thriller, with a few false starts and late twists to hide who’s behind it all, but it forces the viewer to ignore the main characters rather than look closely.
Despite its flaws, Heads of State offers an entertaining and easygoing time. When you just want to relax and don’t want something deep or difficult, you skip the heavy films with endless meaning. Instead, you opt for something light and fast-paced like Heads of State.
Heads of State Movie Review:
“Heads of State” delivers on that promise: a fast-paced, action-packed buddy comedy that fully embraces its silliness with style, big laughs, and intense action scenes.
Ilya Naishuller directs from a script by Harrison Querrey, John Applebaum, and Andre Namek, who know exactly what they’re doing bring together two very different but entertaining characters, throw them into a wild international mess, and let their chemistry do the rest. John Cena and Idris Elba star as two powerful political figures in the film.
Cena plays Will Derringer, a former action movie star who now serves as President of the United States. Elba plays UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke, who remains calm and smart but has a hidden past in the British Special Forces. Derringer, on the other hand, uses his fame to get ahead at his job. When a visit to England almost turns into a disaster (partly because of the fish and chips), a clever PR move helps fix the bad press. Derringer and Clarke fly together on Air Force One, but their trip to a NATO summit in Italy quickly goes awry.
When someone breaks into their plane, the two leaders have to work together quickly. The film never explains how such a secure plane is hacked – one of many familiar ideas that still works because the film keeps the energy up and the actors are fun to watch.
Priyanka Chopra plays Jonas Noel Bisset, a tough MI6 agent who helps the leaders on their crazy journey as they try to escape Viktor Gradov and get to the NATO meeting without getting caught.
Is Heads of State Hit or Flop?
“Heads of State” is an action-comedy film starring Idris Elba, John Cena and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, which was released on Prime Video on July 2. Early reports suggest that it has been a streaming hit, quickly becoming the most-watched film on the platform in the US and worldwide. Reviews have been mixed, with some praising the action sequences and comedic moments, while others find the plot and execution average or forgettable.
Is Heads of State a Good Movie?
“Heads of State” is generally considered a fun, action-comedy film with entertaining performances, but it may not be a critically acclaimed masterpiece. The film stars John Cena and Idris Elba as a US president and a British prime minister who find themselves trapped and forced to work together after an attack on Air Force One. It has been described as a goofy action film with unlikely situations and plenty of humor, making it a good choice for those looking for light entertainment.
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