Heads of State

The US President and the UK Prime Minister have turned public one-upmanship into a diplomatic headache, until a dangerous enemy decides their rivalry is a vulnerability to exploit. After attempts are made on their lives, the two leaders, who often trade insults in front of cameras, are left with little choice but to cooperate. With Noel, a sharp MI6 agent, guiding them, they flee across borders, chased by operatives and crooked officials as a broader conspiracy looms. The film follows their frantic, globe-spanning efforts to outmaneuver attackers, rebuild a fragile working relationship, and stop a plot that could unsettle international order, all while action and comedy collide.

Released in 2025 and directed by Ilya Naishuller, Heads of State was created by Harrison Query, Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec. The cast features John Cena as Will Derringer, Idris Elba as Sam Clarke, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Noel Bisset, Carla Gugino as Vice President Elizabeth Kirk, and Paddy Considine as Viktor Gradov.

Official box office totals are not provided here. The film opened in multiple territories and had varied theatrical and streaming windows by market, and without studio-released global figures specific worldwide gross is not cited in this summary.

The movie's blend of broad action and satirical takes on political theater kept it in online conversation after release. Viewers zeroed in on the unlikely chemistry between Cena and Elba, and several of the bigger set pieces and humorous exchanges found traction on social platforms, contributing to ongoing discussions about how politics is portrayed in mainstream genre cinema.

With a vote average of 6.857/10 from 898 votes, Heads of State earned mixed to positive responses. Audiences tended to praise the lead performances and the high-energy action, while some critics pointed to uneven pacing and tonal shifts between comedy and thriller beats. The film grapples with leadership under pressure, the spectacle of modern politics, the need to trust rivals when stakes are high, and the consequences of public posturing.