Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence and language in fun but predictable action comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Heads of State
What's the Story?
In HEADS OF STATE, action star-turned-U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) and stoic British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) find themselves the targets of a foreign adversary while aboard Air Force One. Stranded in Belarus, they must put their differences aside and work together to get to the bottom of a global conspiracy, all while avoiding multiple assassination attempts.
Is It Any Good?
Luckily this action comedy doesn't take itself at all seriously, which makes it easier to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. At the center of Heads of State is a buddy movie with a typically mismatched pair—Cena a clueless ex-action star turned U.S. President, and Elba's eye-rolling, no-nonsense British Prime Minister. Their bickering dynamic is a lot of fun, even if some of the humor falls flat. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a force to be reckoned with as MI6 agent Noel Bisset, a woman whose smarts and physical abilities put both men to shame. A strong supporting cast also sees great turns from Paddy Considine as a Russian weapons dealer, Jack Quaid as a U.S. operative, and Carla Gugino as the Vice President. There are plenty of dramatic action set pieces to take up much more time than that pesky thing called a plot, and the backdrops look great, from the tomato-stained square of Spain's La Tomatina festival to the pretty narrow streets of Italy's Trieste, just lying in wait for the inevitable car chase. It's predictable stuff, but the characters are a lot of fun, and it's entertaining enough to offer a few hours of unchallenging escape.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between the U.S. President and the U.K. Prime Minister in Heads of State. How were they different from each other? What did they initially dislike about each other? Why is it important to find common ground with people who are different to you? What can differences bring to a relationship?
The movie has a lot of violent scenes. Did you think they were all necessary? Did the comedic elements make them less impactful? Why do you think that was? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Which characters showed courage, perseverance, and teamwork. Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of any examples when you've shown these traits?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 2, 2025
- Cast : Idris Elba , John Cena , Priyanka Chopra Jonas
- Director : Ilya Naishuller
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Amazon MGM Studios
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of strong violence/action, language and some smoking
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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